|

Issues in Statutory Rape Law Enforcement: The Views of District Attorneys in Kansas

Henry L. Miller Corinne E. Miller Linda Kenney James W. Clark

First published online:

Abstract / Summary

Context: The 1996 federal welfare reform law calls for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy rates through aggressive enforcement of statutory rape laws at the local and state level. Yet there are few quantitative data on district attorneys' attitudes toward enforcement and related issues.

Methods: Anonymous surveys were mailed to all 105 Kansas district attorneys in 1997; 92 surveys were returned. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with seven of the attorneys.

Results: Most of the respondents (74%) favored aggressive enforcement, but just 37% believed the public would support aggressive enforcement. Only 24% believed enforcement would reduce adolescent pregnancy. Fifty-seven percent supported the http://pre-dev.guttmacher.org:8080/workflow/profile/story/container/edi… legal age of consent in Kansas (16 years). Fifty-three percent thought the law should not specify age differences between the partners. Most (77%) believed the law should protect sexually active minors, and that paternity acknowledgments should be admissible evidence in prosecutions (78%). Only 17% believed that enforcement would discourage adolescents from seeking health care.

Conclusions: The potential impact of statutory rape prosecution on reproductive and psychological health should be considered in each case. Educating law enforcement officials about adolescent health care issues and encouraging them to consult with professionals in health and psychological fields may help to minimize the potentially negative effects of enforcement on adolescents' reproductive health.

Family Planning Perspectives, 1998, 30(4):177–181

Full text in PDF

Author's Affiliations

Henry L. Miller is epidemiologist with the Special Studies Section, Bureau of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Corinne E. Miller is assistant state epidemiologist with the Office of Epidemiologic Services; and Linda Kenney is director of the Children and Families Section, Bureau for Children, Youth and Families; all with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS. James W. Clark is executive director of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association, Topeka, KS.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Guttmacher Institute.