Rape Crisis Center says falsely reported rapes affect their work

Article here. Excerpt:

'Police still cannot confirm the circumstances surrounding the arrest of an 18-year-old female they say falsely reported a sexual assault.

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police's Special Victims Unit arrested Jennifer Woodard for an alleged false report on an assault on Deerwood Road on Wilmington Island. Woodard said she was attacked and raped by a black man driving a black Mustang. Police say her facts didn't add up, but because of their investigation, they can't say why.

We met with Rape Crisis Center employees on Friday who say that rape is the most under-reported crime and also only two percent of rapes are determined false. They treated Woodward and worked with her on this case as well. They say it's extremely rare for this to happen, especially because of the invasive testing process and embarrassing questions a victim must answer.

"The questions, the pictures, the swabs, the pokes and the prods...those are all pieces someone doesn't readily subject themselves to," said Kesha Gibson, Rape Crisis Center, Director. "The stigma that comes with being raped. The stigma that comes with being sexually assaulted. No one really wants to own that."

The Rape Crisis Center says the main reason victims recant their story is because the investigation becomes too intense.'

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