Data Points: False Reporting and Its Impact on Survivors
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Hi friends. This is A E B. Chesler of seasoned seven of something was wrong and host of what came next. I'm hosting this special episode of broken cycle media's series of informational episodes called data points. These episodes will include educational information and support on different topics that are important to our community. Thank you so much for listening in this discussion of false reporting and its detriment on victims in society.

Would would like to begin by highlighting how important IT is to start by believing when receiving a report of any kind, no matter the small statistical l possibility of IT potentially being false, receiving that person safely and with initial openness and understanding can have a vast impact on a victims trajectory. According to the FBI false reporting or a false allegation, crime involves persons reporting a fabricated in that occurred against them to a law enforcement agency. False allegations can spend many crimes, but in this episode will be referring specifically to sexual assault.

Although false reporting of sexual assault does happen and has detrimental repercussions, it's crucial to understand how uncommon IT really is. IT is nearly impossible to know the exact amount of false sexual assault reports. However, many studies have concluded that the rate of false reporting is estimated to be between two and eight percent. For example, data on sexual assault cases from the los Angeles police department in two thousand eight found that 4， five percent of the reports were false.

Furthermore, the making a difference or mad project created by end violence against women international contact a multicenter of 8 us。 The study reviewed data collected by nationwide law enforcement agencies about all sexual assault reports received within and eighteen to twenty four months period of the two thousand fifty nine cases that were included in the study. One hundred forty or seven percent of them were classified as a false report of sexual assault.

Still, the reported range of two to eight percent for false sexual assault claims might actually be an over estimate. The national sexual violence resource center shares how false reporting data inflates because of law enforcement negligence to follow recommended guidelines and a quote, weak understanding of sexual assault and quote, both men and women make false allegations. However, statistically speaking, women are the perpetrators of false claims the majority of the time.

One pub mad study on the characteristics of false allegation adult crimes shares that seventy three point three percent of false tions were perpetrated by women, and ninety three point three percent of perpetrators were cauca ion. Forty three point three percent of offenders were high school graduates without further education, typically in their late teens or early twenties. Also, data shows that the majority of allegations were mainly driven by needs for attention and or sympathy, which accounts for fifty percent of allegations.

Overall, twenty three point three percent of perpetrators of false allegations had a previous criminal record, according to the FBI. Some rationale behind false reporting maybe because of, quote, mental illness or depression, attention or sympathy or even revenge, and quote. However, no matter who reports false claims and why they do IT, it's essential to recognize that false reporting of sexual assault is a criminal offence that profoundly affects survivors and the criminal justice system for a variety of reasons, and although the projected percentage of false reports is low, is still deeply affects how survivors decide to report the real crimes they experience.

In fact, the rape, abuse and incest national network reports, the majority of sexual assaults are not reported to the police at all. The reporting rates are actually staggering. Only three hundred ten out of every one thousand sexual assaults are report to police, meaning that more than two out of three sexual assaults go unreported.

There are many reasons why survivors choose not to move forward in reporting this crime. Individuals may be wary of reporting because of retro matiz ation that can happen through the questioning and investigation process. Additionally, they may fear that law enforcement will to take their claims seriously. This reason correlates with the impact of false reports.

No matter how a few allegations are actually false, according to the international association of chiefs of police or I A C P, law enforcement should uphold, quote, the determination that a report of sexual assault is false only if the evidence establishes that no crime was committed or attempted, and quote, the F B I and I A C P created a set of guidelines with factors that should be excluded ded when determining if reports are legitimate or false, including sufficient evidence to proceed to prosecution, delayed reporting victims, deciding not to CoOperate with investigators or inconsistently in a victim's statement. To some, these points may lead you to believe a false report occurred. However, considering how traumatic a violation like a sexual assault can be on a victim's brain, a more nuances approach must be required while evaluating reports to ensure that all elements are considered.

Even though there are some guidelines put in place by law enforcement when IT comes to reviewing sexual assault reports, they need to be widely known and consistently practiced to ensure stronger care for survivors when coming forward. Filing a false police report misleads law enforcement, undermines the criminal justice system. This action has dangerous repercussions because IT forces officers to pursue unnecessary investigations, diverting valuable resources away from addressing real crimes and aiding real survivors in their community.

To add, the notion that a false report can occur leave some responders highly critical when actual survivors of a sexual assault come forward with their claims, which is detrimental to all parties involved. False reporting not only harms real survivors and strings law enforcement, but also devastates those falsely accused. The case of brian banks illustrates the severity in two thousand two, when banks was just sixteen, his high school acquaintance, when at a gibson falsely accused him of rape to avoid a potential forty one year prison sentence, he pleaded no contest and was sentence to six years.

In two thousand eleven, gibson admitted there was no rape. Thankfully, banks was ultimately exonerated and his conviction was overturned while he eventually lived out his nfl dreams with the ata falins. The lasting damage from the false report on banks and his loved ones is undeniable.

A twenty twenty one study found that those falsely accused experiences extreme psychological and psychosocial impacts, such as feelings of losses related to their sense of self, damage to the reputation, and new found mental health diagnoses and symptoms like P, T, S, D. And depression. Although false reports have profound repercussions, it's important to highlight how much movements like hashtag me too, have validated survivors of sexual assault.

The me too movement was a global initiative to raise awareness regarding sexual harassment and sexual abuse, specifically of women in the workplace. In two thousand six, toronto burke regularly used the quote me too, in response while speaking with survivors of sexual assault. However, the phrase and movement became popularized in two thousand seventeen, a response to the reports of sexual abuse perpetrated by american film producer harvey weinstein, actress a listen molino tweed burk's coin phrase hashtag me too, which ignited a social media movement that heightened awareness, empowered survivors and prompted significant cultural and workplace transformations.

In response, some states in the U. S. Have abolished statutes of limitations for reporting sex abuse related crimes and banned non disclosure agreements, or nd, that were created to prevent allegations from being publicly available.

Even though the me too movement explicit discusses sexual in the workplace, its sentiments bled into other aspects of life, too, which LED to more people collectively believing and listening to victims. A twenty twenty two pew research study proved how valuable and seriously americans have taken the meet to movement. Seven in ten U.

S. Adults across multiple demographics and partisan lines say that compared to two thousand, seventeen people who commit sexual harassment or assault in the workplace today are more likely to be held accountable for their actions. Also, roughly six ten americans believe that the individuals who report harassment or assault at work are now more likely to be.

Pew research additionally reports that overall, a small percentage of americans think that false reporting of incidents of sexual harassment or assault in the workplace are frequent. More importantly, nearly half at forty six percent say it's extremely or very common for individuals who experience sexual harassment or assault work not to report them at all. Despite these statistics and common beliefs among americans, eighteen percent of respondents still oppose the me too movement because of the potential of false allegations.

Still, the meet to movement has proven helpful in believing survivors and holding perpetrators accountable. IT has also brought a lot of attention to the power of believing and supporting survivors. In general, many still view the possibility of fault reports as a reason to oppose the movement.

This scepticism ultimately leads to a reluctance to believe survivors of sexual assault in any context. Even though these statistics and this information are widely available, some perpetrators will still choose to make a report regardless of the detriment. IT is nearly impossible to stop these perpetrators.

However, criminalizing false reporting is one measure towards future prevention. There are legal ramifications for false reporting if a false sexual assault report occurs and is determined so by law enforcement, the perpetrator can be criminally charged. Depending on the state and the circumstances hand, filing a false police report may result in mister meter or felony charges.

For example, in new york, filing a false report to the enforcement can be classified as either a or a felony, with potential penalties of up to one year in jail or as much as seven years in state prison. False reporting can even be considered a federal offence. If false criminal allegations are submit to federal investigators or agencies, then the perpetrator of the false claim could be charged at a federal level.

Another beneficial preventative measure may be mental health counseling to work to mitigate perpetrators urges and actions. One valuable resource for potential perpetrators of false reporting or actual victims of sexual assault. Navigating, working through the experience is the nonprofit national alliance on mental health, or nami.

Nami is the nation's largest grassroots to mental health organization, and IT offers educational resources regarding mental illness support networks for individuals and twenty four seven mental health support to every american. Additionally, there are many amazing resources for survivors of sexual assault t that can help with the process of reporting and making them feel supported. Two of those organizations include the national sexual violence resource center and the rape, abuse and incest national network.

They both offer detailed education and support. To access any of the previously mentioned resources. Please visit the episode notes and for a more comprehensive list of organizations that are working to support survivors and uphold justice, please visit something was wrong dot com slash resources.

Many of the amazing groups listed on the website can only exist because of the communities help and support from people like you. If you'd like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please feel free to visit the resources page and reach out directly to the organization of your choice. I'm amy b. chesler. Thank you so much again for listening and learning with us.

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