Case Studies
Kansas University Student Charged with Fraudulent Accusations
Summary:
A female student reported to the local police station that she had been raped. During her report the officers became spectacle of the truth of the incident and began investigating her for fraudulent charge without her knowledge. She did not want to press charges because she was worried for future job opportunities and at different points tried to stop the investigation process. She was arrested for fraud and went to court to defend her case with the support of the Times Up movement. This case was significant because it added another layer of danger to victims of sexual assault because if they are not believed they could be jailed for fraud.
Baylor Fraternity President Faces No Jail Time for Rape
Summary:
After being accused of raping an unconscious 19-year-old at a party, a 23-year-old fraternity president was charged with four accusations of assault. Instead of a formal trial where he would be faced with going to jail and being registered as a sex offender, the defendant was required to go through counseling, pay a 400 dollar fine, and three years of probation. County District Attorney Hilary LaBorde was quoted saying "my goal is no more victims. I believe that is best accomplished when there is a consequence rather than an acquittal. This offender is now on felony probation and will receive sex offender treatment, a result which was not guaranteed, nor likely, had we gone to trial". This story follows a trend in college sexual assault cases for the accused to face light sentences. It is important to consider the reasons why this is the case.
Questions to consider
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How does hearing the stories of real people impact our understanding of the play?
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Is there a way to ensure fair trials or will the system always be biased one way or the other?
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Should the fact that these cases happened between young students impact the way that they are sentenced?
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What is the core problem within these cases? Is it rooted in the justice system? Sin? Dehumanization? All of the above?
2011 Boston College Court Trial
Summary: A college student referred to as John Doe was sent on a journalism project on a cruise ship. During a party on the ship, he was moving through the crowd and a woman yelled at him for groping her. He did not know what she was talking about and his friend referred to as JK apologized to him for the incident. He was arrested by security officers at the party and was locked up overnight. The police officers told the school a false account of the event. The Title IX offices at his school suspended him. It was found out later that there was no evidence that took place and he sued his school for one million dollars. The Title IX office under the Obama administration was accused of being biased towards the victim with little help for those being accused.
Brock Turner Trial
Summary:
After a fraternity party, two students on bikes found a man on top of a woman on the grass behind a shed and it seemed like she was unconscious. They chased down the man and called an ambulance for the woman. The defendant was charged with rape and found guilty. However, the defendant appealed his sentence and his consequences were lessened to six months of jail time. He only served three months because the jail was overcrowded. Because of this light sentence, this case became one of the most public and controversial sexual assault trials of our time and is important to offer special attention. Years after the trial, the woman assaulted who was kept anonymous came forward to share her story and wrote a book called Know My Name.
Sources
Bernard, Katie. “KU Student Went to Cops to Report a Rape. Now She’s the One Charged with a Crime.” The Kansas City Star, 8 Sept. 2019, www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article234717197.html?fbclid=IwAR3zyh0lP8kVeQN0LIfrLaMWaVBjSgf_GM4dOzW3I-LvZNNV4rvFgeySuUQ.
“Court Documents: Stanford Rape Case.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, documents.latimes.com/stanford-brock-turner/.
Eli Rosenberg, Kristine Phillips. “Accused of Rape, Former Baylor Fraternity President Gets No Jail Time after Plea Deal.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 Dec. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/12/11/accused-rape-former-frat-president-gets-no-jail-time-after-plea-deal-da/.
Jury Sides with Former Boston College Student Accused of Sexual Assault, 2019, www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/09/25/jury-sides-former-boston-college-student-accused-sexual-assault.
Neary, Lynn. “Victim Of Brock Turner Sexual Assault Reveals Her Identity.” NPR, NPR, 4 Sept. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/09/04/757626939/victim-of-brock-turner-sexual-assault-reveals-her-identity.
Shapiro, Emily. “'Humiliated': Chanel Miller, Survivor in Brock Turner Sex Assault Case, Shares Her Story of Trauma and Recovery.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 2019, abcnews.go.com/US/humiliated-chanel-miller-survivor-brock-turner-sex-assault/story?id=65821466.
Shapiro, Emily. “'Humiliated': Chanel Miller, Survivor in Brock Turner Sex Assault Case, Shares Her Story of Trauma and Recovery.” ABC News, ABC News Network, Sept. 2019, abcnews.go.com/US/humiliated-chanel-miller-survivor-brock-turner-sex-assault/story?id=65821466.
Wilson, Author: Lea. “Former Baylor Frat President Plea Deal: Jacob Anderson Serves No Jail Time in Sex Assault Case.” Kcentv.com, 10 Dec. 2018, www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/former-baylor-frat-president-plea-deal-jacob-anderson-serves-no-jail-time-in-sex-assault-case/500-622561401.