Episode 172 | Just Supporting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault
In episode six of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Patricia Powers, an attorney adviser with AEquitas, to discuss supporting male victims of sexual assault through the criminal legal system.
Research suggests that sexual assault is an often-underreported crime. Biases, myths, and societal expectations can further discourage male survivors from stepping forward and disclosing their assault. Pattie Powers works with survivors and sees the impact that these misconceptions have on the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault crimes. Listen along as she discusses the myths surrounding sexual assault, the role of education in overcoming biases, and best practices for supporting male survivors and effectively prosecuting their cases in this episode of Just Science.
This episode of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].
Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Original Release Date: August 20, 2021
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Guest Bio
Patricia (Pattie) Powers joined AEquitas as an attorney advisor after serving as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney in Washington State for 27 years. During her tenure as a prosecutor, she supervised the Sexual Assault—Domestic Violence Unit. She successfully prosecuted and tried a high volume of violent crimes—specializing in adult sexual assault; child sexual assault and abuse; sexual exploitation of minors; domestic violence; and related homicides—which included complex litigation of high-profile, as well as cold and current cases. Ms. Powers served as a member of domestic violence and child fatality review committees and was also a member of the Washington State Technical Assistance Committee for Child Death Review Guidelines. For 5 years during her prosecution career, she was appointed as a Highly Qualified Expert for the United States Army, Criminal Investigation Division; in this role, she provided training for army criminal investigation agents and prosecutors at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and in Germany. She is the lead AEquitas attorney advisor on the SAKI project.
