Journal article
‘I Think it’s Rape and I Think He Would be Found Not Guilty’: Focus Group Perceptions of (un)Reasonable Belief in Consent in Rape Law
W Larcombe, B Fileborn, A Powell, N Hanley, N Henry
Social and Legal Studies | SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD | Published : 2016
Abstract
A legal definition of rape that exonerates an accused who ‘reasonably believes in consent’ is currently in force in a number of jurisdictions in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Limited empirical research has investigated community and professional perceptions of the adequacy and scope of this definition of rape. The present study contributes to qualitative research on ‘reasonable belief in consent’ by analysing key themes from 11 focus group discussions with professionals working in the sexual assault sector (counsellors, health professionals, victim/survivor advocates and police officers), legally trained professionals and community members interested in rape law reform. Acro..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by an Incubator Grant from the Melbourne School of Government, The University of Melbourne.