What's new in the field of adult sexual assault
This page aims to keep you up-to-date with "what's new" at the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault and in the field of adult sexual assault in the last three months.
- Examining charging agreement between police and prosecutors in rape cases by David Holleran in
Crime and delinquency 56(3) Jul 2010: 385-403
9 August 2010
Journal article summary: Most research to date has looked at prosecutorial decisions about proceeding with a rape case, but this article suggests that the charge is also important. This can be influenced by police charging decisions. - Impaired and incapacitated rape victims: assault characteristics and post-assault experiences by Heather Littleton, Amie Grills-Taquechel and Danny Axsom,
Violence and victims 24(4) 2009: 439-458
9 August 2010
Journal article summary: This study evaluated the assault and postassault experiences of nonimpaired, impaired, and incapacitated college rape victims. The three groups differed in several assault characteristics, including threats by the assailant, resistance by the victim, and relationship with the assailant. Impairment and incapacitation were associated with self-blame, stigma, and problematic alcohol use. - Sexting; risky actions and overreactions by Art Bowker and Michael Sullivan in FBI law enforcement bulletin 79(7) Jul 2010: 27-31
6 August 2010
Journal article summary: Police and court responses to juvenile sexting need to take into consideration the context, victims and offenders. - Taking sexual assault services to rural areas by Helen Wilson and John McCormack in
Women against violence: An Australian feminist journal no. 22 2010: 50-54
6 August 2010
Journal article summary: Analyses a research project carried out by the manager of South Western Centre Against Sexual Assault in the regional centre of Warrnambool Victoria. - Stemming the flow: challenges for policing adult sexual assault with regard to attrition rates and under-reporting of sexual offences by S Caroline Taylor and Leigh Gassner, Police practice and research 11(3) Jun 2010: 240-255
6 August 2010
Sexual assault is recognised as among the most challenging problems facing criminal jurisdictions. Of concern is the deficiency in response to this crime by criminal justice institutions. Police responses to reported sexual assault are crucial to the overall criminal justice response. However, sexual offences are vastly under-reported to police, with victims reporting lack of confidence in police and the criminal justice system. The paper explores aspects of these problems, identifying a number of predictors. - Australia's response to sexualised or sexually abusive behaviours in children and young people (PDF 1.2 MB)
4 August 2010
Report by Wendy O'Brien, Australian Crime Commission. This report maps the specialised therapeutic services designed to effect positive behavioural change and thus divert young people with sexualised behaviours from the juvenile justice system. - Handbook on effective police responses to violence against women (PDF 2.7 MB)
4 August 2010
A new handbook from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Designed for first-responders such as the police, it explains the issue, provides an overview of relevant norms and standards, and gives guidance on how to intervene. In particular, it focuses on how to investigate acts of violence against women—a process that requires considerable sensitivity. - Interdisciplinary response to youths sexting - Youth Online Safety Working Group (PDF 82 KB)
4 August 2010
The focus of the working group was to provide recommendations for the handling and prevention of sexting incidents. - 5th Annual White Ribbon Foundation White Tie Gala Dinner
2 August 2010
To help raise funds for the Foundation's work to end violence to women. In Sydney Wednesday September 15. - Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, launches her Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 at the National Press Club
23 June 2010
"The Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 is a next stage of reform," said Commissioner Broderick. "Nine major national reviews have and, if they tell us anything, it is that there remains a major gap in equality between women and men." The Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 sets out 15 recommendations in five priority areas, which were identified from Commissioner Broderick's 2007 national listening tour. - Lani's Story - Despair gives way to hope for a survivor of domestic violence (video)
23 June 2010
Lani's Story follows a woman’s experience of two relationships – one she has to escape to survive, and another she cannot survive without. It is a moving and intimate portrait of a young Aboriginal woman’s journey from victim to victor, from a broken and violent relationship to discovering the redemptive power of love. Lani’s Story also explores the impact of inter-generational violence within a family and community and how the courage of one person can transform the lives of others. - ABC interview helps Lift the Lid on men experiencing sexual assault or abuse
15 June 2010
Family Planning Queensland's Cairns Sexual Assault Service convened 80 Cairns-area service providers for the forum, 'Lifting the Lid: Supporting men who have experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse' on 9 June 2010. Two of the featured speakers - Nick Wymarra of Wuchopperen Health Service and Dr Gary Foster of Brisbane's Living Well - were interviewed by Fiona Sewell on the ABC. To listen to the interview, please visit the Family Planning Queensland website. - Permanent position for counsellor/advocate
13 May 2010
Position available: Counsellor/Advocate within the Sexual Assault Program at the Immigrant Women's Support Service (IWSS) in Brisbane. The IWSS is a community-based organisation that works with women and children of non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence. Applications close 17 May 2010. Email su@iwss.org.au - ACSSA Aware No. 24
13 May 2010
The latest issue of the newsletter from the ACSSA Clearinghouse is now available on the web. It includes the following articles: Ageing, dementia and adult survivors of childhood sexual assault; Public education media campaigns; Data from two studies of adults who had experienced sexual assault and had reported the incident to the police in the ACT; and Literature highlights. Download Aware No.24. - Listening tour report
6 May 2010
The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has released the Listening tour report by Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination. This report includes a chapter on women's experience of harassment and violence. - Launch of the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services 2010 National Conference
4 May 2010
In his address to the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services 2010 National Conference, the Hon Robert McLelland, MP, Attorney-General for Australia, discussed the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, Programs to Prevent Violence and additional funding. Read his address.
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