Research
I am working on an article called The New Trial by Ordeal: Rape Kits and Police Practices, which looks at some of the ways that police use SANE exams to discourage rape victims from reporting. (This article is not specific to any one state–I pull from all the advocates involved in the project.)
In this paper I talk a bit about how SANE exams seem to be taking the place of polygraphing as a way to test the “sincerity” of victims as law enforcement are not supposed to be requiring lie detector tests as a requirement for moving forward on a sexual assault case. If any advocates out there have experiences with police still routinely “asking” (= requiring) victims to take polygraphs in order to move forward with cases I’d be very interested to hear from you! Over the next few months I am hoping to do some more work focused on the use of polygraphing.
This paper on Two SANE Models: New Jersey & Michigan is excerpted from my forthcoming book Resisting Rape Law Reform. These case studies jump right into describing developments in the two states mentioned; I assume that readers have a working understanding of both SANE and SANE/SART programs. As always, I welcome comments and feedback from advocates, wherever you are located.
This article “Making Meaning of Megan’s Law” came out of my dissertation research. It’s pretty long! The summary:
This study of Megan’s Law contrasts scholarly narratives that describe and analyze sexual predator laws with a case study of implementation in New Jersey. A critical feminist perspective shows that Megan’s Law employs a radically underinclusive notion of sexual violence that conflicts sharply with feminist arguments about the cultural and institutional roots of sexual violence. The law excludes many of the most common offenders from reach of the law, thus deflecting attention away from assaults committed by family and friends in favor of reviving stereotypes about deviant strangers. The most significant effect of Megan’s Law is not to expand the power of the punitive state but to advance a political and legal interpretation of rape that undermines the basis for and gains made by feminist rape law reforms of the 1970s.
Cite as: Corrigan, Rose. 2006. Making Meaning of Megan’s Law. Law & Social Inquiry 31(2): 267-312.
