Rape crimes in Denmark: When and why are police reported rapes closed without a legal trial?

Title

Rape crimes in Denmark: When and why are police reported rapes closed without a legal trial?

Name

Nina Beck Hansen

Abstract

Background: Rape is a serious crime with severe health consequences for the victim. In Denmark, 500 rapes are reported annually but the majority of reported rapes never reach the courtroom.

Objectives: Purpose of the present study is to investigate attrition in reported rape cases from a Danish police district and to evaluate reasons for case drop out.

Methods: The study is conducted as a case-file analysis of all rape cases reported to a regional Danish police department (n=282) over a three-year period.

Perspectives: When victims of rape seek help from the legal support systems in Denmark, it is crucial that these victims receive the necessary help and security. This study provides insight in to the legal system following a rape report and provides knowledge of the factors influencing the legal process. Hopefully, the results of this study will have the potential to enhance the legal process following a rape crime in Denmark.

Keywords

Rape crimes, attrition, mental health

Start date and expected end date

01.11.2012 - 0 1.04.2017

Main supervisor

Professor Ask Elklit

Co-supervisors

Associate professor Rikke Holm Bramsen, Dr. Ole Ingemann-Hansen, Professor Rebecca Campbell

Collaborators

Department of Psychology and Center for Rape Victims in Aarhus

Funding

Center for Rape Victims in Aarhus and University of Southern Denmark