Electronic Resources:	http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB125.pdf/$file/CJB125.pdf
Web resource:	http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/bocsar/documents/pdf/cjb125.pdf
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	What caused the decrease in sexual assault clear-up rates?Crime and justice bulletin : contemporary issues in crime and justice
Authors:	Jones, Craig Korabelnikoff, Victor O’Brien, Kate
Keywords:	Criminal justice responses;Statistics;Sexual assault
Year:	2008
Publisher:	NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
Citation:	125
Notes:	This article explores the decline in sexual assault incidents reported as "cleared" or "partially cleared" by the New South Wales Police Force from 63 per cent in 1995 to 28 per cent in 2006. The research explored three possible explanations: 1) lengthier times for police to initiate criminal proceedings, 2) changes to the way incidents are reported as "cleared", or 3) changes to the rate at which police lay criminal charges. The authors used NSW police crime records, NSW police case management records, and records of criminal court charges. The authors conclude that the first two possible explanations were not supported by the evidence. It is suggested that the profile of sexual assaults has shifted in a way that victims are less likely to give evidence affecting police ability to lay criminal charges and this possibility is discussed. It is worth noting that from 1995 to 2006 the number of cases reported where the suspected offender was a current or past partner nearly doubled. [Appended From Merge Migration] The proportion of sexual assault incidents recorded by the NSW Police Force as 'cleared' or 'partially cleared' fell from 63 per cent in 1995 to 28 per cent in 2006. This study assesses three possible reasons for the decrease: (1) changes in the time taken by police to clear sexual assault incidents; (2) changes to the definition of what constitutes a 'cleared' sexual assault incident; and (3) changes in the number (and proportion) of cases where police are able to lay criminal charges. There is no evidence to support the first of these possibilities, very little evidence for the second, but considerable evidence for the third. While it is not possible to give any definitive explanation for the fall in the number (and proportion) of cases where police are able to lay charges, the most plausible reason is that the profile of sexual assault cases coming to police attention has shifted in a way that makes victims less willing or less likely to give evidence against suspected offenders. The changes in offence profile that are consistent with this interpretation include statistically significant decreases in the proportion of incidents involving physical injury, weapon use and co-occurring offences and a significant increase in the proportion of incidents where the victim and offender were known to one another.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12145
ISBN:	9781921306808
Physical description:	[12] p. ; 30 cm.
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

Items in ANROWS library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.