Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Steve Thompson <>]

I would like to see the qualifications of the researcher.  I, and 
others, have found that  some researchers and law enforcement classify 
reports as false/unfounded if: 1.  the story is inconsistent  2. there 
are certain aspects that are untrue or confused,  3. if the account does 
not fit the belief of what a "real rape" is, 4. if the victim decides 
not to continue with the case, 5. a possible administrative error 
occurred, 6. if an offender can not be identified, and 7. if the victim 
moves.  If an investigator enters into the investigation with an 
attitude of mistrust and a belief of what a real rape is, they will 
generally work to validate their beliefs.   In 25 years of working with 
this crime, I have found very few actual false reports.  As we all know, 
what Purdue and other universitits need to focus on are not the false 
statistics but the very real fact that there are scores of people 
assaulted that are not coming into their system - why??

Stephen M. Thompson
Sexual Assault Services Coordinator 
Central Michigan University
SAC 195
Mt. Pleasant, MI  48859

(989) 774-6677