Is it worse to be FALSELY ACCUSED of rape or to actually be RAPED?
I recently read an article in the local newspaper that a lawsuit against our town was being dropped because the man who sued, moved away, making the suit moot. The man had sued because he was on the national sex offenders registry and was prevented from moving in with either of his sisters here because both of their houses were within 4,000 feet of a school (local ordinance). Later in the article it was revealed that the man was 42 and unmarried, had a menial job, and GET THIS, he had been convicted of statutory rape at age 16 because he had consensual intercourse with his girlfriend who was 13 at the time.
Being somewhat taken aback, I asked a local police chief about this sort of thing and he just shook his head and told me that the sex offenders registry creates a huge problem because those men who are on it are absolute social outcasts. They must register with the local law enforcement agency, inform prospective employers, and inform neighbors. Thus, they are pariahs to their neighbors, rarely marry, are rejected for higher education, have little chance of meaningful employment, and are relegated to outlying areas of their communities. Their lives being ruined, they sometimes turn to crime as the only way to "get ahead", if you can call it that.
However, just being falsely accused can ruin a man's life also, even though he may not be convicted. Many lose their jobs, businesses, and even families. But worse, they lose their good reputations within their communities regardless. We know the awful devastation caused to victims of rape, but which is worse?
Poppin: I asked about recourse too. Few young women have assets worth a lawsuit and none get prosecuted for perjury even when they admit they lied. It's a malicious crime without risk.
Alex: Most who are found guilty of rape do lengthy prison time.
Car...: The accuser's name is never made public. The accused makes headlines.
Alex: This was from another woman on YA...
My niece has accused several men of raping her, I think the total is six now. All of those men are registered sex offenders now, one lost his family and business. Several have done time because she started accusing when she was 14 and that's pretty serious. Unfortunately, her history can never be brought up so no one knows that her accusations are unfounded.
As for 16 year old boys, in my state, they can be suspended from school and not readmitted until they are cleared in court which may take a year or so to come to trial. No private school will admit then and accept the liability. Since most parents of such kids both work, home schooling is out and both incomes are also needed for legal fees. They lose all of their friends and most eventually give up on school and life.
But a 45 year old man simply loses all that he has worked his life to attain. Do you really think either can fully recover from such trauma?