Shame and ‘Guilt’ in the Context of the Police’s Handling of Sexual Offences: A Sociological Perspective

Abstract

This article deals with the concepts of shame and ‘guilt’ in the context of victimizations through sexual assault. Although these terms are almost automatically associated with experiences of sexual violence, their backgrounds and impact on communication with victims have only rarely been the subject of research. The paper thus analyses police officers’ perceptions concerning feelings of shame experienced by sexual assault victims based on qualitative interviews. The results are considered alongside a sociological perspective on the concept of shame and thus examined in detail. The article then discusses how social background might contribute to victims’ feelings of shame and considers implications for police investigations.