7 reasons why I don’t support police checking victims’ mobile phones in sexual violence cases

Jessica Eaton

29/04/19

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I have an honest mind to only write the words:

BECAUSE it's VICTIM BLAMING

And then finish the weblog, to be honest with you.

Apparently, this can be not precisely thought of a good technique of obtaining a degree across or gifting a counter-argument thus instead I'll use this weblog to present my key arguments against the police checking mobile phones of victims of rape and sexual violence.

I have worked in sexual violence for ten years and this observe is nothing new. these days it hit the headlines that police would be victimization consent forms to raise victims of rape and sexual violence handy over their mobile phones to envision up to seven years of proof, media, messages, web history, and decision logs after they report rape or sexual violence.

Media retailers have conjointly rumored that police have refused to require rape and sexual violence reports wherever the lady has refused handy over her phone – leading to viable cases being unheeded and not investigated as a result of the lady refused to relinquish access to her knowledge.

So let American state tell you why I fully oppose this observe, and what i feel it means that for victims of sexual violence.

(Note: the bulk of all sexual violence victims are ladies and women supported national annual statistics and also the perpetrators of all rapes are men supported the SOA 2003. while perpetrators of alternative sorts of sexual violence can be feminine, ninety-seven of all sexual offenses are committed by men. Therefore, this issue of checking phones of rape and sexual violence victims disproportionately AFFECTS ladies and women and disproportionately PROTECTS male sex offenders from prosecution.)

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Reason 1: this can be some way to discredit the victim

Let’s be clear. This initiative isn't to safeguard, support or facilitate the victim of sexual violence in any method. I don’t care what number bows you tie around it, this can be some way to discredit victims (mainly ladies and girls) in order that the case is simply too weak to require forward so no more action is taken.

The data from the phone might embrace decision logs, web history, text messages, locations, social media profiles, photos, videos, audio recordings, geodata, connections, friend requests, emails, journals, notes pages, files, Dropbox, apps, web searching and even finance apps.

Just stop and suppose however personal these items are to you. That pic you took within the shower. that point you obtain vagisil on-line. that point you googled gay erotica. that point you spent ages staring at your ex’s Instagram. The messages you send to your relief concerning what proportion you hate that geezer you're employed with United Nations agency keeps being creepy. The social media accounts you follow. The tweets you announce concerning abortion rights. The time you recorded yourself attempting to sing ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera. The atrocious messages you sent to your brother in a very vile argument. That new vibrator you obtain from that online sex store.

Think about it. suppose however this immaterial shit can be used against you. this can be what they require to seek out. Compromising info which will be used for Reason two.

Reason 2: they're searching for characterological or activity ‘flaws’ that would undermine their case

The point of this invasive and superfluous exercise is to seem for proof of things that undermine their case. proof of your character, behaviors, communication, the corporate you retain, United Nations agency you talk over with, the items you say online, the things you google, the selfies you're taking.

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People reading this would possibly suppose I’m overreacting or perhaps over exaggerating here – however, ten years operating in sexual violence has shown American state that this has been happening for years. I’ve worked with ladies and kids United Nations agency have had iPads, phones, and laptops removed to envision for proof after they were the victims of Communications Security Establishment, trafficking or rape. Some youngsters don’t get their phones back for years. I’ve worked with ladies United Nations agency had their phones taken for proof functions to then have personal info and knowledge being employed against them by the defense solicitors. I’ve interviewed ladies whose cases fell apart as a result of they texted the assailant when the rape in a very panic then the police used that to argue she was lying.

One girl I interviewed texted the assailant a number of hours later to mention she was sorry. within the interview, she told American state she apologized to him out of sheer panic which she felt no-count and repellent, and she or he had apologized to him for spoken communication no repeatedly and not wanting sex that diode to him raping her. She curst herself, thus she same sorry to him.

Unfortunately, that’s not, however, the police saw that message. That case was born.

Imagine woman} or girl is raped however the nig