Evidence, Sexual Assaults, and Case Outcomes: Understanding the Role of Sexual Assault Kits, Non-Forensic Evidence, and Case Characteristics, 2015-2017 (ICPSR 37261)
Version Date: Mar 31, 2020 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Janine M. Zweig, Urban Institute;
Kelly Walsh, Urban Institute
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37261.v1
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
This project examined the role of sexual assault medical forensic exams (sexual assault kits) and other case characteristics in achieving investigative and prosecutorial outcomes in sexual assault cases. The study team conducted comprehensive reviews of over 500 sexual assault cases based on reports to police to identify evidence and case characteristics as they progress through case processing. Using statistical models, the study team predicted case outcomes using a variety of case, suspect, and victim characteristics, with a focus on the role of sexual assault exams and kits. Additionally, the study team interviewed key stakeholders in each site to supplement the case-level information, including law enforcement, prosecutors, representatives from victim service agencies, and sexual assault nurse examiners.
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Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Smallest Geographic Unit View help for Smallest Geographic Unit
State
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Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
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The qualitative data are not included at this time.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The goal of this study is to further the research on the sexual assault medical forensic exam's (SAMFE) impact on case processing and decision making beyond forensic DNA evidence. This work involved two jurisdictions from a northeastern state and used both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
Study Design View help for Study Design
The quantitative data collection focused on case file reviews of 534 sexual assault cases. Cases were coded prospectively from the time they were reported to law enforcement through case disposition (whether referred to prosecution or not). Case coders had an existing connection (i.e., as either interns/consultants or employees) to participating local law enforcement and prosecution agencies and had access to the relevant local data systems and partners needed to detect study-eligible cases and track progress. Coders monitored case eligibility and processing over time and recorded information about case progression into an online, secure, confidential database created by the Urban Institute.
The study team computed simple frequencies and probabilities of a case progressing to each stage of the criminal justice and forensic evidence processes, both overall and conditional on having progressed to the previous stage. The study team conducted a series of logistic regressions to estimate the relationship between a case having an SAMFE and three criminal justice outcomes: whether a suspect was identified, arrested, and/or convicted. The study team also selected several covariates to include in the models based on case, victim, and/or suspect characteristics identified in prior research as being predictive of these case outcomes.
Sample View help for Sample
Quantitative data collection focused on case file reviews of 534 sexual assault cases (n=226 from jurisdiction 1 and n=308 from jurisdiction 2). Criteria for a case to be included in the sample included: (1) the suspect was an adult, (2) the victim was age 13 or older,6 and (3) the case had an initial charge recorded by the police related to sexual misconduct and assault within the state's statute.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
Sexual assault cases reported to police with suspects processed in the adult court system and victims over the age of 12.
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Response Rates View help for Response Rates
Not applicable.
Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales
none.
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The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
This dataset is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), the criminal justice archive within ICPSR. NACJD is primarily sponsored by three agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice: the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.