Date of Conferral

2-20-2024

Date of Award

February 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

John Walker

Abstract

Criminal Justice Employees’ Perspectives on Barriers to Successful Prosecution of Sex Crimes Against Women: A Qualitative Descriptive Study by Stephen Dahnkwii Paye MA, Keiser University, 2018 BS, Strayer University, 2015 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice Walden University January 20 2024 Postwar Liberia remains particularly challenged in prosecuting sexual crimes against women. As a result, women remain vulnerable to sexual assault against their person. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore how individuals working in the formal and informal criminal justice systems in postwar Liberia describe the barriers to successful prosecution of sex crimes against women and how such obstacles can be overcome. The theoretical framework for this research study was Almond and Powell's structural functionalism theory which assumes that society operates as a complex system comprised of different structures that work together as a whole. This descriptive qualitative study answered a two-part research question: What are the challenges in prosecuting sexual crimes against women in the formal and informal channels of postwar Liberia’s criminal justice system? The research question was answered using a qualitative descriptive research design with snowball sampling to analyze 40 participants' data. Two instruments were used to gather data: an open-ended questionnaire and a focus group question guide. NVivo 12 software was employed to code inductively to discover emerging themes. Several conclusions can be drawn from Liberia's criminal justice system. The prosecution of sex crimes against women in a formal setting faces several challenges, including the lack of well-trained criminal justice practitioners, low wages, a lack of resources, poor logistics, and overcrowding of prisons. There are also findings related to corruption, threats to victims, refusals by victims to testify, and an ineffective judicial system enforcing the law. The study will inform stakeholders about barriers to justice for women sexual violence victims. Advocacy groups could use the data to advocate for needed changes. If the barriers to justice are addressed, the public’s faith in the justice system will be restored, and sexual violence against women will be prosecuted and cause a reduction in sexual offenses.

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