Age differences among victims of sexual assault: A comparison between children, adolescents and adults

Care of women and girls after sexual assault in Geneva: A descriptive study between 2005 and 2014

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We aimed to examine epidemiological data and identify risk factors for sexual assault. This study included women seeking care at the Geneva University Hospitals emergency obstetrics and gynaecological unit.

METHOD

Retrospective, sociodemographic, and clinical data were collected from the medical reports.

RESULTS

We reviewed 836 medical charts and registered 92.8 women and girls per year who consulted the emergency department after sexual assault. The average age was 26 (±12) years, with a median of 23 years. Body lesions were reported in 525 patients (63%) and genital traumatic lesions were reported in 230 (28%) patients. Sexual assault by a stranger was reported in 436 cases (52%). Thirty percent of patients knew their aggressor. Aggressions were predominantly committed on the weekend, accounting for 367 cases (46%), with nearly two-thirds (65%, n = 474) occurring between 10 pm and 6 am. In total, 399 (48%) patients who were sexually assaulted reported having consumed alcohol and 102 (12%) reported having taken drugs prior to the aggression; 80 (10%) patients had consumed both and 286 (34%) had amnesia. Half of the sample sought and received medical care within 24 h from the time the aggression took place.

CONCLUSION

Sexual assault risk factors in our study population in Geneva included use of drugs and alcohol, with amnesia. Future prevention and education interventions should target these areas.

Data driven optimization of sexual assault case processing

In recent years, several forensic laboratories have noted an increase in the number of sexual assault cases submitted for testing, often leading to longer turnaround times. In that context, forensic laboratories may be interested in reviewing their procedures to increase productivity. Here, we present two different strategies that were put in place in our laboratory. First, we changed the way sexual assault evidence kits (SAEK) are processed by implementing an optimized workflow that prioritizes the internal samples (vaginal, anal, and oral). This new procedure allowed for a drastic decrease in turnaround time, while maintaining a similar investigative power.

Secondly, we used data from casework to target cases and samples that were likely to yield biological material from the perpetrator, in an attempt to avoid dedicating time and effort to cases for which there is a very low probability of obtaining foreign DNA evidence. Among other things, we looked at the likelihood of obtaining DNA from the perpetrator when the complainant reported the use of a condom, has showered after the assault or when the complainant has no memory of the assault. Results show that those circumstances do not dramatically decrease the probability of finding DNA from the perpetrator.

Forensic medical results and law enforcement actions following sexual assault: A comparison of child, adolescent and adult cases

BACKGROUND

In sexual assault cases, little research has examined differences in forensic medical findings and law enforcement response by victim age across the entire age range.

OBJECTIVE

This study addressed this gap by comparing four victim age groups: adults, adolescents over the age of consent, adolescents under the age of consent, and children under 12.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Cases were randomly sampled from a statewide database of medical reports on sexual assault examinations conducted in hospital emergency departments, including only cases reported to law enforcement (N = 563).

METHODS

Data were combined from a medical report database, from coding of medical documentation and crime laboratory reports, and from case data provided by law enforcement.

RESULTS

Rates for both younger and older adolescent victims and adult victims were comparable, with no statistically significant differences on most variables: penetration, perpetrator use of force, non-genital and genital injuries, presence of biological evidence, generating assailant DNA profiles, DNA match to suspect, hits in the FBI's DNA database, and law enforcement unfounding (i.e., determining allegations to be false or baseless). Child victims were significantly less likely to have a non-genital injury, and their cases were significantly more likely to be founded by law enforcement. Arrests were significantly more likely when victims were under the age of consent.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant differences by victim age, similarity between adolescent and adult cases was substantial. Both younger and older adolescents may be at higher risk of physical violence during sexual assault than previously recognized, and need greater attention in response systems.

Factors Influencing the Filing of Complaints, Their Investigation, and Subsequent Legal Judgment in Cases of Sexual Assault

In Geneva, examination of victims of sexual assault is performed by a gynecologist and a medical examiner. 48% of the victims file a complaint and we wanted to investigate the factors leading to file a complaint, those leading the Prosecutor to go to trial, and those influencing a conviction. Between 2006 and 2012, 676 victims of sexual assault were investigated (averaged age 26 year, mean 22). Information on injuries, perpetrators, and circumstances of the assault was collected and analyzed. The attacker being the ex-spouse or a friend and the presence of semen were factors leading to file a complaint. The assailant being a family member or ex-spouse and the presence of genital/anal lesions were factors influencing the Prosecutor. The presence of nongenital lesions, the assailant being known by the victim, influenced conviction. This study shows that the medical examiner plays a vital role in the investigation of cases of sexual assault.

Factors associated with child sexual abuse confirmation at forensic examinations

Abstract The aim of this study is identify potential factors associated with child sexual abuse confirmation at forensic examinations. The forensic files of children under 12 years of age reporting sexual abuse at the Nina Rodrigues Institute of Forensic Medicine in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil between January 2008 and December 2009 were reviewed. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with finding evidence of sexual abuse in forensic examinations. The proportion of cases confirmed by the forensic physician based on material evidence was 10.4%. Adjusted analysis showed that the variables place of birth, type of abuse reported, family relationship between the child and the perpetrator, and the interval between the reported abuse and the forensic examination were not independently associated with finding forensic evidence of sexual abuse. A report of penetration was associated with a five-fold greater likelihood of confirmation, while the victim being 10-11 years of age was associated with a two-fold of abuse confirmation than younger children. These findings should be taken into consideration when drawing up guidelines for the multidisciplinary evaluation of children suspected of being victims of sexual abuse and in deciding whether to refer the child for forensic examination.

A retrospective study of sexual offences in Zambia

Zambia has recently reported high incidences of sexual abuse against women and children. Zambian law categorises sexual offences into rape, defilement, incest and others, with defilement constituting the majority of the reported cases (>89%). Between 2010 and 2012, convictions of defilement cases were achieved in only 13% of cases reported to the police. DNA evidence has shown prominence in resolving crimes, specifically as an identification tool in sexual offences. Currently there is no empirical evidence describing the role of forensic evidence in sexual crimes in Zambia; as such a retrospective study was conducted to evaluate this between 2007 and 2014 (n = 1154). Only 14 (0.1%) of the cases had forensic samples collected in the form of a vaginal swab for semen analysis. In all cases where a suspect was identified (60%), identification was based on the witness/victim testimonies, and in no case, was forensic DNA evidence used to assist in identification or corroborate the testimonies. Overall, 28.1% of cases were taken to court and the conviction rate was 12.4%. These findings support the use of employing DNA evidence in sexual offence cases to aid the identification of suspects, which is hypothesised to increase the number of cases prosecuted in Zambia.

A Nonrandom Sample of 55 Sexual Abuse Cases in Sivas

BACKGROUND Sexual abuse in childhood is a significant public health problem because of the destructive results both to the individual and to the community. The aim of this study was to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of children who were victims of sexual abuse, the relationship of the victim and abuser, and the findings of sexual abuse. MATERIAL AND METHODS An examination was made of the results of forensic medicine and psychiatric evaluations of child victims of sexual abuse. The sociodemographic characteristics of the cases and the characteristics of the incidents of sexual abuse were evaluated at the Forensic Medicine Department of Cumhuriyet University between 2013 and 2016. RESULTS A total of 55 cases were included in the study, comprising eight males (14.5%) and 47 females (85.5%) in the age range of 5-17 years. The vast majority of the cases were high school students. The place of the abuse incident was the home of the victim or the perpetrator in 29 cases (52.7%). The sexual abuse was determined to be bodily penetration in 32 cases (58.1%). In 32 cases (58.1%), the perpetrator was known to the victim. CONCLUSIONS The study findings that the perpetrator of the sexual abuse was known to the child, that predominantly female children were attacked, and the low sociocultural level of the cases were consistent with other studies reported in the literature. To prevent sexual abuse of children, to make an early diagnosis, and to provide rehabilitation for the abused children, it is essential that the evaluations of these cases are made using a professional multidisciplinary approach.

Sexual Offenses Among Children in the North of Jordan: An Exploratory Study

Sexual offenses are an important global health problem threatening people of all age groups. There are no reported studies regarding sexual violence among children in Jordan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the problem of sexual violence among children in the Northern region of Jordan. A retrospective design was adopted to review all reports from the Forensic Medicine Teaching Center of North of Jordan clinic on cases of sexual-related assaults that occurred between 2003 and 2007. Reports were reviewed for age, gender, toxicological analysis, and relevant information provided by victims and their relatives. Results indicated that 53% of the cases were male victims, with a male to female ratio of 1:1. Ages ranged from 3 to 18 years with a mean age of 12.5 years. Most cases were considered indecent assaults, while 37.1% were cases of rape. In most cases, offenders were strangers. It could be concluded that Jordanian children are as susceptible to sexual assaults as their counterparts worldwide. This study is the first to report sexual offenses among children in Jordan. As such, it provides baseline data that can be used to inform policy and prevention strategies focused on reducing sexual violence among this vulnerable segment of the Jordanian population.

Developmental changes of neuronal networks associated with strategic social decision-making

OBJECTIVES

One of the important prerequisites for successful social interaction is the willingness of each individual to cooperate socially. Using the ultimatum game, several studies have demonstrated that the process of decision-making to cooperate or to defeat in interaction with a partner is associated with activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula (AI), and inferior frontal cortex (IFC). This study investigates developmental changes in this neuronal network.

METHODS

15 healthy children (8-12 years), 15 adolescents (13-18 years) and 15 young adults (19-28 years) were investigated using the ultimatum game. Neuronal networks representing decision-making based on strategic thinking were characterized using functional MRI.

RESULTS

In all age groups, the process of decision-making in reaction to unfair offers was associated with hemodynamic changes in similar regions. Compared with children, however, healthy adults and adolescents revealed greater activation in the IFC and the fusiform gyrus, as well as the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, healthy children displayed more activation in the AI, the dorsal part of the ACC, and the DLPFC. There were no differences in brain activations between adults and adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The neuronal mechanisms underlying strategic social decision making are already developed by the age of eight. Decision-making based on strategic thinking is associated with age-dependent involvement of different brain regions. Neuronal networks underlying theory of mind and reward anticipation are more activated in adults and adolescents with regard to the increasing perspective taking with age. In relation to emotional reactivity and respective compensatory coping in younger ages, children have higher activations in a neuronal network associated with emotional processing and executive control.