This document discusses the "Whole Story" approach to investigating sexual assault and child sexual abuse cases. It notes that few sexual assault victims report to the police, and even fewer cases make it to court or result in conviction. It aims to counter common misconceptions about sexual abuse victims and provide context about grooming and manipulation by offenders. The "Whole Story" approach seeks to present juries with a balanced understanding of both the victim's experience and the offender's actions and mindset to facilitate more informed decision-making.

1. A ‘WHOLE STORY’ approach
to understanding and
investigating sexual assault
and child sexual abuse.
Mark Barnett
SOCIT Project
Victoria Police

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Approximately 144,000 Australian women will
experience rape and/or sexual assault every
year.
Only 1 in 8 (approx) victims will report to police.
9 out of 10 reports won’t make it to Court.
Fewer than 1% of assaults ended with the
conviction and imprisonment of the offender.
(ABS 2007)

3. SOME CRITICAL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT
THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
 Children will immediately report abuse to a
trusted adult
 Children who continue a close relationship
with the perpetrator cannot have been
abused
 Sexual offending does not take place in close
proximity to other people
 ‘Paedophiles’ are easily identifiable
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4. SOME CRITICAL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF WOMEN
 Rape victims will immediately report to
police
 Most perpetrators are strangers
 Adults will clearly remember the event
 Victims will appear visibly distressed
 Rape victims will physically resist
 Forensic ‘evidence’ will be present
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5. Countering misconceptions
What are the points where the victim’s
narrative may be critiqued? (defence,
juries, Magistrates etc)
Does the victim statement include
explanations of their thoughts, feelings
and/or reasons? (rather than just what
happened)
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The ‘Whole Story’ approach
What do juries to hear to make informed
decisions?
Currently too much focus on victim –
credibility/believability/what she did or didn’t
do
Balance the story of the victim and the suspect
in the minds of jurors – allow them the best
opportunity for comparison

7. The ‘Whole Story’ approach
 Offending begins in the mind of the offenders
(NOT with the behaviour of victims)
 Victims are often unaware of all the ways
they were manipulated.
 All offenders attempt to generate the
“relationship” they want (It’s not just “do that”
– it’s “be like that”)
 Every offending ‘relationship’ is unique

8. Relationship AND Events
 Sexual offending is about
relationships
 The Criminal Justice System needs to
particularise ‘events’
 How does this change the way we
perceive victim behaviour?

9. Victim Behaviour
FIGHT – FLIGHT
FREEZE – SURRENDER

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OFFENDING BEGINS IN THE MINDS
OF OFFENDERS!
    
GROOMING

UNIQUE SIGNIFIERS
POINTS OF CONFIRMATION


11. Grooming
A concept now familiar from the on-line
world
The establishment of power / control
/authority
The establishment of a sexual ‘relationship’

12. Unique signifiers
Each ‘relationship’ will include unique
words, phrases, gestures, rituals,
routines, games, names for body parts,
names for sexual activities etc.
Memory prompts
Visceral experience of memory
Cognitive load?

13. Points of confirmation
An extension of corroboration concept
Points of Disconfirmation?

14. The Whole Story Approach
Teaching Specialist Detectives to
understand the dynamics of sexual assault
and child sexual abuse and then to use that
understanding to gather the ‘Whole Story’
so that Courts and Juries can make better
informed decisions.
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15. FIN
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