NCJ Number
138205
Date Published
1988
Length
175 pages
Annotation
The impact of Canada's 1983 rape law, Bill C-127, was examined with respect to the current response of the Hamilton- Wentworth criminal justice system and related agencies to reports of sexual assault, changes resulting from the law, and the victims' experiences with the criminal justice system and related medical and rape crisis services.
Abstract
The research also sought the opinions of criminal justice personnel and victim service providers regarding the need for further law reforms. Data were gathered from official records, interviews with practitioners, observations of sexual assault trials during 1987, and interviews with sexual assault victims. Results indicated that the 1983 amendments produced much progress, but their potential for changing the processing of sexual assault reports has not been fully realized. The proportion of cases ending in conviction is virtually unchanged, and problems are still perceived with victim services. Findings suggested the need for improved efforts to educate the public about the intent of the legislation; improvement in the legal information provided to victims; further education and training of police investigators, prosecutors, and judges; and training of victim service providers in evidentiary and legal requirements. Other efforts should focus on clarifying roles and responsibilities of the professionals involved, closer cooperation among agencies, and actions to reduce sexual assault trauma for victims. Footnotes, tables, 23 references, and list of related reports