The Unsettling Truth about Rape Punishments

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Rape is the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. According to the Sexual Assault Statistics “,only 16% of rapes and sexual assaults are reported to the police department per year.” Women who are a victim of rape suffer a lifetime of fear, emotional stress and depression, but their rapist is sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison, depending on the severity of the case. After 25 years, Crista Stephens out of Houston, Texas can now speak about the night she was attacked and raped, but still, trembles every time she speaks her rapist name. Educating yourself, family, friends and peers can decrease your chances of being a victim of rape. Are 20 years long enough for a rapist to be behind …show more content…

Studies show that women whose attacker is not a stranger are not likely to report the rape because of her emotional beliefs. Women also think that because they know who their attacker is, that it is their fault they were raped or assaulted, or they believe that no one would believe them. Men with high positions or who are in the public eye, such as police officers, politicians, basketball, football, and baseball players are often accused of sexually assaulting or raping a female but most women won’t report it because of their popularity, fame or they are paid off before anyone can find out. For Example, Kobe Bryant was accused of raping a 19-year-old, Vail-area resort employee. The victim reported the crime, but after 14 months dropped all charges. The charges were dropped because of lack of evidence and because she was offered a settlement that she took when she realized that she was not going to win her case. Statements like that detour woman who has been a victim from reporting it. When a rape is reported and it goes to trial the attorney may discourage the victim from bringing up any and all of the victim 's past sexual experiences to make the victim look bad and convince the victim that it was her fault that this act

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