Page 29 - January 2020 IIssue new year

Changing Facets Of Sexual Offences - An Indian Outlook

2. Going to a interviewed by the po- the heart-rate, breathing

hospital as soon lice, there should always rate, and blood-pressure
as possible after be a female police officer are used to indicate de-

the assault is ex- to conduct such inter- gree of truthfulness.
tremely impor- view, considering the Though results of poly-
tant for several emotional and traumatic graph examination are

reasons :- state of the individual not admissible in the
a. The victim the questions generally courts, but still can be

may need im- asked at this time makes quite helpful in giving
mediate medical the victim recounting the right kind of leads to the
attention. assault, including what police in their investiga-

force, threats weapons, tions.
b. Tests for preg- the assailant may have

nancy, vene- used, questions as to 4. Plea bargaining- The
real disease and what happened before concept of plea-bargain-
AIDS. and after the assault may ing is new to Indian sys-

also be asked, which may tem, but although not
c. recording deem harsh, invasive, an ideal solution, it may

of medical for insensitive, but which sometimes benefit the
prosecution of often are necessary for victim. In cases where
the offence investigating the crime. it is difficult to prove
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committed. all the elements of the
3. Lie detector test? A higher offence for lack of

1. Preferably, during polygraph is a machine sufficient evidence then
such a sensitive stage that measures bodily the prosecution may
of after-offence care, a functions, such as heart plea-bargain with him to

female attendant/nurse rate, breathing rate admit his guilt in a lower
should be the one who blood-pressure. The ac- offence and be liable for

should deal with the vic- cused person is asked a reduced sentence. The
tim who has undergone firstly such questions victim will not have to
such physical and emo- that have nothing to do endure the trauma of a

tional traumatic experi- with the assault and then trial through which they
ence. ask question concern- are forced to relieve the

ing specific details of the trauma once under-gone.
2. When the victim is assault. The changes in

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