Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Disclaimer: I am a sexual assault investigator. Krakauer is a good writer but I was extremely frustrated that he seems to believe that if a prosecutor does not charge a suspect it is because she does not believe the victim. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our legal system in the USA demands that a suspect not be charged unless his crime can be proven "beyond any reasonable doubt". This prevents innocent people from going to prison but it also allows many guilty people to go free. Krakauer tries to blame this constitutional fact on police and prosecutors. And the reason this upsets me is I am convinced Krakauer understands the legal standard for prosecution but feels he can get a better emotional response from the reader if he presents it as the police and DAs not believing victims.

I highly recommend that all prospective college students, their parents, and college administrators read this gut-twisting but well-written, thoroughly researched, and informative book about acquaintance rape. Although the book focuses on cases in one college town, the author's research found that rape statistics were very similar in college towns throughout the US. It's not just about Missoula.Especially in cases when the victim knows the assailant, the criminal justice system is weighted to protect the accused rather than the victim, as the author illustrates in several detailed examples. It's an uphill battle for sexual assault victims who report the crime. While research shows that false rape accusations are low (2-8%), they are constantly regarded with skepticism by law enforcement and very rarely prosecuted. This means these sex offenders are not held accountable, likely to reoffend (while becoming more adept at it), and free among society, while victims continue to suffer long-lasting effects (like PTSD) throughout their lives. In the rare instance that a case is prosecuted, a victim's trauma is not only "re-lived," but the victim is constantly vilified throughout the "justice" process. Victims are inevitably put on trial (unlike for other crimes, such as mugging). The rapists described in this book were considered decent, likable football players who enjoyed tremendous support from crazed, cult-like Griz fans - so the victims in the Missoula cases continued to be threatened by fans even after the trials were over.There are usually several reasons why victims don't report rape to police (even after good evidence, such as lacerations and bruising, is gathered at rape centers, for example), and Krakauer does an incredible job of explaining these reasons, including how acquaintance rape can be so damaging and difficult in its own way. For example, whereas a victim of rape by a stranger may likely fight back immediately, a victim of acquaintance rape is often so shocked and confused by the sudden violence coming from a person known to them ("Is this really happening to me?"), that the victim reacts with a sort of temporary paralysis. The victim's behavior in the aftermath of the rape is then scrutinized (and put on trial by the defense in the rare case that is prosecuted).Loads of appreciation and admiration to Jon Krakauer, for another book of incredibly insightful reporting, and for increasing public understanding on the challenging subject of acquaintance rape.

Every teenage boy (actually everyone) should read this before embarking on the dating scene. It's an eye opener as to what girls go through when boys use girls as targets for their aggression and bragging rights. I understood, but never really knew what the long lasting awful effects are on an assault victim. It's like being set on fire. You may survive, and you may even heal physically and look fine, but you're never the same afterward. This book, thanks to Jon Krakauer, illuminates things well through select women's personal stories. And shame on the justice system for protecting the assailants. When will we all grow up?

This should be mandatory reading. Gut wrenching, painful, but truly educational and eye opening. I have a whole new appreciation for this type of writing. Were it not for the important work of investigative journalists and novelists, victims of sexual violence would have no voice at all. This book takes a pragmatic and balanced look at the failings of university processes and holds police and the Missoula district attorney accountable. This is one of the best books I've ever read and it has motivated me to have some frank discussions with my sons and will be required reading for my daughter before she goes to college. This book made me furious and incredibly sad but it also made me hopeful that we can take a hard look at rape culture and finally make necessary changes.

I have loved Jon Krakauer's writing ever since I read "Into Thin Air", and I found this book likewise compelling and extremely well-written and researched. It was hard to put down....except that, as a victim of sexual assault under circumstances very much like what the young women in this book experienced, I often found myself very anxious and upset. This book should be required reading on college campuses everywhere. It is astonishing to me that rape and sexual assault continues unabated in this day and age, rape victims continuously shamed and disbelieved, crimes swept under the rug. I applaud Krakauer for writing this book.

I had to purchase this book for my victimology course. I just started reading it about an hour now and I'm already at part 2 of the book. I loveeee how it reads almost like a story, instead of a text, and it is extremely interesting. I would definitely recommend it. It gives a great picture of how the Criminal Justice system rapes the victim all over again, badgers them and also discredits them. It helps the reader to better understand many of the circumstances that discourage a victim from coming forward after a rape and how the perpetrator has even more power over the victim when he's popular etc. If you're a clinician studying how to work with trauma victims it would help provide you with a greater understanding of trauma in relation to rape.

Jon Krakauer's dissection of the epidemic of sexual assault that has taken place in Missoula (and in many other university towns across America) may leave you angry and sad. No phony resolution is offered; instead, we get a careful report on a series of assaults, their effects on the victims, and the maddeningly ineffective response by the university and law enforcement community.

I love Jon Krakauer and this book didn't disappoint. I think even though it's based in America, it hits home across the globe as to how people view rape. I recently watched a documentary along the same lines and it's a very current issue. This book allows you to question. Graphic in some places it really hits home and it's hard to continue reading but Krakauer's signature style makes you continue reading, leaving enough intrigue to make you carry on. This certainly allowed me to develop an interest and then go on to research further. Although many of the articles online say he is biased I think it's right to be, who else will give these women a voice if not Krakauer? A damn good read. Have recommended to anyone who will listen to me and shows an interest in this subject which does need to be discussed more often and to open the doors on this closed closet.

The author pulls no punches with the descriptions of assault provided by the women, but what is at least as painful is the narrative of what followed. There is currently a Facebook group dedicated to removing Kirsten Pabst from office...

Powerful book and one of the best I have ever read. Easy to read, hard to believe. I couldn't put it down.

"Rape" is a word which we Indians encounter in the newspapers on a daily basis. And this book is based on the situation of the victims of a single city (Missoula, Montana) in the United States.Now I can only imagine what actually happens with the victims in a third world prejudice-ridden country like India. The shock, the trauma, the humiliation, the raw pain (both physical and mental), and then the experience of unkind treatment by the society (sometimes by police and lawmakers as well) that the victim faces after the tragic incident, it is almost imperceptible for general people (even with sincere sympathy or compassion towards them) to realize the situation. The victim herself (in most situations) becomes a taboo, sometimes for life.Jon Krakauer is famous for his previous well-known books like "Into The Wild" or "Into Thin Air" etc which explores very different kind of topics than this one. And the way he tackled this book is examplery, brilliant. His mission was not just the descriptive analysis of the happenings before and after an incident of sexual assault; he's exposed the causes, contexts, fallacies, prejudices and tendencies that are typical with most cases. And more than the incident itself, those inhuman features attached to the incident is more gut wrenching.Don't buy the book with the intention of a casual read. Because this is a sad book. Sometimes extremely disturbing. Sometimes eerily unnerving. You can't just read it casually.Are we humans a hopeless creature?

Have read all of KRAKAUER's work. He has tackled a most sensitive, and life -changing issue, with this examination. Such a brutal and heinous crime of rape, against women.A most difficult read, as a father, of a daughter, and of two sons. KRAKAUER's reputation as an investigative journalist, with a large readership- hopefully will result in a more informed populace. Me-thinks that the women who come forward after being brutalized, display courage beyond reproach.The process of revealing rape, allows for self-healing of the victim, and will affect a societal change that assures~ Mutual Respect !

The moment that i started reading, I was just amazed by the stories Krakauer had to tell. As a Krakauer fan i knew what to expect and i wasn't disappointed.Remember when we were young and wished to be invisible so we could hear people's conversations? Well, John Krakauer is the invisible one, standing unseen in police offices, reception centres in colleges and people's kitchens hearing every word people talk about this painful topic. He lights stories that would otherwise be unheard and explains why this topic is so difficult to discuss!Awesome book.

This book should be compulsory reading for every freshman going into college and university for the first time. It should be available in every school library and every public library. A thought-provoking indictment of police departments, prosecution - and defense - attorneys, colleges and universities. A must-read for every parent and young person.

Very thoroughly researched, nuanced, insightful and unemotional. An excellent play by play of these crimes, from the alleged offences to the courtroom.

Buch über Everest und "into the wild" kaufe ich habituell alles von Kraukauer.Meistens bereue ich das auch nicht. Dieses Buch ist nicht eines seiner besseren. Repetitiv und langatmig.

I find a good book is one that elicits a whole range of emotions from the reader. This author is one I know from reading Into Thin Air, a book on the Everest climbing tragedy. The subject matter centres on a county in USA and the focus is the treatment of sexual assault cases in the past 5 years by police force, county attorney office and the law courts. I cannot recommend this book more highly.

Krakauer is one of my favorite writers. He writes in a way that captures my absolute attention and leaves a long lasting impression on the way I think. This book is disturbing yet insightful, I highly recommend this book.

Brutally candid book on the trauma, a rape victim has to undergo post assault. The excruciating process of seeking justice is equally traumatic. Often it is difficult to conclude as to who is the victim. The accuser or the accused. The court scenes are particularly rivetting A well researched book.

Heavy going but very informative - this guy really does his researchI liked the fact that it was a big paper back with easy to read print

Typical Krakauer. Very thorough. A book every kid should read before starting college or university. Devastating.

A bit biased, but educational.