Street Soliciting, Harm Principle and Decriminalisation

There has been great deal of speculation in recent times about the effects of street soliciting and the harm it causes to society. This debate has been viewed in terms of the potential decriminalisation of sex work in England and Wales. There is also an argument for a comparative approach based on the approaches adopted in European Nordic countries that focus on the victim-sex worker issue impact on society, which need consideration in the wider framework of criminal law. The general policy is that that contextualisation cannot be within morals or the harm principle. The research question is - can such public policy approach in the criminal law framework be implemented in the UK that links the decriminalisation of sex from street vendors and the licensing be permitted as piloted in some parts of the UK? This paper takes into consideration the empirical studies and compares the jurisdictions in order to arrive at its findings.

State Payments to Victims of Violent Crime: Discretion and Bias in Awards for Sexual Offences

State monetary schemes for victims of violent crime began in the 1960s and operate in 35 countries today, yet knowledge is lacking on who is applying, how decisions are reached, variation in awards and why amounts may differ. Analysing 291 sexual offence cases in Queensland, we ask whether awards differ by victim sex/gender and by societal constructs of ideal, real rape, and credible victims. We found that male child victims received higher awards than female child victims for more serious sexual offences and that awards to females aged 12 and older were affected by elements associated with real rape and credible victims. We call upon researchers and governments to pursue and expand this new area of research.

Biopsychosocial characteristics of sex offenders: An analysis of legal proceedings

In this research, biopsychosocial characteristics of people accused of sexual aggression against children/adolescents between 2012 and 2014, in three districts of the state of Pará, were identified and analyzed. Data were collected by consulting court cases and recorded on a form prepared by the research group for biopsychosocial characterization. The statistical treatment of the data involved the non-hierarchical k-means clustering method, with cluster analysis. The results revealed three distinct groups; some with certain similarities due to the biological characteristics observed (Afro-descendant men over the age of 30 years, without reported organic diseases), as well as psychological and social characteristics (men with defined occupation and work, living in urban areas, with aggression to the black victim and in the family context) and differences (schooling, alcohol abuse and physical or psychological aggression, victim sex and family attachment to the aggressor). Further studies may refine the preliminary conclusions of these analyses.

Homicide Illustrated Across the Ages: Graphic Depictions of Victim and Offender Age, Sex, and Relationship

Objective: A total of 34 years of FBI Supplementary Homicide Reports were examined using statistical graphics to illustrate patterns across ages, by sex, and victim/offender relationships (intimate partner [IP], other family, acquaintance, or stranger). Method: An innovative fourfold display and victim/sex-specific scatterplots with overlaid deviation ellipses determine the age/sex patterns for each relationship. Results: We illustrate numerous acquaintance killings among young men and improve our understanding of predictors by sex, relationship, and circumstances in mid/later life. Male victims of strangers are either older with young male offenders or vice versa. Female acquaintance and stranger homicides are rare. Within families, older male parents are killed by adult offspring, but rarely by IP. The majority of elder femicide is perpetrated by IP or other family. Discussion: U.S. murder rates are rising, and we found children from 6 to 12 years were least likely to die by homicide. Elder femicide risk from IP and other kin indicated danger from within the home.

Revenge pornography: the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility

Purpose Drawing on gender-role stereotypes and defensive attribution theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility in the context of revenge pornography. Design/methodology/approach In total, 239 university students read one of two versions of a hypothetical scenario, responded to items concerning their perceptions of the situation described, and responded to items concerning their sexting experience. Findings Men were more likely to believe the situation was serious when it involved a male perpetrator and a female victim rather than vice versa. However, perpetrator-victim sex did not influence women’s perceptions. Participants without sexting experience were more likely than participants with sexting experience to believe the situation was serious, and to hold the victim responsible. Originality/value Whilst there is a growing body of literature regarding revenge pornography from a legal perspective, there is little research on perceptions of revenge pornography situations. As the use of intimate images in relationships continues to rise, it is important to understand people’s attitudes and the extra-legal factors that shape them.

Victim Gender, Rater Attitudes, and Rater Violence History Influence Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence

Perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) have been proposed to play a role in the stigmatization and underreporting of violence by individuals who are victimized by intimate partners, especially in cases that are inconsistent with the male-to-female IPV paradigm. We examined the independent and combined influences of victim and perpetrator sex, attitudes toward gender roles, and history of IPV perpetration on perceptions of IPV among 240 college students. We employed a vignette methodology to manipulate perpetrator and victim sex in a fully crossed design. Results indicate that violence perpetrated against males is perceived as less serious and more justified, and male victims are perceived to be more blameworthy than female victims. Traditional gender role attitudes and histories of IPV perpetration are associated with greater blaming of victims and justification of perpetrators across contexts.