The Defendants is a podcast exploring how sexual assault cases move through the justice system… and why it never seems to work in favour of victims. We want to know what has to change within the system for it to actually work, and we are interrogating what justice means in the aftermath of trauma. This is a podcast where we figure out exactly how this system fails, why, and what to do about it.
In episode 1 we take a look at First Encounters - with the justice system problem, with telling someone, and with the law. We’re looking beyond the headlines to the root issues underneath, and we’re exploring the first step in the process for victims - disclosure and the decision to go to the police. Featured in this episode is radio host Shannon Burns, and expert Dr. Elaine Craig.
SHOW NOTES:
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Get in Touch!
If you have questions or ideas about the show we’d love to hear them! Email us at defendantspodoutreach@protonmail.com You can also find us on instagram. We’re thedefendantspodcast and Jane is jane_aster_roe
If you want Jane to appear on your show email Dalton Higgins at daltonhiggins@gmail.com
Key Topics
0:16 - Jane’s personal disclosure story
2:13 - Headlines of the #MeToo Era
3:20 - Sexual assault statistics and underreporting
5:32 - The justice system is not broken (because it has never worked)
7:17 - Shannon’s story: breaking five years of silence
11:32 - Riley’s experience: deciding not to go to the police after experiencing grooming
12:20 - Georgia’s experience: deciding not to go to the police after experiencing molestation
12:58 - Cait’s experience: eight years in the system
13:45 - Victims’ understanding of the legal system
15:17 - Getting independent legal advice
18:42 - What needs to change?
Resources:
This document contains Canadian, U.S, and Global sources to find guidance, information, and aid for survivors of sexual assault. Detailed descriptions of each resource within the document.
The following links are core references. They are where our stats come from and our definitions of sexual assault.
National Sexual Violence Resources Center - Statistics
Government of Canada Infographic: Sexual Violence
World Health Organization - Violence Against Women Fact Sheet
Rainn - Statistics: Victims of Sexual VIolence
Black Women and Sexual Assault PDF
National Black Women’s Justice Institute - Black Women, Sexual Assault, and Criminalization
JustFacts - Victimization of Indigenous Women and Girls
National Library of Medicine: Unfounded Sexual Assault: Women’s Experiences of Not Being Believed
Reporting to Police and Investigations
Victims of Crime Research Digest, Issue No. 6
This survey example includes information on reports statistics, demographic statistics, the victims’ trust in the police, and the collective urgency that survivors gain an understanding of the justice system if they are considering reporting.
Criminal victimization in Canada, 2019
This is an extensive source on a broad range of “criminal victimization” that includes notable statistics on sexual assault including disproportionate percentages between genders, rates of report, and the surveyed reasons for report or lack thereof
Sources:
National Sexual Violence Research Center
“It’s estimated that between 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 women will experience attempted or completed rape during their lifetime”
Website Source: LINK
The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
“Black and indigenous women are disproportionately at risk, with studies showing between 40-60% of black girls are subject to sexual coercion before the age of 18.”
Website Source: LINK
Just Facts: Victimization of Indigenous Women and Girls
“Indigenous women’s reported rates of rape tripple white womens.”
Website Source: LINK
RAINN
“Between 1 in 7 and 1 in 10 men will experience attempted or completed rape, most often perpetrated by other men.”
Website Source: LINK
Unfounded Sexual Assault: Women’s Experiences of Not Being Believed by the Police
“…the overwhelming majority of people are not reporting their assaults to the police so these numbers may be higher.”
“A very, very small fraction of, of people who experience harmful sexual behavior make the decision to come forward to the police.” - Dr. Craig
By: Jodie Murphy-Oikonen, Karen McQueen, Ainsley Miller, Lori Chambers, Alexa Hiebert
Website Source: LINK
Government of Canada: Age of Consent to Sexual Activity
“A person under 18 cannot consent to sexual activity.”
Website Source: LINK
Statistics Canada: Criminal victimization in Canada, 2019
“Statistics Canada estimates 94% percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.”
By: Adam Cotter
NOTE: This report is no longer on Statistics Canada. You can use the wayback machine to find the same report by clicking the link below.
Website Source: LINK
Additional References:
Tarana Burke
The activist who started Me Too, an activist group to support survivors of sexual violence in 2006, who’s phrase was then adopted widely in 2018.
Here’s an amazing profile of her by Emma Brockes in the Guardian
Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor
These New York Times Reporters broke the story on Harvey Weinstein that started the MeToo movement.
They wrote a book about that process called She Said.
Dr. Elaine Craig
A professor of Law at Dalhousie University.
Read her book Putting Trials on Trial: Sexual Assault and the Failure of the Legal System
Videos Link:
Sean Combs found not guilty of his three most serious charges
Youtube (ITV News): Link
2018 World Junior players found not guilty
Youtube (CityNews): Link
Jian Ghomeshi found not guilty on all charges - news report
Youtube (CTV News): Link
Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned. What’s next in the case?
Youtube (CBS New York): Link
Jian Ghomeshi found not guilty on all charges - prosecutor call for more victims
Youtube (CTV News): Link
Music:
Our theme is Isolation Waltz
By: Bryan Teoh
Youtube (No Copyright Background Music): LINK
Strings tune-up (harmonics)
By: camel7695
Pixabay: LINK
Pretty Pluck Sound
By: memz
Freesound: LINK
Nostalgic Piano
By: Rafael Krux
Soundcloud: LINK
Bleu
By: Komiku
FMA: LINK
Full Team:
Jane Aster Roe - Executive Producer, Host
Rachel Arundel - Executive Producer
Katie Jensen - Executive Producer, Editor, Sound Designer
Jessica Strachan - Story Producer
Charlotte Gregg - Research Producer
Isis Madrid - Editor, Sound Designer
Rachel Bromberg - Fact Checker
Dawson Fleming - Production Assistant
Michelle Crossman - Mental Health Consultant
Lindsey Keene - Outreach Coordinator
Cheryl Grossman - Legal
Dalton Higgins - Publicity
Kathlyn Gardner - Events
