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.
['La Harpe|Romano|R|', 'Burkhardt|Sandra|S|', 'Ricard-Gauthier|Dominique|D|', 'Poncet|Antoine|A|', 'Yaron|Michal|M|', 'Fracasso|Tony|T|']
D000328:Adult D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners D019548:Crime Victims D003625:Data Collection D005260:Female D006176:Gynecology D006801:Humans D008297:Male D010820:Physicians D012661:Semen D012742:Sex Offenses D013557:Switzerland D054041:Weapons D014947:Wounds and Injuries D055815:Young Adult
sexual assault medical examiner Public Prosecutor court forensic examination forensic science formal complaint rape