Silenced Survivors: A Systematic Review of the Barriers to Reporting, Investigating, Prosecuting, and Sentencing of Adult Female Rape and Sexual Assault

Objective: Sexual victimisation of adult women remains an underreported crime. This systematic review identified and synthesised the barriers to reporting, investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing cases of sexual assault and rape against adult women.
Method: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted on August 3, 2023, across databases including PsychINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ProQuest Central, Web of Science, Mednar, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria provided relevant information on the decision not to formally disclose, investigate, prosecute, or convict incidents of sexual assault and rape of adult women. Results: We included 28 studies and identified 70 barriers in total. Identified barriers were most prevalent to reporting, followed by investigating, prosecuting, and lastly, sentencing. Key themes in the barriers included lack of trust in the criminal justice system, internal reactions, rape myths and societal norms, and perpetrator characteristics. Conclusion: The identified barriers emphasise an urgent need for reform of the criminal justice system’s response to sexual assault and rape. Prioritising victim-survivors’ needs, enhancing transparency of the criminal justice system, and addressing attrition rates is crucial. Future studies need to engage with diverse population to address all victim-survivors’ needs and provide further insights into the challenges across all stages of the criminal justice system to enhance the outcome of rape and sexual assault cases.