Rape Myth Adherence Among Campus Law Enforcement Officers
Abstract
Campus police agencies are often the first, if not only, responders to sexual assault incidents occurring on college campuses. Little is known, however, regarding the attitudinal dispositions of these officers, specifically their acceptance of rape myths and the effect this has on case processing. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by examining attitudes toward and perceptions of sexual assault among a sample of campus law enforcement officers in Texas. This was done through the administration of a short survey to a sample of campus law enforcement officers prior to their attendance at a sexual assault-focused training, as well as all campus police chiefs via the Internet. Survey items inquired about officers’ careers in law enforcement, contact with victims, and perceptions of sexual assault. Results suggest that officers’ adherence to rape myths is strongly related to their perceptions of campus sexual assault incidents and their attitudes toward victims. Suggestions for future research and policy are offered.
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Biographies
Molly Smith is a PhD student at Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice, from where she currently holds both a BA in criminal justice and an MA in criminal justice and criminology. Her research interests include prostitution, human trafficking, and dating violence.
Nicole Wilkes is a doctoral student in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati and was formerly a research associate with the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State University. Her research interests include violence against women, crime victims’ rights, and victims’ interactions within the criminal justice system.
Leana A. Bouffard, PhD, is a professor and the director of the Crime Victims’ Institute in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. Her research interests include violence against women, the consequences of victimization, and criminological theory, especially life course perspectives. Her work has been published in Criminology, Justice Quarterly, and Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, among others.
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Article first published online: September 4, 2015
Issue published: April 2016
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