ABSTRACT
Victims confront endless new situations as they wend their way through the criminal justice system. The police are often the first on the scene and are therefore the first source of protection to whom the victim turns. Police should be mindful that, in fulfilling their obligations to solve the crime and apprehend the criminal, they must also treat the victims with the attention due them. The manner in which police officers treat a victim affects not only an immediate and long-term ability to deal with the event but also a willingness to assist in the prosecution. This chapter describes the emotional aftermath of rape. It is intended to describe the stress response of rape trauma syndrome in order that the police officer and prosecutor are aware of the basic response pattern many victims experience and the attendant effect on trial preparation.
