Dissecting a Lie

On Dec. 5, 2007, the UB community was shaken by a reported sexual assault. One year later the woman, who once claimed that she was taken from the Lake LaSalle parking lot to a remote campus location and raped, has said the incident did not happen.

While the University Police Department (UPD) has not released the name or specific information concerning the woman, experts can only offer hypothetical insight into an event that made headlines and struck fear into the university community.

"A claim that happened like this one did, during the time of day when there was a lot of traffic around in a busy area, worried a lot of people and was very shocking," said Chief of University Police Gerald Schoenle.

While false reporting of rape and sexual assault is very rare, when it does occur it is widely publicized, said Thom Neill, a counselor with Student Health & Wellness.

"The prevalence of false reporting is almost nonexistent because the shame and stigma is so great and the repercussions are so high, people aren't doing it for fun," Neill said. "It is too much of an emotional investment to do half-heartedly or even to hurt someone else."

Schoenle said that he does not recall another incident of a rape being falsely reported during his tenure with the UPD.

"[False reporting] is very rare," Schoenle said. "I suspect there is even less [false] reporting on college campuses."

According to Neill, there is a definite cost to reporting, a main reason why there isn't a high frequency of falsely claiming to be sexually assaulted. When false reporting does occur, there are a variety of causes and motivation for it, he said.

"Sometimes, there are mental health issues that cause people to seek attention... People with these personality disorders or other issues may report any crime or assault for attention. They may also claim an illness to seek attention," Neill said.

When a faux victim reports an incident that did not occur, often it will fulfill a need for attention and emotional support that was not previously met.

"Being a victim, they can get empathy, support, nurturing, care, compassion... it just gets them the things they're not getting in their lives," Neill said.

While a person may be driven to falsely report a sexual assault for revenge, Neill said it is uncommon. The "revenge" stigma attached to reporting both legitimate incidents and fictitious occurrences advances the stigma surrounding rape and sexual assault, he said.

"It can perpetuate myths about women crying wolf, which are not true... It's highly publicized when [false reporting] does happen, and it can leave the whole community with negative notions about sexual assault," Neill said. "It can foster people feeling unsafe emotionally and physically."

Schoenle said that prior to the UPD's report that the sexual assault didn't occur, members of the campus community were concerned for their safety.

"To them, it was shocking that something like that could happen. So many members of the community were very scared," he said. "Up until the time we reported that it did not occur, they were very worried and when we did report that it was false, they were very reassured."

False reporting of any crime can also lead to mistrust among those who are there to help victims in future, legitimate scenarios, Neill said. False reporting can create suspicion and doubt between police officers and mental health professionals and victims.

"It creates mistrust... in the same way that any relationship can turn bad when a person has been lied to," he said. "It can create imaginary feelings, so when the next person comes along, it can create bad differences, and sometimes [victims] are not supported and believed in a way they should be because they're encountering these people."

While false reporting is uncommon, victims who report legitimate experiences only to later claim the incident never happened are frequent, said Jane Fischer, director of SBI Health Education. Typically, a rape victim will say the incident did not happen because of the stress and emotional turmoil that follows reporting.

"Usually, it's because testifying at trial or the line of questioning from law enforcement or lawyers is often described by victims almost as being raped a second time or a third time or a fourth time because you're reliving details that were or are extremely painful," Fischer said. "You're speaking on something that is extremely personal and violent. It's often described as a re-victimization of sorts."

Neill said that often, the initial reaction to a victim reporting a sexual assault can impact their decision to move forward in pressing charges. Sexual assault is even more underreported on college campuses because of the prevalence of acquaintance rape.

"Sometimes, depending on the reactions they get, it might be too painful to continue, too out of control for them. They may recant their story to decrease their stress or reduce their pain. It just feels like too much and they want to forget about it," he said.

According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 60 percent of rapes go unreported. Of those reported, there is a 50.8 percent that the offender will be arrested, and an 80 percent chance of prosecution if an arrest is made.

Despite evidence and other factors, only 50 to 70 percent of cases prosecuted will see a conviction. RAINN estimates that when unreported attacks are factored into the equation, only one of every 16 rapists will serve time in jail.

According to Neill, victims are often more likely to withdraw their claims when they're being told by authorities that there is no case or evidence, or that leads aren't following through.

Males also make up a large percentage of unreported rapes. According to Neill, almost all male victims of sexual assault don't come forward.

"Women as a gender are aware that rape and sexual assault happens to them. Although it's difficult, there's a voice for that. There are female celebrities who have come out as being victims of rape and there are ads and publications and information available to them," Neill said. "There are no [public service announcements], no male celebrities coming forward, no advertisements, no V-Day for men."

Schoenle said that when sexual assaults occur, it is always important to approach the situation from a place of believing when a victim does report the incident.

"One of the most important things for the victim of sexual assault is to be believed," he said. "It's critical for first responders to believe them to help them with the healing process."