Sexual Assault Investigation an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Sexual Assault Investigation Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes. Both men and women can become victims of sexual assault, although all related statistics are associated with women. Sexual assault is a broad classification for all unaccepted sexual advances or exhibition of sexual desires. It differs from rape which is the gratification of sexual desire by force. The National Crime Victimization Survey data suggests about half a million people had been sexually assaulted between the years 1992-93. More recent surveys like that for 2001, estimates there were around 249,000 sexual assault victims for that year (Online Lawyer, 2008). However these figures are presumed to be too less due to the underreporting factor. A 1992 study suggests that only about 16% of the sexual assaults are brought to the police. Need essay sample on "Sexual Assault Investigation" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The main reason for victims to shy away from reporting these cases is perhaps to avoid the embarrassment of being talked about it in the neighborhood, the media or at least being asked to narrate the happenings before a jury. Although sexual assault is an underreported crime it is however possible for anyone to falsely raise charges of sexual assault, even without any evidence. A charge of sexual assault on someone can be very damaging and can even devastate ones life. Thus sexual assault investigations are very crucial, particularly when the suspect denies charges; and physical evidences are very important in the investigations. The evidences collected against the offender are of varying nature like material evidence, biological evidence, medical evidence etc. and requires the expertise of physicians, laboratory technicians and crime scene investigators to compile them. It has been overwhelmingly observed that most sexual assaults and rapes are committed by people well known to the victim. This aspect of rape has considerable bearing on the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators (Kilpatrick, 2000). As the identity of the perpetrators are known to the victims in most cases, the investigation here need not be focused on the identification of the suspect or perpetrators. In most cases, the perpetrator would proclaim that the act wasnt a rape, but only a consensual sex. Therefore the investigation should be more directed to counter this position. Known offenders adopt such a stand as it is difficult for them to plead a case of mistaken identity. To prove a sexual act as a case of rape and not a consensual decision, the victim needs to show proof of physical injuries (Estrich, 1987). As most rape victims actually dont receive major physical injuries, the investigators and prosecutors face a difficult task, as absence of injuries is generally p erceived as consenting. Forensic examination may highlight physical injuries that are relevant to forced rape, which may then be used as evidence. The crime investigating officer, at the location of the sexual assault or rape, needs to primarily look to the requirements of the victim, like medical help. The officer needs to interact with the victim and try to boost her morale and confidence, particularly when the victim is in a state of shock or even hysteric. At the initial stage of the rape investigation, the investigator should look for any physical material of the attacker present with the victim. Generally a rape victim would tear the clothes of her attacker, scratch and scar his face or even pull his hair. Thus there is always a chance of the assailants hair, clothes or blood stains on the victim, particularly on her hands and under the nails. It is important to have the clothing of the victim sent for analysis, at the earliest possible, but care should be taken here to ensure that the victim is comfortable and not pained by further embarrassment. The evidence material must be gathered, handled and packed carefully before it is sent to the lab for forensic analysis. The number of people handling the evidence should be minimum and the investigator needs to fix his initials to the evidence for its accuracy. Semen and hair are very valuable physical evidences. A medical examination is part of the rape investigation and should be carried out by a specialist in forensic medicine. The victim would mostly insist on a personal physician performing the exam, which should be strongly discouraged; as personal and private physicians would not have rape investigation experience, or be able to testify in a court to get a conviction. The medical examination would include visual examination of vagina and determination of tissue damage (ASU, 2006). The presence or absence of a rapists sperm is concluded by carrying out a pap smear test. When rape results in the death of the victim, then the examination should also include anus, mouth etc. A forensic medical examination considers a victims body, as a crime scene. Based on the victims version of the incidents, the forensic team collects evidence which can prove, the identity of the perpetrator, and that rape had occurred. When the suspect denies any sexual act with the victim, then DNA or other appropriate material evidence is collected which can prove that the suspect had committed the sexual act. Claims of consensual sex cannot be countered easily and proof of physical injuries is one of the few ways to counter such claims. Newer technology enhances detection of physical injuries, like the use of colposcope. The colposcope is generally used by gynecologists for observation of vulvar or vaginal diseases. The colposcope provides a 30 time magnification of areas like anus, vulva or vagina. Injuries like abrasions and tears that are not visible to the naked eye are observed with the colposcope. Earlier rape examinations without colposcope could establish evidence of genit al injuries in about 19 to 28% of cases. Now with the colposcope about 87% of genital trauma can be established. Crime scene processing involves examining, identifying, recording and collection of physical evidence based on which comparisons, recognition and individualization are later made. Considerable care should be given when evidences are collected and preserved. As plastic enclosures cause moisture formation, all evidence items should be air dried in a room, before packing. This can prevent fungal and bacterial growth. Dry items which are possible biological evidences need to be wrapped first in a clean paper, then put in a paper bag. When biological stains are formed in materials like cloths or rubber, and the items need to be folded prior to packing, then care should be taken to ensure that the specimen area is not folded. Otherwise, the biological material may be damaged and DNA testing would become difficult (Savino, Turvey and Baeza). Solid objects bearing biological material evidence, must have clean paper covering it and sealing the stained area, to prevent contamination or dilutio n of evidence. Victims of a sexual assault need to be brought to a medical facility within 72 hours of incident, where a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) conducts the medical examination. In case the victim is brought after 72 hours, it would help if the victim has not changed clothes or has not showered. It has been established that the best evidence of assault could be gathered when the victim reports within 12 hours of the incident. The evidence collection procedure of the SANE has evolved over the years as a consequence of interactions with investigators, crime lab specialists and attorneys. Today, the collection of evidence is more complete and valid and contributes immensely in charging a suspect. The forensic examiner also collects blood and saliva samples of the victim to differentiate it from that of the perpetrator. Sometimes an extra blood sample of victim may be required for alcohol or drug analysis. This is required when perpetrators claim victims to have agreed under the influence of alcohol or had agreed to have sex in exchange of drugs. When sperm or seminal fluid of the offender is not seen in the victim, then too rape shouldnt be ruled as studies have shown that a good percentage of rapists are sexually dysfunctional or use condoms. Nowadays seminal fluid evidence is more used in determining DNA evidence linking to the suspect. Seminal fluid can also be investigated for prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PAP 30) which are highly concentrated in seminal fluids compared to vaginal fluids. Genital trauma evidence can not only support the victims version of the incident, but also prove that force was indeed used. The position of the genital trauma is related to the body position of the victim during the assault. For instance, when there is injury to external vaginal opening, the woman is most likely to have been raped in missionary position. When a semi-circular cut or scratch is observed in the inner vaginal wall, then a digital penetration is supported (Ledray, 1999). The colposcope plays a vital role in genital trauma examination. Although genital trauma indicates use of force, absence of genital trauma should not be considered as consensual sex. Physical evidence collected in rape cases are directed towards establishing occurrence of penetration, establishing occurrence of nonconsensual sex and establishing identity of the perpetrator. The absence of seminal fluid may also be attributed to several causes like suspect not ejaculating in the vagina, or the medical examination was done after a long time after rape, or the doctor having failed to take a proper sample. Occasionally seminal fluid from a consensual sex would be present, while that from a rape would be absent. In such cases seminal fluid typing would be carried out. Evidences like torn or soiled clothing, bruises, cuts, plucked hair indicate fight or struggle during intercourse, and hence rape (Fischer, 2003). Finger prints, palm prints and even foot prints are valuable clues that help to nail the assailant. Fingerprints from beer cans, cigarettes etc. are required to identify the assailant. For drug aided sexual assault, blood and urine samples are crucial evidence s. Victims who suspect the use of drugs, should not empty their bladders. Substances like GHB (gamma hydroxybutrate) which can easily make a victim unconscious, is eliminated from the blood within six hours but would be detectable in urine after that. When any pills or suspicious powder are found at the rape scene, the investigator should not ignore these. Although physical evidence collection and forensic analysis can help in identifying the assailant, investigators need to be aware of the circumstances and situations to profile the assaulter. As sexual assault are committed on people of both sexes, children, adults and elders; investigators should look for appropriate physical evidences. Similarly experience and expertise is required to identify a serial rape case based on evidence similarity and additional evidence recognition. In child molestation cases, physical evidence are much lesser, and signs like nightmares, bedwetting and urinary infections are considered symptoms of child molestation. Investigators can only look for clues on the childs dress worn during the last assault, if it has not been washed. Beyond this, the investigators are totally dependent on medical observations. Child abuse is identified based on the observations of the pediatrician (Fischer, 2003). Strange bruises, broken bones as revealed by X-rays are import ant to the investigation. Sometimes unhygienic conditions and under nourishment may also be associated. For homosexual assaults, a SANE examines the rectum and takes a swab sample for presence of semen. Here medical examination can not only reveal whether sodomy had occurred, but also confirm if the victim was accustomed to it. Presence of lubricant or feces traces also need to be looked on clothing. To make investigation and prosecution of rape cases more effective, the collective effort and cooperation of several agencies are required. The agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault include the medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, prosecution, correction and victim recovery services. The services are interrelated and a reporting at any point would get all the agencies into action. REFERENCES Augusta State University, Department of Public Safety, Investigating and processing a sexual assault rape call: Initial Steps. (2006) [Electronic Version]. Online Lawyer Source. (2008) Sexual assault victims [Electronic Version] Kilpatrick D.G., National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center. Rape and sexual Assault (2000) [Electronic Version]. Downloaded on 2nd June 2008 from http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/research/sa.shtml Fischer B.A., Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation CRC Press. (2003) Ledray. L., Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Development and Operation Guide, U.S department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime. (1999) Estrich, S., Real rape. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press (1987) Savino J.O., Turvey B.E., and Baeza J.J., Rape Investigation Handbook Academic Press (2004)

How To Write A Good Hook Sentence For An Essay

How To Write A Good Hook Sentence For An Essay 5 Tips For  Hook  Writing A hook is an indispensable part of a perfect essay writing that captures the attention of the reader and compels him/her to go through the whole essay. The first one or two sentences of the essay constitute the hook and must be written to bring out the desired effect. It serves as the determinant of whether the reader will go through the whole essay or he/she will find it boring and stop reading after the first few sentences. The content of the essay may be good, but without an interesting hook, you are likely to lose your reader before conveying the message the essay was meant to put across. Therefore, a hook should always be set in the introductory part of the essay and framed in a way it elicits curiosity to read the rest of the essay. A hook buried deep in the essay would be ineffective, and the reader can easily lose interest in reading the article before even seeing the hook. However, hooks differ from one essay type to another, though the format and style of writing it are bas ically the same. In the short article, we are going to discuss the types of hooks and how to write a good hook. Here below are some types of hooks you can use for your essay: 1. Literary quote/ quotes from famous people Using famous literary quotes by famous public figures makes a good hook. Such hooks are important, especially if writing about a particular person, phenomenon or story. Literary quotes cement the author’s reputation and credibility to write quality work without plagiarism. Quotes from famous people make an intriguing hook that helps to support the argument of your essay by including a famous quote by an authoritative public figure. If famous quotes by public figures used effectively, the essay takes an interesting position in history that has to be supported or challenged by the essay. The quote must also be relevant to the story with a simple meaning. A literary quote hook must be used with a proper attribution and acknowledgment to show the author’s vast knowledge in the subject area. 2. Anecdote An anecdote hook can be effective, especially in the personal creative essay. Anecdotes trigger a lively mood from the reader by invoking a certain incident that has relevance and intriguing aspect into the story. As the anecdote brings in humor, it sets the mood for the rest of the essay which does not necessarily need to be funny. The hook captures the attention of the reader and motivates him/her to read through the whole essay. Though anecdote hooks are effective, they cannot be employed in every essay since they require a first-person perspective at times and some essays discourage the use of first person language in the essay. However, it grabs the reader’s attention and elicits interest in reading through the essay. Careful use of anecdotes is necessary as it may fail to trigger the expected reaction from the reader and that makes the essay more boring. 3. Pose a question A rhetoric question makes a good essay hooks. Rhetorical questions do not need to be answered right away, but the rest of the essay tries to answer the question posted earlier in the hook. Rhetorical questions set the reader in critical thinking and make them develop an interest in going through the rest of the essay to understand the perspective of the author on the topic. Rhetorical question hook is effective, though they must be framed to bring the desired effect. It is important to avoid outright ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer when writing rhetoric hooks. As the reader attempts to give his/her perspective on the question posed, he/she continues to uncover the perspective of the reader on the same topic. However, when using a question as a hook, avoid the ambiguity of what the is meaning of the question. If the reader interprets the question wrongly, the hook can kill the reader’s interest in reading the rest of the story. 4. Quoting statistics Statistics can be a sure way to grab the attention of the readers. Relevant and compelling statistics not only do they capture the attention of the reader, but also, they cement the author as factual, knowledgeable and authoritative. Listing proven facts in the paper create interest that can be carried through the essay. Facts speak for themselves, and the reader can go through the rest of the essay finding relevance and more detail of the statistics used by the author in the essay. Statistics must be wrapped in the right manner to arouse the readers interest. Being able to establish a smooth connection between the statistics and the rest of the essay is a key to ensure the reader remains drawn to the flow of the essay. However, too many statistics in an essay can be boring and dull the hook. 5. Reveal a Common Misconception The target audience has many beliefs, opinions, and ideas that might not be necessarily right or you do not agree with as the author. Revealing a common misconception, the reader might have about a certain topic, idea or phenomenon gets the reader instantly hooked into going through the rest of the essay. The reader goes through the rest of the essay to find evidence for the conception and ascertain if it is valid enough to make him/her switch positions on the topic. Challenging a common conception insinuates to the reader that they are going to learn something new and encourage them to read through the rest of the essay. The hook should feature the common conception harbored by the audience, and then the flip side the author wants to argue against. However, the hook has to be relevant to the topic, and accurate factual information has to back up the conception to keep the reader interested in reading the whole essay. Concisely, hooks can take many forms, some of which are not discussed in this essay. However, they are all meant to serve the same purpose and, therefore, found in distinctive parts of the essay. Sometimes you can write down examples of essay hooks for your essay and choose the best for your essay. They do not necessarily need to be long though their purpose should resonate throughout the essay. The hook takes a leading role to set the reader to go through the whole essay. In this article, some common essay hooks have been discussed in length. The appropriate use of each essay hook has been described in detail featuring necessary tips for using it. Hooks for essay writing have a profound effect and act as a guiding element and a reference point throughout the essay. Writers must be meticulous to ensure they come up with the best essay hook to succeed in capturing and maintaining the attention of the author.