Compliant Victim Dynamics

1. Compliant Victim Dynamics Heather M. Smith, MRC, LPC Forensic Interview Specialist Assessment & Resource Center (ARC)

2. “Compliant Victims:” What does that mean? Children who cooperate in their victimization Reluctantly going along with the sexual contact to receive other benefits Active participation in a relationship that is not perceived to be victimization

3. Victim/Perpetrator Relationship Continuum • Adapted by Allison Foster from work of Anne Ahlquist, MSW (relationship continuum) & Ken Lanning, FBI (perpetrator control / grooming)

4. How do we judge them? • “Sympathy for victims is inversely proportional to their age and sexual development” • Ken Lanning • Other barriers to sympathy? • Sexual orientation • Prior sexual activity • Other antisocial behavior

5. Why Teens are at Risk... • Normal developmental factors • sexual desires • curiosity • Vulnerability to flattery about their maturity or “special-ness” • Attraction to risk taking

6. Internet • If you talk to someone for months before meeting him, is he a stranger?

7. The romantic adolescent perspective • When kids arrange to meet adults, they often anticipate having sex with someone they “know” and who “cares” about them

8. Why do they go back for more? • The victim may justify deviance: • True love is never wrong • Consensual sex is not rape • We were just messing around

9. Challenges to Rapport and Fact-Finding • May be hostile or non-cooperative with investigators / prosecution • May deny involvement • May minimize acts perpetrated against them • May exaggerate violence used against them to minimize their shame/complicity

10. Challenges to fact-finding • Distorted accounts of abuse from victims is often due to : • therapists • physicians • parents • law enforcement • unwilling to accept the reality of the situation, or • unwittingly influencing the victim’s account by conveying (explicitly / implicitly) their biases

11. Why compliant victims do not disclose • Stigma of homosexuality • Lack of societal understanding • Positive feelings for offender • Embarrassment • Fear • Doesn’t feel like a victim

12. Why compliant victims do disclose • Sexual activity discovered or suspected • Offender misjudged them • Offender got too aggressive • Offender approaches victim’s sibling or friend • Anger / jealousy if offender ends “relationship” or engages new victim • Medical concerns (pregnancy, std) • Maturation

13. Adolescent Victims: Trauma and Coping • Avoidance • Numbing • Dissociation • Minimization

14. What the Teen Needs from You • Real Rapport: • Time • Respect • Understanding • Sensitivity • Truthfulness

15. TIME: Interview • Typically, these are long interviews • Plan accordingly and convey that you have all the time (s)he needs • Be flexible: one long interview, offer breaks, consider extended interview • Progressive, including gentle, controlled confrontation with evidence when necessary

16. TIME: Trial Preparation • Plan on several meetings with the teen to accomplish rapport • Ensure that courtroom orientation and trial education are accomplished • Familiarity breeds • Comfort • Communication • Commitment • (Not contempt!)

17. RESPECT • Respect the victim’s schedule • Respect the victim’s perspective on • The Defendant • The Charges • The System • Reflect • Avoid interpreting • Avoid disputing • Avoid judging

18. UNDERSTANDING • Validate feelings victim shares Victim: “It makes me sick just talking about it.” Which response is best for “validating?” a) “I can understand that.” • “The more you talk about it with me, the better you will feel.” • “Here’s a trash can in case you hurl.”

19. UNDERSTANDING • Let’s try another one: Victim: “You don’t give a flying f-ck about me, you just care about getting your name in the papers.” • “It sounds like you’re feeling used, like I don’t care what you’re going through?” • “That’s not true.” • “You’re right, and I need your help to win.”

20. Understanding: You can’t fix it; you don’t have to • “Damn straight I feel used. If you gave a sh-t about my feelings you’d close this mother f-cker out and let me go home.” • Response options? • Silence, then proceed with interview • Moral query: “why do people think it’s important for me to talk to you?” • Appreciation: “So, right now this isn’t doing anything for you, but I appreciate you being here anyway and answering my questions. I’ll do what I can to move it along.”

21. SENSITIVITY: Trial • Find out what a victim believes will make her feel more comfortable on the stand: • Presence of support persons? • Exclusions or inclusions of family members? • Security object? • Lines of vision? • What are the victim’s greatest fears about testifying? Find out and respond to them.

22. TRUTHFULNESS • “I can’t promise you that.” • “I’ll fight for that.” • “I know you would feel more comfortable if he wasn’t in the courtroom, but he will be.” • “His lawyer is probably going to ask you about . . .” • “I will always tell you the truth. I will never try to trick you”

23. Communication Tips: Do’s • Ask when you do not understand • Use the victim’s words wherever possible • Announce transitions • Acknowledge your uncoolness • Give maximum possible confidentiality • Give maximum possible control • Be respectful • Take the long view

24. Communication Tips: Don’ts • Don’t interrupt • Don’t assume you know their world • Don’t respond to rudeness with authority • Don’t be parental • Don’t interrogate • Don’t judge • Don’t patronize • Don’t lie

25. Difficulties Interviewing Compliant Teens • Teen may want to talk to you to explain that (s)he is not a victim • Teen may not want to say anything for fear it will negatively hurt perpetrator • Always start where teen is: • Don’t confront or challenge the teen’s perception

26. Useful Statements When Interviewing A Child • I was not there so…. • Even if you think I know it, tell me anyway • Even if you think it does not matter, tell me anyway • In my job, I’m not allowed to guess or assume

27. Testimony Aids • Flipchart and markers • Timelines • Location Photographs • Anatomical diagrams • Assist victim to: • Organize • Track • Distance • Focus • Cope

28. Juvenile Online Victimization Incidence Study Conducted by the Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire • Janis Wolak, Project Director • Kimberly Mitchell • David Finkelhor, CCRC Director • 2004: Journal of Adolescent Health

29. First encounters between offenders & victims Sample of 129 Sex Offenses, Internet-Initiated: • 76% of initial Internet meetings happened in chat rooms • 10% happened through Instant Messages • 5% through e-mail • 5% other ways • Phone chat lines, websites

30. One quarter of victims were boys

31. Victims were mostly 13-15

32. Offenders were much older than victims

33. Deceit about sexual motives 21% of offenders lied about their sexual motives • Many openly solicited their victims • Their deceits involved promising love & romance • A few offenders posed as “friends,” then assaulted their victims • A few offenders devised ploys

34. Few cases involved coercion or violence

35. Other aggravating circumstances Victims … • 40% -- Given illegal drugs or alcohol • 23% -- Exposed to adult pornography • 20% -- Exposed to child pornography • 23% -- Photographed in sexual poses

36. Internet used in presence of victim • Fondling or holding child on lap • Grooming victims • Illustrating how to perform sex acts • Grooming the victim to perform deviant sexual acts