Why rape investigations go nowhere

One might think that a key element in the 88-96% of rape allegations that end with neither a criminal conviction nor a conclusion that the reporter was lying would be the fact that typically, a rape is witnessed only by the perpetrator and the victim.  True as far as it goes, but according to this report from the Star-Tribune, other key elements include:

• Investigator never assigned to investigate, 25%
• Investigator never interviews victim, 33%.
• Police never interview potential witnesses, 50%. 
• When the name of a perpetrator is provided, police check background only 10% of the time.

Overall, adequate investigation appears to have been done, according to the Strib, in only one of five cases.  The scarier thing, in my view, is that the conviction rate in Minnesota appears to be better than average, implying that nationwide, the police may be putting even less effort in this regard.


But you can always find Officer Friendly on traffic patrol, or busting dopers.


It strikes me that if someone you love is assaulted this way, you might do very well to keep the parable of the persistent widow in mind.  Don't let it be comfortable for police investigators to let your case slide.