It is important that law enforcement officers understand that a victim fears ALL BUT ONE of the following when reporting a sexual assault to a law enforcement officer.

When a victim of sexual assault approaches law enforcement, their experience and concerns are deeply influenced by their past trauma and the societal stigma surrounding these incidents. A key aspect that they fear is that the officers will take their situation lightly, fail to believe them, or even question their credibility—hence why they may fear being blamed for the assault, facing insensitive questioning, or feeling that their report will not be taken seriously.

Understanding the dynamics of these fears is crucial for officers. They must approach the situation with sensitivity and empathy, but the fear that they will be excessively empathetic does not align with the typical concerns that victims harbor. Victims generally do not fear too much empathy; rather, they are often concerned about the lack of understanding or support they may receive during what is a highly vulnerable moment. This highlights why the perception of excessive empathy is not among the fears they typically associate with reporting a sexual assault.