A Star Tribune investigation found that in sex crimes investigations in Minnesota, there were a troubling amount of cases in which investigators never spoke with suspects or did a background check to learn their criminal history. That's what happened when Amber Mansfield reported her alleged rape, and she got so discouraged by the way police treated her that she dropped her case. But when the suspect struck again, she knew she needed to step forward. 

A Star Tribune investigation found that in sex crimes investigations in Minnesota, there were a troubling amount of cases in which investigators never spoke with suspects or did a background check to learn their criminal history. That's what happened when Amber Mansfield reported her alleged rape, and she got so discouraged by the way police treated her that she dropped her case. But when the suspect struck again, she knew she needed to step forward.&nbsp;

A joint podcast of the Star Tribune and WCCO Radio takes listeners inside
news coverage each week with Star Tribune reporters and editors. WCCO Radio's
Jordana Green is the host.

Inside The News

Inside The News - Denied Justice

Episode Two: Denied Justice — Did cops care more about the background of the victim than the suspect?

The team of reporters behind the Star Tribune’s Denied Justice series spent how two years doing research, diligent digging through hundreds of rape stories. It was work that needed to be done to identify systematic problems in rape investigations across the state, and to find victims willing share their stories to help challenge the status quo. It was also work that deeply impacted  those who did it. In this episode, we look at how producing the series changed the reporters and editors who worked on it, and also led to important changes in how law enforcement in Minnesota will handle rape and sexual assault cases going forward.

The team of reporters behind the Star Tribune&rsquo;s Denied Justice series spent how two years doing research, diligent digging through hundreds of rape stories. It was work that needed to be done to identify systematic problems in rape investigations across the state, and to find victims willing share their stories to help challenge the status quo. It was also work that deeply impacted &nbsp;those who did it. In this episode, we look at how producing the series changed the reporters and editors who worked on it, and also led to important changes in how law enforcement in Minnesota will handle rape and sexual assault cases going forward.

How the Star Tribune’s Denied Justice series changed the journalists who worked on it

In 2012, Justin Boardman, a police officer in Utah, attended a training class that led him to a disturbing realization: He had been closing rape cases without properly investigating them. The reason? He had failed to understand the psychological impact of trauma and how it affected the responses of victims he interviewed. Boardman was wracked with guilt over the past cases he feared he had mishandled, but he resisted the temptation to quit and instead teamed up with a nurse and a prosecutor to fundamentally change the way police investigated rape and sexual assault cases in the state.

 

In 2012, Justin Boardman, a police officer in Utah, attended a training class that led him to a disturbing realization: He had been closing rape cases without properly investigating them. The reason? He had failed to understand the psychological impact of trauma and how it affected the responses of victims he interviewed. Boardman was wracked with guilt over the past cases he feared he had mishandled, but he resisted the temptation to quit and instead teamed up with a nurse and a prosecutor to fundamentally change the way police investigated rape and sexual assault cases in the state.
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Episode Eight: How a police officer confronted past mistakes to change the way rape is  investigated

Emma Top was raped by her best friend, and the man was found guilty by a jury of felony sex assault. According to the Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he was supposed to serve four years in a state prison, but he was sentenced to a year in the county jail, and was out nine months for good behavior. Top felt betrayed by the justice system. A Star Tribune investigation found that lenient sentences for rape and sexual assault are commonplace in Minnesota, especially when the victim knows the rapist. This episode tells Emma's story, and looks at why convicted rapist get lighter sentences, often avoiding prison time all together.

Emma Top was raped by her best friend, and the man was found guilty by a jury of felony sex assault. According to the Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he was supposed to serve four years in a state prison, but he was sentenced to a year in the county jail, and was out nine months for good behavior. Top felt betrayed by the justice system. A Star Tribune investigation found that lenient sentences for rape and sexual assault are commonplace in Minnesota, especially when the victim knows the rapist. This episode tells Emma's story, and looks at why convicted rapist get lighter sentences, often avoiding prison time all together.

Episode Two: Denied Justice — Did cops care more about the background of the victim than the suspect?

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Inside The News - Denied Justice

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