Drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault bibliography

The Giving Voice project uses the accounts of victim/survivors to provide further insight into the behaviours, strategies and tactics of sexual offenders. This report presents findings from the project, which features interviews with 33 victim/survivors of sexual assault in Australia, practitioner consultations, and a literature review of sexual offending strategies. The victim/survivor narratives about where, when, and how they were assaulted show that opportunities for sexual offending are deeply embedded in ordinary, everyday contexts. Perpetrators used the resources present in any given situation to overpower and overcome the women, and conceal, deny, and excuse the offence. The report discusses victim and perpetrator characteristics, the circumstances of the assault, perpetrator strategies and planning, and the implications of this research for prevention and policy.

This book explores young people's views and experiences regarding love, sex, relationships, and negotiating consent. Drawing upon interviews with 117 young people in Australia, aged 14-24, the book examines the 'unwritten rules' of gender and power in which sexual negotiations take place, as well as the impact of sex education and popular culture. Chapters include: Generation Y: problematic representations of 'youth' and 'sex'; Sex: the 'new' rules of engagement; Power: framing sexual violence in young people's everyday encounters; Consent: negotiating consensual sex; Technology: unauthorised sexual images and sexual violence; Education: sex, power and consent in schools; Prevention: policy, programs and practical strategies; and Rewriting the rules, preventing sexual violence.

This compendium summarises research findings on different aspects of sexual assault, as deemed relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense. Sections include: victim risk factors; perpetrator risk factors; alcohol; context and prevention of sexual assault; recovery and coping; sexual assault disclosure; health care programs and services; victim advocacy programs and services; and investigative and legal processes. The research is largely drawn from US literature, though some international reports are included. An introductory chapter discusses the background of sexual assault research, the prevalence of sexual assault, and historical and legal milestones relevant to sexual assault.

This article discusses holding the sexual perpetrator accountable for sexual assault, rather than pointing the finger at the victim, particularly when alcohol is involved. The author stresses that alcohol is not an excuse for sexual assault, nor is it a reason to put the blame on the victim.

The 'Study of reported rapes in Victoria 2000-2003: summary research report' presents the results of an extensive analysis of police investigations into rape offences in Victoria. The report provides particular insight into those cases that enter the criminal justice system and are filtered out. Overall, the study shows a high attrition rate for rape that might have actually increased, with offenders charged in only 15 per cent of cases. In particular, Aboriginal victims, victims with a mental illness or psychiatric disability, and those influenced by alcohol or other drugs around the time of the offence were some of the groups of people least likely to see charges laid. This article discusses the background of the study, its aims and methods, and then provides an abridged summary of the main findings in relation to the outcomes of cases, the relationship between case characteristics and case outcomes, and cases involving diverse groups.

Some studies and anecdotal evidence suggest a rise in domestic violence at certain times of year or with certain public events. This paper presents findings from a study on the possible relationship between seasonal changes and weather, public holidays, and football events and reported domestic violence incidents. After discussing international studies, the authors examine Australian state statistics on domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, homicide, domestic violence orders, and alcohol related assaults, for 2003 to 2005. Incidents are compared with public holidays including Christmas and New Years Day, days of the week, football finals, and the rising temperature of summer. The evidence suggest some correlation, which has implications for policing and prevention strategies. The authors stress that these factors do not cause people to become violent, but are instead associated with increased alcohol consumption, interpersonal and child contact, and opportunities for violence.

The Model Criminal Code Officers' Committee (MCCOC)(now known as the Committee as the Model Criminal Law Officers' Committee) was established by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to investigate the development of a national Model Criminal Code for Australian jurisdictions. One aspect of their work was to investigate the issue of drink spiking, whereby intoxicants are added to drinks or other products without the consent of the person who consumes it, whether as a 'prank' or a precursor to a more serious crime, such as robbery, sexual assault, or homicide. This report provides the results of the Committee's deliberations, which find that there appears to be no gap in the criminal law as it applies to very serious offences involving drink-spiking. The Committee notes that 'it is not good policy to recommend the enactment of a specific criminal offence merely 'to raise the profile of the issue in the community''.

This study examines the lifetime prevalence, past year prevalence, characteristics, and mental health impact of rape among adult women in the United States. Interviews were conducted with 5,000 women aged 18-86, with 2,000 of these currently attending colleges and universities. The study investigated case characteristics of drug-facilitated and forcible rapes, including injury, strangers versus known perpetrators, and help seeking. The report also investigated factors affecting the willingness of women to report rape to law enforcement or seek help from their support network, medical practitioners, or the legal system.

This report discusses issues in the prosecution of alcohol-facilitated sexual assault in the United States, focusing on cases where the victim is voluntarily intoxicated. The report suggests a three-step process for prosecuting such cases: (1) making the charging decision; (2) analysing credibility and corroboration; and (3) trying the case. Topics include consent, distinguishing rape from drunken sex, medical evidence, and expert witnesses. The report features a background overview on toxicology and sample questions for witnesses.

Victim credibility is the most influential factor in police and prosecutorial decisions to litigate a sexual assault claim. Perceived credibility is influenced by situational factors and social perceptions about what constitutes 'real rape'. Victim intoxication influences perceptions of sexual assault through general expectations about one's own behaviour and that of others. This study investigated the influence of complainant intoxication (sober v moderately intoxicated) on attributions of blame, responsibility, credibility, likelihood of charging and conviction in an acquaintance rape case. Participants were 197 university students and community volunteers who read controverted 'he said she said' police statements about an alleged sexual assault. The complainant was perceived as more credible and less responsible and blameworthy than the defendant. However, complainant intoxication did not directly influence perceptions of complainant or defendant credibility, responsibility or blame.

This study assessed features associated with the perpetration of drink spiking. A sample of 805 18-35 year old Australians reported on a number of behaviours, some of which are generally considered to be more socially acceptable than others. Almost half of the sample reported at least one experience of purchasing or mixing cocktails for others, while smaller proportions reported adding alcohol to punch, and adding alcoholic shots or prescription or illicit substances to beverages belonging to other people. Purchasing or mixing cocktails for others, adding alcohol to punch, or adding alcoholic shots to alcoholic beverages were predicted by beliefs that deliberately causing intoxication in others is acceptable and that alcohol consumption by others is indicative of their sexual attraction to participants. Engagement in these behaviours was also predicted by participants' illicit substance use and participation in casual sexual activity.

This study sought to investigate drink spiking protective behaviours in university students. A self administered questionnaire exploring drink spiking issues was completed by 113 female and 42 male volunteer students. Hierarchical regression was used to test the predictive influence of age, gender, responsibility for preventing drink spiking and apathy in engagement in protective behaviours. Perceived responsibility for preventing drink spiking was measured using statements that attributed responsibility for drunkenness and having a drink spiked to either victims or perpetrators. General apathy was measured with a six point Likert scale. Frequency of engagement in self protective behaviours was measured in relation to behaviours regularly promoted in drink spiking awareness campaigns. Females and younger students engaged in more drink spiking protective behaviours. The more apathy expressed in relation to general issues, the less engagement in protective behaviours. Gender and age explained 13.2 per cent of the variation in engagement in protective behaviours.

The Sexual Offences Awareness Program (SOAP) was a school-based pilot initiative, developed between police, community services and local schools. It involved two lesson plans that could be presented by police with teacher support within secondary schools. It aimed to raise young people's awareness of sexual assault and dangerous situations, promote behaviours which would reduce their exposure to potential assaults, and advise them of the rights of and support services for victims of sexual assault. The evaluation was based primarily on pre and post surveys administered to students which measured changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, particularly in relation to parties and events involving alcohol and drug use.

This research brief examines what is known about drink spiking, the clandestine addition of an illicit substance or extra alcohol to another person's drink. It looks at the nature and extent of drink spiking, the effects of drink spiking, the experience of victims, drugs used in drink spiking, obstacles to drink spiking investigations, laws available in Australia to prosecute offenders, the Model Criminal Code Officer's Drink spiking discussion paper, legislative proposals in Queensland, and other efforts to prevent drink spiking.

This DVD for young people contains information about, and dramatic illustrations of, consent to sexual activity. It gives definitions of consent, sexual assault and sexual abuse, and discusses drink spiking, internet safety, alcohol and other drugs, date rape and the effects of sexual assault. The accompanying training notes include suggestions for group discussion.

This discussion paper was produced by the Model Criminal Code Committee (MCCOC) as part of a review of the criminal law relating to drink spiking. After reviewing recent findings about drink spiking, it examines the extent to which existing offences in Australian jurisdictions criminalise drink spiking as well as the historical basis for relevant criminal provisions in each state and territory jurisdiction. The paper also critiques the reforms and various initiatives that have been implemented by states and territories to date. It concludes that there appears to be no gap in the criminal law as it applies to very serious offences, and that there is no warrant for having just one 'drink spiking' offence. Arguing that the weakness in the law lies at the least serious end of the scale, it recommends that all Australian jurisdictions enact an offence of 'mere' drink spiking (without further intent).

This article investigates the incidence of drink spiking in sexual assault in Victoria, with a study of forensic cases featuring unexpected toxicology (i.e. evidence of possible covert drug administration). Adult sexual assault case records from the Victoria Institute of Forensic medicine were examined for a 12-month period, with 76 cases of suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault identified. This article discusses the findings of the study, which found that majority of cases featured voluntary consumption of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit recreational drugs. Though the study indicates that the covert use of drugs in sexual assault cases is uncommon, the frequent high levels of alcohol is cause for concern. Also, the actual incidence of drug-facilitated sexual assault may be higher of lower, due to inaccurate self reporting of drug consumption, or delayed- or under-reporting of assault.

This report addresses the questions of when, and in what ways, an accused's state of intoxication (whether by alcohol or drugs) is relevant to their trial for a criminal offence. The focus is on the criminal code of Tasmania, though reference is made to other comparable jurisdictions. An earlier issues paper on the topic argued that the law in Tasmania in relation to intoxication was uncertain, illogical, inconsistent, unprincipled and unduly complex, and therefore in need of reform. The report makes 13 recommendations for reform, including the key recommendation that evidence of intoxication should be relevant to any mental element, including intention, knowledge, foresight of consequences and whether the act was voluntary or intentional.

This paper aims to promote fresh perspectives on prevention strategies through an exploration of Australian responses to drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault and by examining the conceptual limitations of situating voluntary drug and alcohol use outside a drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault paradigm. There are inherent contradictions in prevention campaigns aimed at minimising women's 'risk behaviour': they fail to uphold the rights of victim survivors and to hold perpetrators accountable. Australian approaches to drink spiking thus far have been inadequate in addressing the issue of drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault, and have offered little in the way of prevention approaches. This article explores Australian campaigns to date and ways forward in effective prevention.

This code of practice describes the way Victoria Police members must respond to reports of sexual assault. The aims of the code and the functions of Victoria Police are detailed here. The code covers caring for the victim; ensuring prompt medical attention; drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault; Indigenous communities; culturally and linguistically diverse communities; victims with disabilities; victims with a mental illness; victims with a cognitive impairment; children; mandatory reporting; paediatric forensic medical services; guidelines for police who receive the initial report of a sexual assault; guidelines for police who are first on the scene; guidelines for Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit members; guidelines for police interviewing a sexual assault victim; guidelines for investigators; procedures for no further police action; past sexual assaults; recent sexual assaults; support services; monitoring adherence to the guidelines; Victoria Police - Centre Against Sexual Assault liaison committees; and resources.

This book considers how the law treats nonconsensual sex, in cases between acquaintances and without extreme physical violence. The book discusses the nature of consent, coercion, and autonomy, with reference to attitudes of the law and other academics.

A 2004 Australian Institute of Criminology report shows that drink spiking in Australia is under reported to police and other authorities. This fact sheet shows figures for reported drink spiking, compared with drink spiking incidents notified informally to a hotline.

This report examines the issue of drug and alcohol assisted sexual assault, commonly known as drink spiking. It looks at literature from Australian and International resources, anecdotal information and interviews with agencies dealing with drug and alcohol assisted sexual assault and prevention strategies that target young people. Statistics suggest that at least one in five cases of sexual assault reported to NSW health services are drug and alcohol facilitated and anecdotal evidence and victim surveys suggest that drug and alcohol assisted sexual assault is an under-reported crime.

Developed as part of a broader project, the first stage of which was an awareness raising campaign, 'Watch Your Drink, Yourself and Your Friend', this protocol has been developed to ensure all victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault receive appropriate treatment and referrals as required; and to improve the current services provided to victims/survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault by promoting better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each service provider, which results in appropriate referrals of victims/survivors. The protocol includes information about the extent of the problem of drink spiking, and, as an appendix, a Literature review on drug facilitated sexual assault by Liz Kasteel.

Knowledge about drink spiking in Australia is currently very limited but there have been suggestions that incidents of drink spiking have been increasing in recent times. The Australian Institute of Criminology was commissioned to undertake stage one of a national drink spiking project on behalf of the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs. This first stage focuses on identifying the nature and extent of drink spiking in Australia and identifying communication and educational initiatives to prevent and respond to drink spiking. This report summarises the literature and research to date on drink spiking; analyses data from a range of sources (including police data and data from a national telephone hotline conducted with drink spiking victims) to build an empirical evidence base on drink spiking; highlights what needs to be done to improve evidence collection and rates of prosecution; summarises key themes which emerged from discussions with stakeholders; and identifies potential educational initiatives to prevent and respond to drink spiking.

This study investigated prosecutors' case screening decisions in adult sexual assault cases in five Australian jurisdictions: Australian Capital Territory; New South Wales; Northern Territory; Tasmania; Western Australia. In addition, 24 Crown Prosecutors with experience in prosecuting sexual assault were interviewed. The following themes are discussed: factors influencing prosecutors' decisions to proceed with or discontinue adult sexual assault cases; assessing victim credibility; moral and gender stereotypes; and the problem of intoxication.

The Sutherland Drink-Spiking Project is a collaborative interagency project initiated by the Southern Sydney Sexual Assault Service. Focusing on selected intervention as well as primary and secondary prevention with drink-spiking and sexual assault in southern Sydney, this project is distinctive due to its primary focus on perpetrators, potential perpetrators and their peers. Beyond this, the project also provided an opportunity for social workers to meaningfully engage with and apply innovative project management practice. This is notable since reform initiatives in public sector agencies in New South Wales are encouraging the use of project management practice and social workers need to engage with these 'new directions' or risk becoming marginalised. This paper explores The Sutherland Drink-Spiking Project and demonstrates how applying a project management methodology benefited social work practice.

This evaluation summary report outlines the 'Keep an Eye Open' Victorian drink spiking community education campaign that was launched in 2002. The campaign used narrow-cast advertising to target women, men and bar staff in licensed venues via messages in toilets and other areas of venues. The evaluation tested recall of the messages from patrons as well a number of interview questions to assess the impact of the campaign.

Current media representations of drink spiking tend to ignore the realities of most sexual assaults that occur in the context of heavy alcohol consumption. The author of this paper states that to avoid the re-emergence of victim-blaming stereotypes, drink spiking must be situated in the broader context of drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault. Australian data sources on the prevalence of drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault are discussed, followed by an exploration of media responses to this issue. Awareness and prevention approaches that treat drugs and alcohol as weapons are then presented.