Drug Assisted RapeMarch 18, 2005Alcohol or drug assisted rapes/sexual assaults are more likely to have been the consequence of predators taking advantage of victims in a voluntary state of intoxication rather than of victims who have been given substances without their knowledge. This is one of the findings of Miranda Horvath and Jennifer Brown of the University of Surrey who will present their research today, Wednesday 23 March 2005, at the Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference at the TechnoCentre, Coventry University Technology Park. The researchers worked in conjunction with Surrey Police and examined all 33 drug/alcohol-assisted rapes and sexual assaults that had taken place in the Force area between April 2002 and October 2004. They found that 75 per cent of victims reported having consumed alcohol voluntarily and 39 per cent had taken drugs voluntarily before the assault took place. These were taken most commonly in bars and pubs, the offender's/suspect's home or at a nightclub. Just over 12 per cent of victims had been given drugs without their consent, although the researchers warn this figure could be higher because the drugs or alcohol pass out of the body quickly and may not have been detected. It was also difficult to identify whether substances had been given to some of the victims as they themselves had consumed alcohol or drugs. The findings suggest that firstly the drug of choice for the rapist is alcohol rather than drugs; and secondly a high number of drug/alcohol assisted rapes take place in situations where an offender takes advantage of an already drugged or intoxicated person. The researchers argue that two definitions should be used to categorize drug assisted rape - one definition which states the offender is instrumental in actually administering the drug and one which states the offender takes advantage of an already drugged or intoxicated person. Ms Horvath explained: "This distinction allows freedom to explore the theoretical position that drug-assisted rape and sexual assault represents either an extreme end of 'normal behaviour' or a distinctive pathological problem. If offenders fall within the extreme of normal behaviour they may be held responsible for their actions and given prison sentences. If however they present some treatable pathology they may be committed to a special hospital." British Psychological Society (BPS) |
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