Heading

Author

New Approach to Crime:
Blame The Victim Instead

The Ontario Provincial Police released a “study” on rape two weeks ago which claimed that most of these crimes are the fault of the woman raped. Blaming the victim has always been popular among those in power (see how the poor are blamed for the poverty, the unemployed for having no job) and of course, we wouldn't venture to argue with the brilliant minds behind police's report. But we would like to suggest that the principle which the police in their wisdom apply to rape cases be applied even more widely, since it seems to do away with so many problems, like having to pursue criminals, for example. Perhaps we might start by applying the police approach to rape to crimes against property, as in the following example which previously appeared in the student paper, Asylum:

“Mr. Smith, you were held up at gunpoint at 16th and Locust?”
“Yes.”
“Did you struggle with the robber?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“He was armed.”
“Then you make a conscious decision to comply with his demands rather than resist?”
“Well, yes.”
“Did you scream? Cry out?”
“No, I was afraid.”
“I see. Have you ever been held up before?”
“No.”
“Have you ever given money away?”
“Yes, of course...”
“And you did so willingly?”
“What are getting at?”
“Well, let put it like this, Mr. Smith. You've given away money in the past in fact, you have quite a reputation for philanthropy. How can we be sure that you weren't contriving to have your money taken by force?”
“Listen, If I wanted...”
“Never mind. What time did this hold-up take place, Mr. Smith?”
“About 11:00 p.m.”
“You were out on the street at 11 p.m.? Doing what?”
“Just walking.”
“Just walking? You know it's dangerous being out on the street that late at night. Weren't you aware that you could have been held up?”
“I hadn't thought about it.”
“What were you wearing at the time, Mr. Smith?”
“Let see. A suit. Yes, a suit.”
“An expensive suit?”
“Well, yes.”
“In other words, Mr. Smith, you were walking around the streets late at night in a suit that practically advertised the fact that you might be a good target for some easy money, isn't that so? I mean, if we didn't know better, Mr. Smith, we might even thinking you were asking for this to happen, mightn't we?”

Naturally, this line of questioning, the innuendo, is ludicrous unless we are talking about parallel questions in a rape case: the time of night, the victim's previous history of “giving away” that which was taken by force, the clothing. All of these are held against the victim.

(CX5033)

Donate or Volunteer