Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape [Hardcover]

Linda A. Fairstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

The Chief of New York's Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit examines society's sexual attitudes, reflects on sexual myths, and traces the evolution of rape laws. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo. First serial, Glamour & Cosmopolitan. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Since 1976, as chief of New York City's Sex Crime Prosecution Unit, Fairstein has not only prosecuted rapists mercilessly but helped to "remove the veil of secrecy" from the crime of rape. This she defines as "a crime of violence with sex as the weapon," now extended to include "date and acquaintance rape." To encourage formerly stigmatized rape victims to come forward, the author focuses on episodes of a serial "Midtown Rapist" and the arduous, skillful tracking that led to his trial and long prison sentence. She notes an improved rate of convictions, due in part to a Special Victims squad, DNA identification and changes in laws governing rape cases that also reflect greater sensitivity toward victims. These include outlawing evidence based on a victim's past sexual activity, mandating secret grand jury hearings without the presence of the defendant and allowing a rape victim to testify without corroboration. The reader will find this an absorbing memoir despite its occasional grimness. Major ad/promo; first serial to Glamour and Cosmopolitan.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This recounting of Fairstein's 20 years as a sex crimes prosecutor in New York City's District Attorney's office stands as a companion work to Alice Vachss's Sex Crimes ( LJ 5/15/93). While Vachss describes the evolution of the laws and attitudes toward sex crimes and reflects on society's historically unyielding attitude toward victims, Fairstein is concerned primarily with the ways the courts and the criminal justice system view sex crimes today. Her book can be seen as a procedural text on how properly to investigate and prosecute a sex crime--how to sort out myths from reality; how to draw out the complete truth from victims; and how to ensure that sex criminals are properly tried. Recommended for libraries with in-depth collections on crime and the administration of justice. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/93.
- Sandra K. Lindheimer, Middlesex Law Lib., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688067158
• ISBN-13: 978-0688067151
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,385,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Fairstein was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney's office in Manhattan for more than two decades and is America's foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives with her husband in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, January 23, 2003

By 

F. C. RYAN (BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (Paperback)

IN THE FIRST OF HER SIX BOOKS, MS. FAIRSTEIN GOES INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND HOW IT HAS EVOLVED TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND USER-FRIENDLY FOR CRIME VICTIMS. SHE DESCRIBES HER START IN THE NEW YORK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, AND MOVING UP THE RANKS IN AN OFFICE THAT HAD RELATIVELY FEW WOMEN ADAs AT THE TIME. IN 1976, SHE WAS APPOINTED TO HEAD UP ITS SEX CRIMES PROSECUTION UNIT (THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY). OVER THE YEARS SHE HAS SENT MANY RAPISTS TO PRISON. HOWEVER, THRU THE YEARS, HER OFFICE HAS KEPT UP-TO-DATE WITH NEW CRIME FIGHTING TECHNIQUES (SUCH AS DNA AND FORENSIC SCIENCE)IN ITS BATTLE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. SHE HAS BEEN VERY FAIR TO ALL PARTIES IN THE HANDLING OF CASES BY HER & HER UNIT OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clearly describes the streamlining of rape cases in Manhatta, April 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (Paperback)

Linda Fairstein has described the inner workings of the Manhattan Distric Attorney's office regarding rape cases during the 1970's. The laws and procedures have changed a great deal since that time and Fairstein was personally involved in many of the changes. The book is, of course, slanted a bit to favor her office, particularly in its canonization of D.A. Robert Morgenthau, but these attorneys do deserve credit for streamlining the system to handle the victims more sensitively. Fairstein's book would hold any reader with an interest in the law as well as anyone who has suffered from any form of sexual violence. It is the rare account of social change as written by one of its instigators

5 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Highly dubious, December 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (Paperback)

This is the person who ignored hard evidence pointing to the guilty person in order to convict the Central Park 5. An undeserved reputation - but you can understand why her works of fiction are so good. An unprincipled careerist of the first order, impressively manufactures her reputation. Quite how victims of rape are served by the perpetration of further injustice against others is not explained.