We want the government to introduce mandatory training on rape myths for all jurors on rape trials 👩🏽‍⚖️

Why we need this:

Research shows that rape myths influence jurors' decisions in rape trials. For example, jurors who believe rape myths are less likely to find the accused guilty. And in mock trials, researchers found that many jurors had chosen a‘ guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ verdict before even deliberating.

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This happens because people’s ideas about rape often don’t align with reality. For instance, if a juror wrongly believes that all rape victims must have visible injuries, they might assume a survivor is lying if no injuries are present.

The result? Too many rapists are walking free. Currently, less than 1% of reported rapes lead to a conviction. And the police and CPS rarely put forward cases they think won’t convince a jury; while police recorded 67,169 in 2022 only 2,537 were prosecuted. 

Dispelling rape myths in juries is key to ensuring fair trials and improving low conviction rates.