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Police doubt of sexual assault victims predicts whether cases are ever prosecuted, as the reopened Cornell case shows
As a clinical social worker with 20+ years in practice, I've watched the news out of Cornell stir up a lot for survivors this week. New York prosecutors just announced they're reopening a 2024 case in which a student says she was drugged and raped by multiple men at a fraternity house. No criminal charges were ever filed. It took her own lawsuit to get the case looked at again.
The research suggests this isn't an anomaly. King and Bostaph (2024, Journal of Interpersonal Violence) analyzed 175 sexual assault police reports and found officer doubt about the victim's statements or credibility in about 27% of cases. That doubt significantly reduced the likelihood of arrest and referral for prosecution, even after controlling for other case factors. In other words, whether a victim is believed early on shapes whether the case ever reaches a prosecutor.
That matters because false reports are rare. The most cited estimate puts them at roughly 2–10% of cases (Lisak et al., 2010). When skepticism is the default, the system loses far more real cases than it screens out false ones.
"Believe victims" doesn't mean skipping due process. It means starting an investigation from the assumption that the report deserves one. Like #MeToo did, cases like this remind many survivors how often that doesn't happen.
Curious what others here, especially those in clinical, forensic, or law enforcement roles, have seen.
#people
As a clinical social worker with 20+ years in practice, I've watched the news out of Cornell stir up a lot for survivors this week. New York prosecutors just announced they're reopening a 2024 case in which a student says she was drugged and raped by multiple men at a fraternity house. No criminal charges were ever filed. It took her own lawsuit to get the case looked at again.
The research suggests this isn't an anomaly. King and Bostaph (2024, Journal of Interpersonal Violence) analyzed 175 sexual assault police reports and found officer doubt about the victim's statements or credibility in about 27% of cases. That doubt significantly reduced the likelihood of arrest and referral for prosecution, even after controlling for other case factors. In other words, whether a victim is believed early on shapes whether the case ever reaches a prosecutor.
That matters because false reports are rare. The most cited estimate puts them at roughly 2–10% of cases (Lisak et al., 2010). When skepticism is the default, the system loses far more real cases than it screens out false ones.
"Believe victims" doesn't mean skipping due process. It means starting an investigation from the assumption that the report deserves one. Like #MeToo did, cases like this remind many survivors how often that doesn't happen.
Curious what others here, especially those in clinical, forensic, or law enforcement roles, have seen.
#people
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I’d rather deal with an old creepy man at work than a dramatic woman
NSFW because mention of sexual harassment etc
This is probably the most unpopular opinion I have as a woman but honestly I’d (26F) rather deal with an old creepy man at work than a dramatic woman.
And before anyone starts, no I am not saying sexual harassment is okay. It isn’t. Ever. It should be taken seriously and it should not be tolerated EVER in any workplace.
I guess the old creepy guy is usually pretty straightforward. He says something weird, you make a face, avoid him when possible, and continue with your day. Is it annoying? Yes. Is it inappropriate? Absolutely. But at least I know what I’m dealing with.
The workplace drama from some women is a whole different level of exhausting. It’s the gossiping. The talking behind people’s backs. The fake compliments. The weird competition that nobody agreed to participate in. The analyzing every little thing someone says. The group chats. The cliques. The pretending to be your friend while quietly trying to make you look bad. Some women will spend more energy managing office politics than actually doing their jobs.
What kinda drives me insane is that nobody talks about it because it doesn’t look as obvious as harassment. Everyone can point to the creepy comment and agree it’s inappropriate. It’s a lot harder to point to six months of passive aggressive nonsense, exclusion, rumors, and what feels like pure psychological warfare.
I’ve worked with amazing women. Some of the best mentors, scientists, managers, and friends I’ve ever had are women. This isn’t a “women are bad” post. Maybe it’s because unfortunately I’m kind of used to dealing with creepy men. I know how to handle it. I know the script. It’s familiar. What I never get used to is the nonstop drama like what are we teenagers. The constant gossip. The weird obsession with who likes who and who said what and who got invited where and who got more recognition.
I came to work. I want to do my job and go home.
At this point if the choice is between one old guy making a weird comment about my appearance and spending eight hours trapped in an office soap opera, I’m taking the weird comment and getting on with my day.
I know that’s probably really bad to say especially after the #metoo thing but damn women in the workplace are really something sometimes and we need to be better and hold ourselves accountable just like how we hold men accountable for their poor behaviors.
#conversation
source
NSFW because mention of sexual harassment etc
This is probably the most unpopular opinion I have as a woman but honestly I’d (26F) rather deal with an old creepy man at work than a dramatic woman.
And before anyone starts, no I am not saying sexual harassment is okay. It isn’t. Ever. It should be taken seriously and it should not be tolerated EVER in any workplace.
I guess the old creepy guy is usually pretty straightforward. He says something weird, you make a face, avoid him when possible, and continue with your day. Is it annoying? Yes. Is it inappropriate? Absolutely. But at least I know what I’m dealing with.
The workplace drama from some women is a whole different level of exhausting. It’s the gossiping. The talking behind people’s backs. The fake compliments. The weird competition that nobody agreed to participate in. The analyzing every little thing someone says. The group chats. The cliques. The pretending to be your friend while quietly trying to make you look bad. Some women will spend more energy managing office politics than actually doing their jobs.
What kinda drives me insane is that nobody talks about it because it doesn’t look as obvious as harassment. Everyone can point to the creepy comment and agree it’s inappropriate. It’s a lot harder to point to six months of passive aggressive nonsense, exclusion, rumors, and what feels like pure psychological warfare.
I’ve worked with amazing women. Some of the best mentors, scientists, managers, and friends I’ve ever had are women. This isn’t a “women are bad” post. Maybe it’s because unfortunately I’m kind of used to dealing with creepy men. I know how to handle it. I know the script. It’s familiar. What I never get used to is the nonstop drama like what are we teenagers. The constant gossip. The weird obsession with who likes who and who said what and who got invited where and who got more recognition.
I came to work. I want to do my job and go home.
At this point if the choice is between one old guy making a weird comment about my appearance and spending eight hours trapped in an office soap opera, I’m taking the weird comment and getting on with my day.
I know that’s probably really bad to say especially after the #metoo thing but damn women in the workplace are really something sometimes and we need to be better and hold ourselves accountable just like how we hold men accountable for their poor behaviors.
#conversation
source
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Cate Blanchett Says #MeToo ‘Got Killed Very Quickly’ and She’s Still on Movie Sets Where There’s ’10 Women and 75 Men’: ‘It Just Gets Boring’
#entertainment
#entertainment
