kh423915@ohio.edu
In the United States, violent crimes occur about once every 24 seconds. So by the time you're done reading this blog post, about 10 violent crimes will have occurred, depending on how fast you read. Within Ohio, violent crimes are most prevalent in the city of Cleveland, which has a crime rate more than twice of the state capital, Columbus.
Violent crime is widely considered to be crime that involves a victim, or inflicts harm onto others. While the victims of violent crime are the most effected by these horrible instances, the occurrence and fluctuation in violent crime rates also impacts the way that law enforcement investigates, how the judicial system addresses, and how journalists report on such crimes.
As an investigative reporter for The Plain Dealer, Rachel Dissell shared her experiences and advice in dealing with trauma victims and survivors of violent crime. What stood out most were her experiences with sexual assault and domestic violent in teen dating, as these are problems that remain consistently relevant on college campuses like Ohio University.
When reporting on crimes of sexual violence, it can be difficult as a journalist to find the right balance between reporting the truth to the public and minimizing harm. In cases of sexual violence, women will often withdraw from an investigator or reporter if they don't feel believed or they do not trust the person they are talking to. As journalists, we are trained to raise questions of truth in order to avoid reporting facts or stories that are untrue. However, to a victim, traditional methods of questioning can feel like they are doubted or not taken seriously. The FBI determines that the number of unfounded accusations of sexual assault only account for about 8% of all cases. What this means is, for the sake of the 92% telling the truth, reports on such crimes need to be taken seriously from the beginning, until evidence suggests otherwise. Dissell noted that unconfident attitudes towards victims of violent crimes can lead journalists and investigators to miss details that may be critical to a story or investigation, and thus increases the possibility that a perpetrator of violent crime continues to terrorize a community. In any kind of crime, it is integral that every claim be treated seriously to better protect the public.
(Photo by thevarsity.ca)
On the other hand, it is also important that journalists aim to minimize harm and avoid sensationalizing stories covering violent crime. In crimes of malicious nature, associating a wrongly accused perpetrator or assuming guilt before conviction can be especially damaging to a persons status and career. Furthermore, it can draw more attention to victims who may not be comfortable with publicity. As the codes of ethics state, only the absolute truth should be reported.
With the information and resources available today, it is not difficult to identify the ways in which a violent crime can impact a victim or a community. However, what often gets overlooked is how violent crimes and traumatic events can impact the reporters and first responders that work directly with the victims. A career in these fields can have an impact on professionals similar to that of the victims. Exposure to horrific crimes can become consuming or depressing, and can inhibit ones ability to do their job effectively, or even function normally. In order to preserve mental health, first responders and journalists covering tough stories should be cognizant of they're own patterns and behaviors. Ways to maintain a healthy mindset include indulging in positive moments with loved ones, limiting the number of hours that are dedicated to work, and sharing particularly difficult assignments with trusted co-workers or family members.
By being more attentive to a survivor's emotional state, definite facts, and personal mental health, journalists can limit the negative effects of trauma and violent crime on survivors, the community and themselves.
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