Forensic Pathology and Sexual Assault

Forensic Pathology and Violent Crimes

• Forensic pathologists scientifically determine cause and manner of death.
• Study of dead bodies is central to this field.

Sexual Assault

• Forcible rape involves non-consensual vaginal/anal penetration or oral penetration by a sex organ.

• Victims are often young females and transgender individuals.

• Most assaults occur between people who know each other.

• Investigative considerations:

  • Victim, forensic medical examination, and the victim as a crime scene are crucial.
  • Victims may wash away evidence.
  • Sexual assault is highly traumatic, causing physical and emotional harm.
  • Proper police response involves:
    • Supportive, calm approach to victims.
    • Minimizing the number of interviews.
    • Interviewing as a one-on-one interview.
    • Letting the victim choose the officer's gender.
    • Understanding that victims may forget or want to forget,
    • Encouraging medical and counseling attention.
  • Victim interviews should minimize retelling.
  • One officer, no interrogation, listening, and victim empowerment are key.
  • Addressing the violence, not sexuality, of the crime is vital.

• Types of sexual assault situations:

  • Most common: perpetrator and victim know each other.
  • Victim knows the perpetrator but cannot describe them.
  • Stranger perpetrator, victim unable to describe them.
  • Motives and circumstances of these cases are crucial.

• Physical evidence:

  • Multiple primary crime scenes.
  • Victim's body as a crime scene.
  • SANE nurses document injuries and collect evidence.
  • Evidence includes: semen, blood, fingerprints, hair, bite marks, other bodily fluids, digital evidence, and video.

• Date rape drugs:

  • Drugs used to incapacitate individuals for sexual assault.
  • Rohypnol and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GBH) are common examples.

• Perpetrator characteristics:

  • Contact rapists: Usually know their victims, may be apologetic, and driven by sexual desire
  • Sexual aggressors: Often do not know their victims, showing aggression, anger, and/or a desire to control victims.
  • Specific subtypes include those driven by power reassurance, power assertion, anger retaliation, and anger excitation.

Assault Cases

• Aggravated assault:
  • Attacking another person severely with the intent to harm.
  • Most common violent crime.
  • Often involves weapons and serious injuries.
  • Young males are usually victims and perpetrators.
  • Perpetrator is frequently known to the victim.
• Simple assault:
  • Less serious assaults without weapons or severe injuries.
  • Typically committed by young males and by those who know the victims
  • Assaulting a police officer, teacher and/or bus driver can constitute aggravated assault.

Domestic Violence

• Involves assaults within a domestic relationship.
• Identification and arrest of perpetrators is not always effective.
• Restraining orders are helpful but underreported.

Child Abuse

• Can involve physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect.

• Neglect is a common form of child abuse.

• Risk of physical abuse decreases with age.

• Risk of neglect decreases with age.

• Children between 7-12 are at the highest risk.

• Offenders are diverse.

• Investigative challenges:

  • Determining if injuries are accidental or intentional.
  • Recognizing children's unique needs in interviews, ensuring the child feels comfortable and confident and that questions are child-friendly.
  • Recognizing the privacy of child abuse.
  • Collaborating with child protective agencies.

• Interviewing children:

  • Child-friendly approach.

False Rape Allegations

• Uncommon instances, but can be motivated by:
  • Revenge, attention-seeking, medical treatment, alibi creation, child custody disputes, or financial gain.

This quiz delves into forensic pathology and the complexities surrounding sexual assault cases. It covers the role of forensic pathologists in determining causes of death and examines investigative considerations crucial for handling sensitive sexual assault situations. Understand the trauma faced by victims and the importance of a supportive police response.