[jdub]

I heard a radio show where an alleged victim said her rapist was released because she went and had sex w/ her boyfriend right after the rape as a coping mechanism and the rape kit probably picked up his semen.

I have a hard time believing that story. I used to think that women wouldn't lie about rape or sexual assault. I don't think that anymore.

Part of the big deal in these cases is the mistake wasn't an innocent one.

[mysterio]

I used to think that women wouldn't lie about rape or sexual assault.

I think most of them don't. There was an excellent documentary on one of the networks about the power of being shown pictures and what it does to memory. I wish I could remember where I saw it, but the victim in question and the man who was put away and then exonerated are touring the country together and giving seminars on the phenomenon. It was one interesting special. If someone else could link it, I think people would find it interesting.

[William Tell]

jdub said: "I used to think that women wouldn't lie about rape or sexual assault. "

You probably heard some feminist make that claim.

Probably fifty years ago, my father was working in a psychiatric ward. Two policeman dragged in a handcuffed young man who was in a rage. The cops dumped him on the floor and prepared to leave.

My Dad told them to remove the handcuffs, which they refused to do. My Dad told them if they didn't remove the handcuffs then they would have to take him away. There wasn't any way to deal with him if he was bound.

After the cops uncuffed the guy, my Dad worked to calm him down and offered him a cigarette. After calming down, the guy told his story.

The guy had been sitting in a car with his girlfriend. She wanted him to marry her and he refused. At that point, a police car was driving by. She started yelling, "Rape!" and there was no convincing the cops that he was innocent. The girl later confessed to the false charges.

[Strategerist]

In most of these it’s apparent that the victim sincerely believed the innocent person was the rapist.

The victims are often strongly pressured by police towards certain suspects, and lineups have the tendency to cause a victim to pick SOMEONE.

And that people have trouble telling people of other races than their own apart has actually been demonstrated experimentally.

[PghBaldy]

I bet women and children lie all the time about sexual assault. So do police and prosecutors. I used to believe in our system completely, but there are too many immoral people.