An analysis of sentencing in rape cases: Does victim typicality play a role

This study analyzes the impact of victim-related characteristics, including “ideal victimhood,” as well as defendant and case-related factors on judgments of guilt and sentencing in rape cases. Using a database of 637 court rulings, logistic regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The findings indicate that when the victim's testimony is deemed inadmissible as evidence, the likelihood of a guilty verdict decreases as the time gap between the incident date and the first trial ruling increases. Additionally, cases where the defendant’s personal information is disclosed show an increased likelihood of a guilty verdict. In terms of sentencing, when the defendant has a close relationship with the victim, the sentence tends to be reduced, whereas in cases involving a defendant with prior criminal records, the sentence tends to increase as the time gap between the incident and the ruling widens. These results suggest that perceptions of victimhood may influence decisions on guilt and sentencing, highlighting the importance of the victim's initial response and credibility assessment in rape cases.