Do we live in a Rape Culture?

[Brownshoe]

(05-09-2016, 12:46 PM)Benton Wrote: To the first, I believe so, but I can't so say in every state. And that's usually as far as it goes.

Typically, it would be something like a person would come in, say they were sexually assaulted and they needed a test for STDs or a pregnancy test, or they were scared about their parts because of some kind of trauma. The nurse/doctor calls the SANE nurse, who calls the cops and orders a rape kit. And then usually the person says they don't want to press charges or that it was a mistake, or whatever. The cops don't have to have the victim's cooperation, but as a court reporter, I saw several cases over the years that seemed pretty solid get dropped because the victim refused to testify. One guy beat a woman half to death and penetrated her repeatedly with a flashlight. The cops had the guy in bloody clothes, the flashlight, and a witness to part of it. Case got dropped because the week before trial the victim refused to testify (the guy doing the assaulting had a kid with her and she was afraid if she testified and he didn't go to jail, she'd lose custody). EDIT: I forgot, he also admitted to it when they first arrested him, even though he sobered up later and said he didn't admit anything.

To the second, my stories are purely anecdotal and I wouldn't try to guess at how they relate nationally. According to CDC numbers, Kentucky is higher in sexual assaults than the national average.

Hmmm I don't think the courts can drop the case if there is that much evidence. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure even if the victim doesn't want to testify any longer and the police have enough evidence that the crime did happen they can still (and will) continue on with the case. Maybe Fred can enlighten me if that's true or not.