Cosby cases show why women don't report rape

It’s unlikely that Bill Cosby will ever face criminal charges in connection with the sexual assault allegations being made by more than a dozen women that date back over decades. These women still face a major obstacle that all victims of sexual assault face — who do you believe?

Public opinion is divided. Some believe the sheer number of women who are coming forward with similar stories indicates there is some merit to their claims. Blaming the victim is a popular tactic. For women who are already suffering from shame, victim blaming further encourages them to keep quiet.

Experts that handle sexual assault cases on a day-to-day basis will tell you that there are remarkably few false reports of sexual assault. Data collected by the National District Attorney’s Association says false reports are rare. Being part of a sexual assault investigation is not something you want to go through if it isn’t necessary. There are lots of other ways for attention seekers to get their kicks.

One of Cosby’s attorneys also says one of the victims can’t be believed because she has had issues with alcohol and drug addiction in the intervening decades since the alleged incident occurred. But, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, rape survivors have a much higher tendency to use alcohol or drugs than non-victims. Substance abuse numbs memories of the event as well as the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, but it brings on a multitude of other problems. 

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center also points out that 96 percent of all drug-related sexual assaults also involved alcohol use. Many abusers rely on drugs and alcohol to make victims more vulnerable. In fact, this is a common thread in nearly all the outcries by Cosby’s alleged victims. It was also an element featured in his standup routines during that period. He would joke about using “Spanish Fly” to enhance his sexual performance.

Given that the only witnesses to most sex crimes are the suspect and the victim, and that a young, unknown female would have to make allegations against a famous comedian. He was richer, more famous and much more powerful.

Now think back to the 1970s. The Washington Post alleges that Cosby led something of a double life — pursuing a doctorate at Temple University on the East Coast where his wife and children lived; but when he was working on the West Coast, he enjoyed much of the stereotypical partying Hollywood lifestyle. 

The racial component likely played a role in the failure to report as well.  Nearly all the women who have come forward are white. There must have been terrific pressure for them not to admit he had touched them at all.

But even today, where society is often more enlightened, and sometimes more compassionate to crime victims, many believe these women are only seeking 15 minutes of fame and a check.

That, in a nutshell is one of the chief obstacles to prosecuting any sexual assault. What evidence do you have?

Only rarely is there security video or some sort of photographic evidence that ties the suspect and the victim together when the alleged crime took place. And, in order to collect the all-important biologic evidence, the victim has to decide within a few brief hours, that she is going to prosecute her attacker.

How often do you stand up in front of a few dozen people and discuss your latest sexual encounter? How willing would you be to have a physical examination, a few photographs then discuss that bad experience with three or four strangers?

Are we starting to get a feel for why women historically haven’t reported sexual assaults?

We have come a long way in making the experience much less of an ordeal since most of the incidents being described by these women occurred.

Today, specially trained SANE nurses (SANE stands for Sex Assault Nurse Examiners) examine victims, gather evidence, treat their injuries and give preventive medications to protect victims from sexually transmitted diseases and to prevent conception from occurring.

To collect all possible evidence, SANE nurse ideally need to see the victim before they have changed clothes, bathed, or if possible, used the restroom.

The evidence this SANE nurse can provide often compels the predator to plead guilty, sparing the victim from having to testify in court.

In short, sexual assault is an experience that we are only now becoming willing to admit occurs commonly.

If Cosby committed these acts, at this late date, given his age and current physical condition, the bad publicity and financial losses may be the only punishment these alleged victims ever see meted out until he faces the ultimate judge and jury.