Shakespeare’s Sister has several posts on a story out of Oregon about a 17-year-old girl who reported a gang rape and was subsequently convicted of filing false charges — even though she never recanted her story. According to published reports, prosecutors determined that there was not sufficient evidence to charge the three men involved and then decided to prosecute the girl. Apparently, the judge had no real evidence that the girl was lying. He decided that the men (who claimed the sex was consensual) were “more credible”, and his decision was based in part on testimony that the girl didn’t act sufficiently traumatized after the event, whatever that means.
I attended high school in the late 1970’s and was fortunate enough to have an excellent political science teacher who actually wanted to teach us about the real world. He brought in a speaker who explained to us that women who were raped must have been asking for it by dressing provocatively or being somewhere they shouldn’t have been. I can still remember my fury and incredulity — even though that was common belief at the time. Surely we have progressed beyond those days — or maybe we haven’t. One of the men accused in this case was the girl’s boyfriend, and she was in his room getting ready for a party at the time of the rape. I’m wondering if those two facts affected the judge’s decision. Did he possibly think she was “asking for it”?
Just go read:
Don’t Just Blame the Victim, Prosecute Her
Once My Face Burned with the Shame of Rape; Now I Smolder with Anger
She cried RAPE, then they raped her again. A very sad story and situation, I’ve seen comments that due to her age at the time, that an appeal will be automatic and should overturn her conviction. We’ll see.
This is why, should anyone ever attack my daughter…. I’ve said too much already.
Kevin Hayden from American Street blog knows the girl victim, and has this to say. On many blogs, which have this post, many comments have charged the growing percentage of ‘false rape charges’ which they see as a danger, and wonder why everyone finds this case with its finding an outrage.
Here’s what Kevin says;
I appreciate all the suggestions, ideas and offers, folks. I don’t appreciate the bandying about of statistics that only tell part of the story.
If, for example, only 10% of rape victims report their rapes and another 2% or 12% or whatever of the reported rapes are false reports, what percentage of all rapes that occur vs. false reports do we get? Perspective like that is crucial.
Second, I don’t blame Mr. Napoli for the outcome. After speaking with him a couple of times, I believe he’s pretty competent as an attorney. Could another lawyer do better? I can’t say that. Maybe. But even then I wouldn’t rate Napoli as deficient.
I had a phone call from a sibling of the victim today. At this point in the proceedings, they’re just trying to recharge and to give the young woman respite from all of it for a few days. They’re concerned that the story will grow so large that the media may try to contact the woman, and they feel this would jangle her more than the trial already has.
So for now, I’d just ask that we let the story go for a bit. The family is appreciative of the supportiveness most of you have shown. Once they determine the next step ahead, the word will be passed through me.
That doesn’t mean to quench the discussion of rape victims and how they’re treated, by courts or society in general. I feel that’s a very important discussion to continue. Especially if it leads to solutions to make it better, or to make rape less frequent.
“If, for example, only 10% of rape victims report their rapes and another 2% or 12% or whatever of the reported rapes are false reports, what percentage of all rapes that occur vs. false reports do we get? Perspective like that is crucial.”
Earl, this is so important! The number of false claims is miniscule next to the number of actual sexual assaults. Putting women on trial because there isn’t enough evidence to convict their alleged rapists is insane.