Laura Giroux
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
The legal system is supposed to protect and assist sexual assault survivors, yet sometimes the very system that ought to protect trauma survivors can revictimize them through the improper handling of sexual assault investigations.
Unbelievable, a miniseries that recently aired on Netflix, is based on the true story of the 2008-2011 serial rape cases that occurred in Washington and Colorado. The documentary series focuses on the accounts of Marie*, a teenager who is coerced by law enforcement into recanting her report of sexual assault and subsequently charged for making a false report.
One night, Marie was attacked in her home, tied up, and raped repeatedly at knifepoint. After a series of ‘interviews’ that rather took the tone of interrogations, the police deemed Marie’s story to be unbelievable, citing inconsistencies in her stories as well as her troubled past of abuse and foster homes. The series highlights how flaws within the criminal justice system–such as the perpetuation of rape myths and ill-equipped law enforcement personnel supporting sexual assault survivors–can be detrimental to the wellbeing of those who come forward.
By claiming that the inconsistencies in Marie’s story combined with her troubled past point to the falseness of her allegation, the officers demonstrate a lack of compassion, gaps in training, and ultimately are uninformed in dealing with sexual assault investigations. A survivor’s past is not relevant to the truthfulness of their allegation. Furthermore, when someone is experiencing extreme trauma, memory processes do not function as they normally do, meaning that survivors may have discrepancies when recounting the details of their assault.
The treatment Marie received when reporting her assault is one of the many reasons survivors often withdraw their allegations of sexual assault or fail to report the assault in the first place. They fear that the police will not believe them or that the criminal investigation process will retraumatize them.
As a society, we must stop perpetuating rape myths–such as the myth that victims often fabricate their stories or that inconsistencies point to a false report. The legal system must strive to be better equipped in dealing with sexual assault survivors; it must train its personnel to use a trauma-informed approach when interacting with those who report. It is crucial that the courageous survivors of sexual assault not only be treated with the utmost compassion and respect during the investigation, but also, they must be believed.
Sexual Assault Resources:
SAC Kingston Website: http://sackingston.com/
SAC Kingston 24 Hour Crisis Line: 613-544-6424
SAC Kingston General Office: 613-545-0762
*Marie is the real woman’s middle name
Comments