What should be the punishment for false rape accusations?

Panache · 09-10-07, 02:48 PM

Not only does a false rape accusation ruin the life of the accused, and paint them with the stigma of being the worst kind of scum for the rest of their life, but it trivializes the experiences of real rape victims, and casts doubt on the veracity of their claims.

So what should be the punishment for falsly accusing someone of rape?

Summerwind · 09-10-07, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panache

Not only does a false rape accusation ruin the life of the accused, and paint them with the stigma of being the worst kind of scum for the rest of their life, but it trivializes the experiences of real rape victims, and casts doubt on the veracity of their claims.

So what should be the punishment for falsly accusing someone of rape?

Good point and good question; but wow how does one determine a false accusation? Would the accuser have to go on trial after the alleged rapist was cleared of the charges?

I think the previous thread about women's reactions to rape (the word as well as the perceived incidents thereof) prove that rape has some very grey areas of definition. I can only think of one case where is was proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the accuser was lying and that the prosecutor was her enabler (Duke LaCrosse Teammates).

Also if we begin this for accusations of rape, we would have to begin giving all people proven innocent of all crimes the ability to go after their accusers (which I believe in most cases are the police/DA offices).

Interesting idea but I can't see a reasonable execution of it.

Panache · 09-10-07, 04:16 PM

Quote:

I think the previous thread about women's reactions to rape (the word as well as the perceived incidents thereof) prove that rape has some very grey areas of definition.

Yes indeed. And how many lives have been permenantly ruined because of those grey areas?

Quote:

I can only think of one case where is was proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the accuser was lying and that the prosecutor was her enabler (Duke LaCrosse Teammates).

It seems to me that the accuser should have recieved whatever punishment she sought to inflict on the accused.

Quote:

Also if we begin this for accusations of rape, we would have to begin giving all people proven innocent of all crimes the ability to go after their accusers.

Sure. If someone calls me a thief, and then can't demonstrate it to be true, they should be charged with slander. Theft isn't such an emotionally charged term though, and I wouldn't suffer the outright hatred of everyone who heard the case and sypathised with the accuser.

Seriously, I would rather be a victim of rape myself than be falsely accused of being a rapist, going to jail for something I didn't do, and then having to live with the stigma for the rest of my life after that.

Summerwind · 09-10-07, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panache

Yes indeed. And how many lives have been permenantly ruined because of those grey areas?

It seems to me that the accuser should have recieved whatever punishment she sought to inflict on the accused.

Sure. If someone calls me a thief, and then can't demonstrate it to be true, they should be charged with slander. Theft isn't such an emotionally charged term though, and I wouldn't suffer the outright hatred of everyone who heard the case and sypathised with the accuser.

Seriously, I would rather be a victim of rape myself than be falsely accused of being a rapist, going to jail for something I didn't do, and then having to live with the stigma for the rest of my life after that.

I totally agree with this. But wouldn't the alleged rapist also have the same right to file a civil case against his accuser as it stands now? And I guess they would have to find a lawyer that could get the publicity for the case as the same level as the DA in the first case. . . well, yep that might not work.

Nonetheless, I can't see a reasonable way to execute the idea. BTW this concept also could be applied to those accused of pedophilia that are found innocent. That is just as bad if not worse. Perhaps the accusers should be forced to pay for the accused to get a "new identity."

Sergeant Stinger1 · 09-10-07, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panache

Not only does a false rape accusation ruin the life of the accused, and paint them with the stigma of being the worst kind of scum for the rest of their life, but it trivializes the experiences of real rape victims, and casts doubt on the veracity of their claims.

So what should be the punishment for falsly accusing someone of rape?

---
Easy question, just make the proven false accuser give the guy a good time in bed for a month or so.

1069 · 09-10-07, 08:57 PM

We should give them some broth, without any bread
and spank them all soundly, and send them to bed.

new coup for you · 09-10-07, 09:30 PM

the same punishment the accused would have received if they had been found guilty.

RightinNYC · 09-10-07, 09:43 PM

Same punishment for someone who files any false police report. Depending on the state, this can be anything from a misdemeanor ($2500 fine, up to year in jail) to a felony. Most often, the punishment is a few days/weeks in jail or community service and some sort of small fine, though I'd have no problem with that getting bumped up a bit in cases such as that.

new coup for you · 09-10-07, 11:22 PM

yeah all right, that's actually way more reasonable.

but, I think the falsely accused should be able to follow up with a law suit

CaptainCourtesy · 09-11-07, 02:46 AM

Same punishment that the accused would have gotten if convicted. I have zero sympathy for people who do this. It demeans anyone who was actually raped, makes it more difficult to acknowledge an actual rape, and can affect the accused for life even after exoneration.