What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary

While rape historically remains underreported all over the globe, and criminal justice factors contribute to this problem, we investigate unique circumstances that might influence reporting inclinations by Hungarian victims of sexual violence. Among other possible factors, victim-blaming, institutio...

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Main Authors: Katalin Parti, Robin A. Robinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Queensland University of Technology 2021-09-01
Series:International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/1851
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author Katalin Parti
Robin A. Robinson
author_facet Katalin Parti
Robin A. Robinson
author_sort Katalin Parti
collection DOAJ
description While rape historically remains underreported all over the globe, and criminal justice factors contribute to this problem, we investigate unique circumstances that might influence reporting inclinations by Hungarian victims of sexual violence. Among other possible factors, victim-blaming, institutional desensitization, and a lack of trust in the criminal justice system and in the community are discussed. The in-depth interviews (n = 22) with law enforcement and criminal justice professionals conducted in 2018 in Hungary reveal roots of underreporting in the complexities of the criminal justice system: there is a failure to prioritize victims’ needs—mental care services, physical and privacy protection—and a focus instead on solely providing legal justice. The further deficits that can be found among professionals’ attitudes and behaviors in the courtroom are products of the following: a lack of standardized protocols in addressing the needs of victims; a dearth of technical and evidence-based knowledge and training; a lack of supervision and trauma-informed services to practitioners; high caseloads; a focus on the goal of high conviction rates; not providing open communication toward victims; and a shortage of standardized protocols in dealing with victims.
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spelling doaj.art-c00d58a719974c4f8d48f11411e05f2c2022-12-21T18:28:59ZengQueensland University of TechnologyInternational Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy2202-79982202-80052021-09-0110315817610.5204/ijcjsd.18512131What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in HungaryKatalin Parti0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8484-3237Robin A. Robinson1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5834-7806Women and Gender Studies Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis UniversityWhile rape historically remains underreported all over the globe, and criminal justice factors contribute to this problem, we investigate unique circumstances that might influence reporting inclinations by Hungarian victims of sexual violence. Among other possible factors, victim-blaming, institutional desensitization, and a lack of trust in the criminal justice system and in the community are discussed. The in-depth interviews (n = 22) with law enforcement and criminal justice professionals conducted in 2018 in Hungary reveal roots of underreporting in the complexities of the criminal justice system: there is a failure to prioritize victims’ needs—mental care services, physical and privacy protection—and a focus instead on solely providing legal justice. The further deficits that can be found among professionals’ attitudes and behaviors in the courtroom are products of the following: a lack of standardized protocols in addressing the needs of victims; a dearth of technical and evidence-based knowledge and training; a lack of supervision and trauma-informed services to practitioners; high caseloads; a focus on the goal of high conviction rates; not providing open communication toward victims; and a shortage of standardized protocols in dealing with victims.https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/1851sexual violencereportingpoliceprosecutionjudgecriminal justicehungary
spellingShingle Katalin Parti
Robin A. Robinson
What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
sexual violence
reporting
police
prosecution
judge
criminal justice
hungary
title What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
title_full What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
title_fullStr What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
title_full_unstemmed What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
title_short What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary
title_sort what hinders victims from reporting sexual violence a qualitative study with police officers prosecutors and judges in hungary
topic sexual violence
reporting
police
prosecution
judge
criminal justice
hungary
url https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/1851
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