No Justice, No Peace
Statistics show that only about 4% of sexual assault trials end with a perpetrator going to jail or prison. This shockingly low rate isn’t for the reasons most people assume. More often, sexual predators escape accountability because of how the “presumption of innocence” is applied in our legal system.
Because the burden of proof rests entirely on the state, “innocent until proven guilty” creates a maze of roadblocks and loopholes that allow predators to reoffend again and again.
What this really means in practice is that the accused is assumed either not to have committed the crime, or to have had some “valid” reason for their actions. This framework fuels victim blaming—survivors are questioned about what we did, what we wore, or how we acted, rather than the social and psychological realities that drive sexual violence.
Because the burden of proof rests entirely on the state, “innocent until proven guilty” creates a maze of roadblocks and loopholes that allow predators to reoffend again and again.
Survivors who’ve fought through the legal system—whether their trials ended in conviction or acquittal—consistently describe the same challenges in their pursuit of justice. Here are five of the biggest obstacles keeping sexual predators out of prison:
Police Reports – Some officers, untrained in handling sexual assault, dismiss survivors’ accounts or file incomplete reports that prevent proper investigations.
Evidence Collection – Delays, lack of guidance for survivors, and poor investigative training weaken cases before they even begin.
Prosecutors Declining Cases – District Attorneys often reject cases without “airtight” evidence, prioritizing conviction rates over justice.
State Laws that Protect Perpetrators – In some states, loopholes enable abusers. (For example, in New York, a survivor’s intoxication can be used as a defense.)
Convincing a Jury – Defense attorneys can get critical evidence excluded, leaving jurors with a distorted picture of what happened.
With barriers this steep, it’s no wonder so few survivors ever report sexual assault—proving a violation took place is a battle in itself.
Until these systemic failures are addressed, there can be no justice, and no peace.
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