Research has shown that both legal and extra-legal factors are used by the prosecutor in a sexual assault case when making the decision to file charges in the case. However, no study on sexual assault prosecutorial discretion, at this time, has examined the effect of prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender and the affect that it has on the prosecutor’s decision to file charges. Using data from a National Institute of Justice Study on sexual assault case processing, this study tests whether evidence of prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender plays a role in the prosecutor’s decision to file charges in sexual assault cases. This study also examines the effect of the interaction between extra-legal factors and prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender.

Sexual victimization is associated with risky sexual behaviors. Limited research has examined mechanisms via which victimization affects risk behaviors, particularly following different types of sexual victimization. This study examined self-worth as a mediator of the relationship between sexual victimization history: contact childhood sexual abuse (CSA), completed rape in adolescence/adulthood (adolescent/adulthood sexual assault [ASA]), and combined CSA/ASA, and two sexual risk behaviors: past year partners and one-time encounters. Participants were diverse (57.9% African American), low-income women recruited from an OB-GYN waiting room (n = 646). Women with a history of sexual victimization, 29.8% (n = 186) reported lower self-worth, t(586) = 5.26, p < .001, and more partners, t(612) = 2.45, p < .01, than nonvictims. Self-worth was a significant mediator only among women with combined CSA/ASA histories in both risk behavior models.

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In 2002, 28.9% of women reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime (Coker et al., 2002). Previous literature has linked IPV with negative mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and low self esteem (Coker et al., 2002). Few studies have examined the relationship between different types of IPV (physical, psychological, sexual abuse and assault) and outcomes. The studies on IPV types to date have examined their links with mental illnesses and pathologies (i.e. Coker et al., 2002; Hazen et al., 2008; Hedtke et al., 2008), but less so to broader psychosocial variables such as perceived control. In a previous study of ours, we examined perceived control as a possible mediator between IPV in general and outcomes of anxiety and self-esteem (Taylor & Williams, 2009). The present study extends this prior work by assessing the relation between different types of IPV (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual abuse by a partner, and sexual assault including self-identification as rape victim) and perceived control and anxiety. Participants consisted of 424 female college students at a southeastern university who completed an online survey about various life events they may have experienced and their self-related beliefs. Multiple regression analysis was conducted with all IPV types examined simultaneously, to determine the type(s) the unique relations between each type of IPV and sexual assault and low perceived control and anxiety among women. Results revealed that psychological IPV was significantly related to lower perceived control (b =.250, p<.01) and greater anxiety (b =.386, p<.001). In addition, self identification as a rape victim was significantly related to greater anxiety (b =.252, p<.05). Thus, psychological abuse consistently emerged as uniquely predictive of psychosocial outcomes. Future research should further assess the relations between types of IPV and other psychosocial variables such as self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

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Dating App Facilitated Sexual Assault (DAppSA) is a new phenomenon and growing concern. Research on DAppSA is extremely limited. This study aimed to identify unique victim and assault characteristics associated with DAppSAs. A retrospective SAMFE chart review of patients (N = 3,413) from 2017 to 2020 was conducted. Sexual assault nurse examiners completed SAMFEs. Inclusion criteria for DAppSA cases included 1) victim was 14 years of age or older; 2) victim indicated they met the perpetrator on a dating website or app; 3) the SA occurred at the initial in-person meeting; 4) victim had a SAMFE with evidence collection. DAppSAs were compared to non-DAppSA acquaintance SAs. DAppSAs (n=274) represented 8.02% of overall cases and 13.92% of acquaintance SAs (n=1,968). DAppSA victims had unique characteristics including a higher percentage of male victims (7.5%), college students (22.2%), and victims with self-reported mental illness (59.6%). Victims were less likely to fight back during the assault with lower percentages of kicking (5.8%) and hitting (9%). DAppSA victims and perpetrators were less likely to use drugs or alcohol before/during the assault. DAppSA perpetrators were shown to be more violent and pre-meditated, with higher condom use (15%) rates of washing the victim (13.8%), ejaculation (52.7%), lubrication use (14.2%), and strangulation (32.4%). DAppSAs had more assaultive/penetrative acts with 89.4% reporting penile penetration. DAppSA victims had more documented physical injuries (71.4%) and anogenital injuries (50.2%). DAppSA victims were also found to have unique characteristics and increased vulnerabilities of SA. DAppSA cases were more violent, premeditated, and resulted in more injuries. Implications for nursing practice to address safety concerns and improve care to survivors are discussed.

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Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis has become a valuable tool in identifying the source of biological stains, particularly from the investigation of sexual assault crimes. Difficulties in analysis arise primarily in the interpretation of mixed genotypes when cell separation of the sexual assailant's sperm from the victim's cells is incomplete. The forensic community continues to seek improvements in cell separation methods from mixtures for DNA typing. This report describes the use of laser microdissection (LMD) for the separation of pure populations of spermatozoa from two-donor cell mixtures. In this study, cell separation was demonstrated by microscopic identification of histologically stained spermatozoa and female buccal cell mixtures, and STR analysis of DNA obtained from the separated sperm cells. Clear profiles of the male donor were obtained with the absence of any additional alleles from the female donor. Five histological stains were evaluated for use with LMD and DNA analysis: hematoxylin/eosin, nuclear fast red/picroindigocarmine, methyl green, Wright's stain, and acridine orange. Hematoxylin/eosin out-performed all other stains however nuclear fast red/picroindigocarmine could be used satisfactorily with STR analysis. In addition, three DNA isolation methods were evaluated for LMD collected cells: QIAamp (Qiagen), microLYSIS (Microzone Ltd.) and Lyse-N-Go (Pierce Chemical Co.). MicroLYSIS performed poorly, yielding low levels of PCR product. Lyse-N-Go extraction was effective for the recovery of DNA from LMD collected sperm cells while QIAamp isolation performed best for the recovery of DNA from LMD collected epithelial cells. LMD is shown to be an effective, low-manipulation separation method that enables the recovery of sperm while excluding epithelial cell DNA.

The current study examines judicial discourse about BDSM activities within decisions rendered in Canada during the past 20 years. A recent uprise in popular culture representation has resulted in a greater uptake of Bondage / Discipline / Dominance / Submission / Sadism / Masochism (BDSM) in the sexual lives of Canadians. Little research to date has been completed to analyze the implications that the uprise may have on the legal system when BDSM cases are presented. In particular, the legal system is being tasked with interpreting many different consent standards through the narrow affirmative-based definition found under Section 273.1 (1). The current study employed a qualitative analysis of all Canadian criminal court cases and appeals available in legal software that dealt with the issues of consent and BDSM (n=23) over a 20-year time frame. The study found that judges must interpret 4 different types of consent found within sexual relationships: affirmative consent, advanced consent to unconscious acts, consent to bodily harm and mistaken consent. Finally, the current study found that the way judges interpreted BDSM consent standards reflects a wider shift in governance from legal moralist thinking to a neoliberal paternalist governance.