"There is No Time": Swedish Professionals' Perspective on Rape Victim Treatment

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Rape victims frequently experience secondary victimization within legal and healthcare systems.
• Professional attitudes and practices significantly impact the victim's experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how legal and healthcare professionals perceive and handle rape victim cases.
• To identify factors influencing professionals' views on false reporting and trust in the justice system.
• To uncover barriers and problematic practices contributing to secondary victimization.

Main Methods:

• A web survey was administered to 237 police employees, prosecutors, and healthcare personnel.
• Quantitative analysis examined beliefs in a just world, rape myth acceptance, and demographics.
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions identified perceived barriers and problematic practices.

Main Results:

• Prosecutors and healthcare professionals reported lower false report estimations than police.
• Prosecutors showed the highest trust in the legal system compared to police and healthcare professionals.
• Professionals identified lack of resources, deprioritization, legislation, and specific interview/examination practices as barriers.

Conclusions:

• Professionals desire enhanced knowledge and training for treating rape victims.
• Systemic barriers and problematic practices contribute to secondary victimization.
• Addressing these issues is crucial for improving the treatment of rape victims.