Different types Quote by David Lisak
““The largest and most rigorous study that is currently available in this area is the third one commissioned by the British Home Office (Kelly, Lovett, & Regan, 2005). The analysis was based on the 2,643 sexual assault cases (where the outcome was known) that were reported to British police over a 15-year period of time. Of these, 8% were classified by the police department as false reports. Yet the researchers noted that some of these classifications were based simply on the personal judgments of the police investigators, based on the victim’s mental illness, inconsistent statements, drinking or drug use. These classifications were thus made in violation of the explicit policies of their own police agencies. There searchers therefore supplemented the information contained in the police files by collecting many different types of additional data, including: reports from forensic examiners, questionnaires completed by police investigators, interviews with victims and victim service providers, and content analyses of the statements made by victims and witnesses. They then proceeded to evaluate each case using the official criteria for establishing a false allegation, which was that there must be either “a clear and credible admission by the complainant” or “strong evidential grounds” (Kelly, Lovett, & Regan,2005). On the basis of this analysis, the percentage of false reports dropped to 2.5%." Lonsway, Kimberly A., Joanne Archambault, and David Lisak. "False reports: Moving beyond the issue to successfully investigate and prosecute non-stranger sexual assault." The Voice 3.1 (2009): 1-11.””
About This Quote
Source Article: False reports: Moving beyond the issue to successfully investigate and prosecute non‑stranger sexual assault, The Voice, 2009
The study shows that initial police classifications of false sexual assault reports are often inflated due to subjective judgments, and rigorous re‑evaluation lowers the false‑report rate to 2.5%.
In simple terms: Police often over‑estimate false reports; careful review shows fewer false claims.
Apply strict, evidence‑based criteria when assessing sexual assault reports.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- police investigations
- legal proceedings
- victim support services
- policy reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can agencies ensure objective assessment of sexual assault cases?
- What safeguards prevent bias in reporting?
Police judgments can be biased, leading to over‑classification of false reports.