NCJ Number
37488
Date Published
1976
Length
110 pages
Annotation
THIS MONOGRAPH ATTEMPTS TO SUMMARIZE WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE FEMALE VICTIM AND HER FAMILY AND TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH CLINICIANS CAN MORE KNOWLEDGEABLY PROVIDE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.
Abstract
DISCUSSED ARE THE SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT OF RAPE, AND SOME OF ITS LEGAL AND MEDICAL ASPECTS. SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE HOSPITAL TREATMENT OF THE VICTIM ARE DESCRIBED AND A SET OF GUIDELINES ARE PROVIDED FOR UTILIZING CRISIS PROGRAMS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN A HOSPITAL SETTING. OTHER AREAS CONSIDERED ARE COMMUNITY RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, REACTIONS TO RAPE, AND COUNSELING AND TREATMENT OF THE RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE CHILD VICTIM. IN AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST IN DEALING WITH RAPE TRAUMA. THE AUTHOR INDICATES THE NEED FOR CLINICIANS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT LOCAL HOSPITAL POLICY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURE, RAPE STATUTES, AND COMMUNITY ATTITUDES IN ORDER TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTEXT IN WHICH RAPE OCCURS. A FOUR-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS OPERATIONAL AND PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.