Rape Myths can Affect Jurors' Perceptions of Sexual Assault, and that needs to change
Dublin Core
Title
Rape Myths can Affect Jurors' Perceptions of Sexual Assault, and that needs to change
Subject
Sexual assault--Law and legislation
Creator
Kristen Walker
Electronic Resource Item Type Metadata
Journal Name
Phys.org
Publication Date
2024
Publisher
Science X Network
Document Type
Newspaper article
Language
English
Region
Canada
Access
Open Access
Abstract
In Canada, more than 34,000 cases of sexual assault were reported to police in 2022, representing a 38% increase from 2017. However, it is estimated that only about 6% of sexual assaults are reported to police, making the actual number of sexual assaults in Canada much higher. In a recent study with my graduate student Lauren E. Thompson, we sought to understand jurors' perceptions of the credibility of sexual assault charges when there is a delay in reporting them. Specifically, we sought to understand how jurors' perceptions may be affected by delayed reporting (of two months, 10 years, 20 years) and the reasons for delayed reporting: lack of evidence, fear of retaliation or not wanting family to know. We used a mock-juror paradigm to assess perceptions of the victim and verdict.
Citation
Kristen Walker, “Rape Myths can Affect Jurors' Perceptions of Sexual Assault, and that needs to change,” ICMGLT Digital Library, accessed June 12, 2026, https://icmglt.org/library/items/show/468.