Is there such of a thing as guilty until proven innocent...

[Fountain79]

in a rape case? More than any other crime, rape invokes a strong emotion and recoil as it should. If you opened the paper and it read that 1,000 people were killed your reaction would of course be shock. Then again, if you read something that said 1,000 women raped in one sitting then of course it will invoke a greater passion. Obviously this an extreme that I am discussing but I don't think that it is too far from people's general reaction to such a crime.

Sometimes the accusation of rape is stronger than the any actual evidence. Take myself for example, I am a relatively young male teacher. If I was ever to be accussed of raping a student, I would very likely be branded as a rapist before evidence even came to light. Am I wrong in thinking that G.U.P.I is often disregarded in a rape case?

[alarimer]

1. I think sometimes that happens

And it isn't fair. But I think that rape victims are treated MUCH worse than the accused, as if they have committed the crime by bringing it up. "Oh she must have been asking for it by walking there late at night" or by wearing skimpy clothes or because she is a stripper or what have you. Most rapes are not reported for the simple fact that most are nnot willing to put themselves through a situation in which theor whole lives are examined in minute detail for whatever bad habits they have or mistakes they make. Rape is the only crime for which this is true, in which blaming the victim is the usual practice.

[bettyellen]

8. yep, other crime victims are not treated nearly as badly,

it cuts both ways.
you don't see those on the side of the accused acknowledging that.

[Mika]

2. Yes.

If one did commit the crime, then one is guilty - no matter what a court finds.

[Fountain79]

4. So...

If I am accused of a rape, the court finds me innocent, but if enough people think I am guilty then I can be denied work and harassed at will?

[Mika]

9. I said no such thing.

You asked "Is there such of a thing as guilty until proven innocent".

My answer is a simple yes. One can be acquitted of a crime one actually committed. Just because a court finds one innocent of a crime one has actually committed doesn't mean that one is actually innocent. Only in the eyes of the court.

[napi21]

3. Unfortunately, you are right. AND the situation gets worse!

I listen to a lawyer call in show on the weekends on KGO radio, and a lady called to ask what she could do for her son. He had been accused of rape by his ex girfriend, taken to court and convicted. THEN, the girl confessed that she had lied because she was pissed off at him for leaving her. He was freed from jail, but there is NO WAY to espunge his name from the "Former Sex Offender" list! I was SHOCKED to say the least, and although it was a few months ago that this was on the show, I don't think I'll ever forget that! hat damaging power a femal has over any man! I'm a woman, but I'm ashamed of that.

[spag68]

13. Don't be ashamed

as long as you personally operate in an honest manner, you need not be ashamed of bad things happening.

[0007]

5. 'Tis the military code, isn't it?

[Neil Lisst]

6. Unfortunately, that presumption seems to exist

[msatty99]

7. GUPI IS the operative dynamic in sex cases

I know. Forcible rape charges are fairly uncommon in the spectrum
of sex crimes. But as a young male teacher, if a female student
accused you of wrongful touching...you would be in hot water very
quick.

The operative impulse is that 'where there is smoke there is fire'.
The risk of harm to children is so great that 'officialdom' will
close ranks pretty rapidly.

I recommend not being alone with students. If so, keep a door open.

[bettyellen]

10. unfortunately, that is all jobs working with children....

doesn't have much to do with the OP though. it wasn't about pedophilia or child abuse.

[bettyellen]

11. just as many people are accusing the alleged victim as the frat boys

it's just like the old days, when they ALWAYS blamed the woman.

[madeline_con]

12. "... a relatively young male teacher."

Three words. CYA.

Never advise a student after school unless your classroom door is open. Be careful NOTHING you say can be misconstrued. ALWAYS look at the way something would look to a passerby, or a layman, to avoid any problems. But, you probably already know this. :hi:

[sproutster]

14. Heed everyones advise as a teacher

In our highschool we had a hot english teacher. All of us girls had a mad crush on him. A very striking friend of mine just recently told me, "I coulda had him..."

Seriously OMG... She was in HS with me so we are talking 17 years old, very predatory re: men. She was raped by an uncle when she was younger, and was and is very sexually agressive.

[Fountain79]

15. ah...

That's why it pays to be overweight in my profession. Less people swooning over you.