NCJ Number
130071
Date Published
1991
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Articles in this bibliography on rape trauma syndrome are divided into two categories: law review articles that discuss evidentiary considerations and articles from medical, sociological, and psychological literature dating from the mid-1970's when rape trauma syndrome was first introduced.
Abstract
Rape trauma syndrome describes characteristic responses of victims to rape. Behavioral scientists and the medical community have confirmed the syndrome's existence. Rape trauma syndrome is now accepted as a subject of post-traumatic stress disorder and is used in developing supportive intervention techniques for mental health workers and as a diagnostic tool in the treatment of rape victims. Despite its acceptance in the medical community, the courts have not treated the admissibility of expert testimony on rape trauma syndrome consistently. The law, for example, expects prompt rape reporting, even though the medical community expects the opposite of rape victims as a symptom of rape trauma syndrome. Evidence of rape trauma syndrome can also be used to prove or disprove consent, since a woman who consents to sexual intercourse will not experience rape trauma syndrome. Some jurisdictions, however, will not permit evidence of rape trauma syndrome to prove rape. The bibliography contains 111 citations dealing with rape trauma syndrome.