Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Patrick Donnay
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to answer the question of which factors that influence the believability of a woman who comes forward to disclose a sexual assault are the most impactful. My methodology consisted of conducting interviews with attorneys who have participated in both the defense and prosecution of criminal sexual conduct cases to evaluate whether the trends revealed in the literature on a macro scale apply to the micro-scale in northern Minnesota. Findings showed that the majority of patterns revealed in the literature did in fact influence the credibility of victims of sexual assault in Beltrami County, Minnesota including chemicals, facts, false reporting, and post-assault contact. Also suggested in the findings were added reasons influential to a victim delaying their reporting and the discussion of how common of a trend not believing a victim of sexual assault is in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Recommended Citation
Carlson, Stephanie, "Factors Influencing the Credibility and Believability of Victims of Sexual Assault" (2022). Political Science Theses and Capstones. 23.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/capstone-polisci/23
Included in
Criminology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Psychology Commons, Litigation Commons, Psychology Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, Sexuality and the Law Commons
