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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Woman makes false rape claim, cop: 'We run into that all the time'

A news report out of Rexburg, Idaho states that a 20-year-old woman lied about being raped after "an attack of conscience" following consensual sex. (That is certainly a bizarre way to put it: we assume it means that the woman experienced regret after having consensual sex and that she then made up a rape claim to explain it.)

According to the news report: "After interviews of the woman and roommates, it was revealed that she wasn’t truthful, said Capt. Randy Lewis."

In addition: "Lewis said this is not an uncommon occurrence in Rexburg. 'We run into that all the time,' he said." The woman won’t face any charges for making any false claims, and police consider the matter closed.

Two important about this case:

Regret: The false claim was driven by regret. A perceived need to cover up an illicit sexual encounter is a primary motivation for false rape claims, and it's the one kind of "false rape claim" that is preventable. One of the common motives cited by experts for false rape claims is "remorse after an impulsive sexual fling . . . ." Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case, S. Taylor, K.C. Johnson at 375 (2007).

(snip)

Police Officer's Comment: Police officers sometimes note, in a moment of either candor or frustration, that a significant percentage of rape claims are false. Police officers generally are careful not to make statements that might put off women from reporting their rapes, and such a comment probably isn't necessary even if the police officer believed it.

A police officer must not only be fair but must have the appearance of being fair. In any given case, it is not at all important about what happens in other cases. Women who cry rape should not be automatically believed (as some advocates suggest -- because they insist women don't lie about rape) nor disbelieved (some people believe women routinely lie about rape). Regardless of a police officer's views about other cases, he is supposed to be investigating this case. Justice is fact-specific, and police should have no preconceived notions going into a case about whether a claim is true or false -- the goal should always be to do justice by getting at the truth in the case at hand.

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One of the common motives cited by experts for false rape claims is "remorse after an impulsive sexual fling . . . ." Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case, S. Taylor, K.C. Johnson at 375 (2007).