If it was a male with false allegations I have no doubt he'd be pursued to the full extent.
If it was a male with false allegations I have no doubt he'd be pursued to the full extent.
Why would someone even claim that false accusations occur left and right? I don't know anyone worth listening to even in MRA communities who's made such a claim. Usually the topic of false allegations only comes up in topics regarding reduced standards for rape convictions (such as preponderance of evidence standards that many "feminists" have been striving for, and succeeding in some jurisdictions).
Perjury is a crime all its own. You can't simply avoid prosecution of it because you're afraid of harming another statistic.
From my experience volunteering in support groups (and also online anonymous groups fwiw):
For victims who are thinking about reporting the crime, I have absolutely heard the question: "Can I get in trouble if I can't prove he's guilty?"
When they do try to press charges, victims almost always want to quit, especially if it's a friend or family. The legal process is AWFUL. The police interrogate you like you are a suspect. A lot of people give up on pressing charges. I gave up on pressing charges. It's not hard for me to imagine that someone could be in a situation where they want to give up but the police want to keep going, so they decide to recant. Rape victims are NOT rational people.
If recanting is a crime, most victims will say that doesn't apply to them and wouldn't think about it. But I can imagine you can get some victims who start the legal process and say "no, I give up", and if the police try to bully them with criminal charges, there could be a huge lashback when they report back to the community. So, it could depend on how it plays out.
On the other hand, I think a massive factor in victims avoiding reporting is that people won't believe them. That is caused primarily by people who make false accusations (and rapists take advantage of this!). You could argue that prosecuting false accusers may actually do more to help increase reporting of real rapes, over time, than not prosecuting.
Last edited by Auloria; 2012-11-23 at 08:20 AM. Reason: typo
The jury did. As for how it even made it to trial, I have no idea. Once it got to trial, I know exactly what happened. The jurors, like many jurors do, assumed he was guilty because he was on trial. They believed the testimony of a little girl because 'why would she lie?' and because rape is such an emotional topic.
I don't think the punishment is particularly relevant to the people who were raped, I think what is going through their minds is an utter hatred and a profound feeling of helplessness that they don't want to expose to others when they don't think anything will come from it.
Last edited by v2prwsmb45yhuq3wj23vpjk; 2012-11-23 at 08:09 AM.
Take a rape victim. Probably panicking right? All kinds of image issues, confidence gone, self worth non existent etc etc.
Now tell them that if they give a false report they'll be raped. You don't see how they might be worried that if nothing comes of their report they'll be raped?
If I was told that falsely reporting a theft would result in all my things being taken you can sure as shit bet I won't ever report theft.
False accusation rates are around 3%. That's not "so, so many times". The only reason these stories could even effect reporting rates is because the mens rights crowd act like they're common. The problem in this regard isn't the false reports, its the people who act like they're common.You've not being paying close attention, then.
---------- Post added 2012-11-23 at 08:08 AM ----------
I enjoyed it.I believe you just argued against yourself at the same time as attempting to argue for yourself.
3%? Wow; that's high!
And that's NOT so, so many times? That's three out of every one-hundred allegations! How is that not a lot?
As for the men's rights groups: Nopes; it's not that. These stories feature so much because they make juicy drama. This is news that sells. It's tabloid news. That's why.
Absolute numbers are pointless here.
No, because nothing coming of a rape report doesn't mean that they will be convicted of a false report.
So let me get this straight, you think that false accusations are extremely low but think that reports of rape would suffer significantly by punishing an even smaller group within that 3%?False accusation rates are around 3%. That's not "so, so many times". The only reason these stories could even effect reporting rates is because the mens rights crowd act like they're common. The problem in this regard isn't the false reports, its the people who act like they're common.
They actually are pretty significant. With the way information travels, things that are uncommon can seem a lot more common simply because you can view samplings from all over due to wide spread media coverage.
and you think the possibility of it happening again wouldnt have any untoward effect? how strange.I don't think the punishment is particularly relevant to the people who were raped, I think what is going through their minds is an utter hatred and a profound feeling of helplessness that they don't want to expose to others when they don't think anything will come from it.
Would be quite ironic if she'd really get raped now, and nobody would believe her anymore.
yeah....not sure why you think a rape victim is so rationally thinking things through.No, because nothing coming of a rape report doesn't mean that they will be convicted of a false report.
Raping people for giving false reports is pretty high profile. Have that happen to a couple people and suddenly every woman who would report a rape is worried she's putting herself at risk for being raped.So let me get this straight, you think that false accusations are extremely low but think that reports of rape would suffer significantly by punishing an even smaller group within that 3%?
Really? You don't think the possibility of being raped is going to cross the mind of a rape victim?
---------- Post added 2012-11-23 at 08:16 AM ----------
I mean this is a think that already happens. Rape goes widely unreported in large part because women are afraid they won't be believed.
I still have not seen evidence of rape victims being concerned with being legally punished for reporting it. At least, not in places like the US.
I don't think they would consider it as a possibility. Kinda like with people who don't think they will be caught, only the victim feels they have right on their side.
Yeah, they worry about not being believed, not being punished. As in, they worry about pointlessly embarrassing themselves.I mean this is a think that already happens. Rape goes widely unreported in large part because women are afraid they won't be believed.
I wonder how guilty she feels, and how long it has played on her mind - I imagine that would leave you really fucked up - she will need therapy