ARTICLE ANALYSIS

Article Analysis

Article Analysis

Introduction

Much has been written on the role of nineteenth century voluntary societies and philanthropic organizations in seeking to achieve social purity and moral reform through 'rescue' work and evangelical dogma. The early campaigns of the Vice Society targeting vice and obscenity, paranoia about prostitution in the 1840s and 50s, and anxieties about saving the souls of women and girls involved in immoral activities, led to a flood of evangelically inspired institutions formed to gather up and save such fallen females. In the 1870s and 80s, the unwavering commitment and influence of Josephine Butler and the scandal of the Maiden Tribute led to another wave of child saving initiatives, and the formation, ultimately, of the National Vigilance Association.

A number of these societies, both local and national, were actively engaged in initiating prosecutions, representing defendants and developing agendas that included legal support and assistance for those perceived to be the most vulnerable in society, women and children. Lacking economic resources, and denied both political and legal power in any substantial sense, women and children were, for the Victorians, the most obvious and least protected participants in the legal process. As victims, they were also among the most deserving, especially in cases of sexual assault and violence.

Discussion Analysis

The aim of this paper is to start to bring to light the importance of the role played by a number of these societies in actively engaging with, and proactively intervening in, the criminal justice system. In the context of Victorian child sexual abuse, Louise Jackson has already identified and highlighted the importance of the involvement of charitable organizations in such cases. But with regards to rape there has been less methodical introspection. However, a caveat must be entered first in terms of the difficulties of conducting any systematic research into the activities of these societies, as few records are readily available in convenient sources.

Women who found themselves raped or assaulted fell between these two models. Prosecuting societies rarely prosecuted cases of violence and moral societies were more concerned with eliminating immoral behavior than supporting the recipients of it. Sexual violence received less attention than property crime and, in the domestic sphere at least, cases often only came to light where they were incidental to matrimonial or bastardy proceedings. In the public sphere, few men of status were convicted of rape and child sexual abuse was a phenomenon that was not even properly publicly acknowledged.

Many complaints of rape or attempted rape were either dismissed before reaching trial or the male triumvirate of judges, jurors and counsel ensured that acquittals were all too common. As Carolyn Conley confirms, «it was difficult for the males who ran the criminal justice system to fully comprehend the criminality of rape». Criminal proceedings for sexual assault required instigation by the victim or her family, but victimised women risked tarnishing their reputation by making a formal complaint. Women who brought rape charges were suspect on three counts; they were female, had been at least temporarily outside ...