| Few would disagree that sexual assaults have lasting psychological effects. It has been suggested (Sales, Baum, & Shore, 1984) that having charges brought against an assailant may aid in fewer post-traumatic symptoms. Using 108 sexual assault cases reported to police in a Western Canadian city from Jan. 1, 1996 through May 30, 1996, various demographic and situational characteristics are tested against case outcome. Implications of the study are discussed. It is argued that understanding the factors that affect case outcome may aid victims and members of the criminal justice system, especially police, in their dealings with sexual assault cases.
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Updated 05/20/2006