According to Smalarz and Wells (2014), the leading cause of wrongful convictions is eyewitness misidentification. Smalarz and Wells described a unique case where a rape victim, JT, had the opportunity to correctly identify her attacker. JT’s lawyer had received reports of her attacker bragging about getting away with the rape while he was in prison for another crime. The victim, JT, incorrectly identified the attacker, she actually choose the same person she choose in her first line up after the assault. The information JT’s lawyer presented her had essential information on the case and to convict the culprit but, the timing of the information was received too late.…
Complainants in sexual assault cases must relive their trauma in the courtroom while sitting across the room from the person who caused it. This itself can put an enormous strain on the survivor, but on top of that every aspect of their behaviour before, during, and after the assault will be dissected on the stand. If they prove to be anything less than the model victim that is expected of them their credibility will be called into question. What the Ghomeshi case has told survivors is that if they had contact or a relationship with their assaulter after the incident occurred, it will be thrown in their face, and their explanations will fall on deaf ears. If they were romantically and sexually interested in their assaulter before the assault, it will be used to discredit them. Both of these things happened in the Ghomeshi…
The investigation of rape and other sex crimes represents a significant challenge for the criminal investigator. The manner in which the investigation is conducted can have an impact not only on a successful conclusion in court, but also on the psychological and social well-being of the victim. Sex crimes, more so than many other forms of criminal activity, are likely to leave an emotional scar that can last a lifetime. (Osterburg, J. 2014).…
In the article "Child Sexual Abuse’s Second Shame” by Nick Bryant, the author talks about the latest variations on a theme of abuse by churches and respected organizations like the Boy Scouts. Before 2002, he wrote extensively on children's issues, and then stumbled across a 1987 U.S. Customs report on a "child abuse investigation" that the agency was conducting. Two men Involved in this investigation had been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child abuse. Six children, whose ages ranged from two to six years old, had been placed in Florida's child protective services. Later, Federal authorities left the two men free from jail by dropping the charges and ultimately canceled the investigation. Bryant spent years researching and writing…
Possibly the single most greatest cause of wrongful convictions worldwide is eyewitness misidentifications. Although eyewitness testimony can be very convincing and persuasive before a judge and jury, not too many people have a photographic memory. Only 3% of people worldwide have a photographic memory. An eyewitnesses memory is not as accurate as watching a surveillance tape of the crime. Instead, eyewitness identification must be preserved carefully, just like any other evidence collected in the case. All the more reason that a witnesses statement should be taken immediately and then be asked the same questions at a later time to ensure the stories match up. If there is any major variation in a witness statement, they should not be allowed to testify during a trial. This may lead to unreliable information and wrongfully portray how the crime had taken place and who was involved. A 1982 case involving a man, Calvin Willis, was convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison with no parole for aggravated rape of a 10 year old girl. Blood and seminal stains were collected from the clothing and bedding and Willis was identified as a contributor…
One emergent sub-theme to arise for all participants was the importance and significance of the connection between working with both victims and sex offenders, as they believed it provided a true representation and an overall interconnecting picture, “you get the balance, you get the full sort of picture or you get the full experience or impact from both parties so you don’t become too skewed in a way”.…
The Sexual Offences Act 1976 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It made provision in relation to rape and related offences. This Act put the Sex Offenders Register in action for identification and tracking purposes. This Act protects vulnerable people from danger, by tracking sex offenders.…
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 is important in the reduction of risk of sexual abuse in health and social care settings. This is because, the Act makes employees feel safe and secure reporting incidents, including incidents of sexual abuse to the their managers. Therefore, if any employee were to become aware of sexual abuse that has or is occurring within their health or social care working environment, they could report this, and the manager could Act on the information, and implement action against the employee or service user carrying out the sexual abuse. Under the Act, if the management failed to act on information regarding sexual abuse, the employee could take the information to an external agency, such as the Care Quality Commission, who could implement action to prevent the risk of sexual abuse continuing. For example, they could order the care provider to dismiss any staff that have been sexually abusing a service…
Sex crimes in Tennessee are offenses that the public does not tolerate .These crimes are viewed as…
Vogts, M. (2000, December 5). Sex Offenders have the Right to Privacy. The Daily O 'Collegian. Retrieved September 3, 2008.…
Consider the role of a learning support professional in a school. Outline the considerations for someone in that role when dealing with confidential information.…
Freeman-Longo, R. E. (2000). Revisiting Megan 's Law and Sex Offender Registration: Prevention or Problem. Retrieved from https://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/appa/pubs/RML.pdf…
The state of Georgia requires the disclosure of every sex offender’s address in a given area. Research also show that 67% of sexual assaults are victims under the age of 18. Almost 2/3 of all sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim. At the moment all 50 states have a registration and tracking system to monitor the sex offenders’ movement. In the past there have been various attempts to enact laws that help register people who’ve committed crimes (sexual assault). The most noted law was the Jacob Wetterling Act; this law required states to put into action a Crimes against Children and Sex Offender Registry. Jacob Wetterling has never been found.…
Anyone responsible for sexual assault should be held accountable; nonetheless, I strongly believe that the punishment should fit both the offense and the offender (“Unjust” 656). Many sex offenders, especially violent ones, are at a high risk of committing a similar crime and we as a community should be able to deter such crimes. However, the challenge is that not all sex offenders are the same, and laws dictating who has to register have become so general that they vary from crimes as brutal as the sexual abuse of a child to more minor offenses, such as being caught urinating in a public park (Yoder).…
In my role as a support worker I may encounter a situation where the matter of confidentiality has to be weighed up against the welfare of the individual in question. In these instances confidentiality has to be broken to meet my obligations and duty of care in reporting to the correct and relevant authorities e.g. safeguarding; this has the potential for tension but for the greater good, must be adhered…