[When Katie Koestner was a college freshman, a boy she liked took her out to dinner and then raped her. Koestner was a quiet girl who rarely spoke up for herself, but this time, she found her voice. The dean of her university, the College of William & Mary in Virginia, steered her away from filing a police report, and the man she accused of assaulting her was found guilty in a university investigation but was allowed to stay on campus. For years, Koestner faced backlash for coming forward with her story.
Koestner and other victim advocates are now issuing warnings about the dangers of dismissing and discrediting rape allegations, following the latest development in the 2006 Duke lacrosse case. Crystal Mangum admitted in an interview that she fabricated her story of being trapped in a bathroom, sexually assaulted, and raped by three team players. The men were arrested and the case received widespread media attention.
Scott Berkowitz, president of the non-profit anti-sexual violence organization RAINN, notes that for every false report, there is a much greater number of reports that are truthful and people who experienced rape who never reported. He also stresses that false reports hurt not only the people falsely accused but also rape victims, who are already facing a range of fears about reporting their assault, including not being believed, law enforcement not taking their case seriously, or their personal history being used against them.
Experts emphasize the importance of a strong support system for survivors of sexual assault, as well as policies that hold perpetrators accountable. False reports like Mangum’s case exacerbate these problems and may discourage victims from reporting sexual assaults, which are already often not reported due to fear of not being believed or repercussions on their personal lives.
According to a 2010 study, false allegations of sexual assault range from 2% to 10% of reports. A majority of sexual assaults, an estimated 63%, are never reported to the police. Koestner and other advocates urge people to take each case as one situation and not make assumptions about those involved. She notes that false reports hurt not only the people falsely accused but also rape victims, who may be discouraged from reporting due to fear of not being believed.
Dr. Jennifer Simmons Kaleba, vice president of communications for RAINN, encourages people to consider the victims of rape or sexual assault in the US who may now face renewed disbelief and question the value of reporting sexual violence. She emphasizes that it is crucial for the mental health and recovery of rape victims to feel comfortable reporting their assault and getting help.
Rare cases like the Duke scandal may discourage victims from reporting sexual assault and cause people to wrongly doubt them. Survivors of sexual assault and rape often grapple with a range of fears when considering whether to report the crime, including not being believed, law enforcement not taking their case seriously, or their personal history being used against them.
Victims and advocates urge people to remember that rape is not just a one-time event but a crime that can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental and physical health. They stress the importance of speaking out about what happened to raise awareness and prevent future incidents.
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