When it comes to the handling of sexual offense cases, it is known that the mills of justice grind slowly, but from the State Attorney's Office data on the matter for 2021 obtained by Israel Hayom - a positive trend in the field is evident. From the data, which will be published in November as part of the annual report of the prosecutor's office, it appears that in the past year there has been an increase in the filing rate of indictments in sexual offense cases, more arrest requests have been submitted until the end of the proceedings and the duration of the processing of the cases has shortened.
The prosecutor's office points to steps taken to strengthen the relationship with victims of sexual offenses and to promote legislation regarding the expansion of their rights.
"We believe you."
Demonstration of support for victims of sexual crimes, photo: Yehoshua Yosef (archive)
In 2021, final decisions were made in the district attorney's offices (filing charges or closing the case or ending with a conditional settlement; AP) in 2,241 sexual offense cases. This number does not include 776 cases that were classified in advance by the police as destined for closure without the filing of an indictment and were transferred to the prosecutor's office. Because she has the authority to close sexual offense cases.
continuous increase
Out of the 2,241 cases, a decision was made to file charges in 717 cases (32%) - a figure that indicates a trend of continuous increase in recent years.
Thus, for example, in 2019-2020 the rate of indictments in sexual offense cases was 29% each year.
In 2018, however, it stood at 27% and in 2017 at 28%.
In 67% of the final decisions, it was decided to close the case without prosecution.
1% of the final decisions ended in a conditional settlement (agreement in which a suspect admits committing crimes and commits to a series of conditions).
The prosecutor's office explains that the increasing trend in the filing of indictments expresses an obligation to act decisively against the offenders, to make the voices of the victims and victims heard in the courtroom and to strengthen the relationship with the victims of the crime.
62% of the indictments filed in 2021 were for crimes of indecent acts, 21% for crimes of rape, an act of sodomy or a prohibited ground with consent, 11% for sex crimes in the family or by a person responsible for the helpless, and 6% for other sex crimes.
"Be beautiful and don't be silent."
Demonstration of support for victims of sexual crimes, photo: Gideon Markovich (archive)
Conviction rate - 83%
The data shows that 83% of the proceedings ended with the defendants being convicted of what was attributed to them (or they were found to have committed the offense without being convicted - in cases where the defendants were minors), and that 64% of the cases ended with a plea agreement.
This is a low rate compared to the corresponding figure for all crimes, which is 74%.
This is a low rate even compared to 2020, when the rate of plea agreements in sexual offense cases was 76%.
In 2021, the prosecutor's office filed more arrest requests in sexual offense cases.
In more than 50% of the indictments that included sexual offenses, the prosecutor's office requested detention until the end of the proceedings, or a request for release under restrictive conditions.
This is a significant increase compared to 2020, when the prosecutor's office requested detention until the end of the proceedings or release under restrictive conditions in 42% of the indictments filed.
The duration of the handling of sexual offenses cases will be shortened in 2021.
68% of the indictments filed referred to cases opened that year at the prosecutor's office.
22% of the indictments submitted referred to cases opened in 2020.
A positive trend, photo: Gideon Markovich (archive)
"Conducting in-depth trainings"
In 2021, the cyber department at the prosecutor's office filed 19 indictments for online sexual offenses.
27 indictments were filed for the distribution of sexual content, three of which involved more than 276 crime victims, whose sexual photos and videos were distributed on Telegram and Discord.
The prosecutor's office says that they are working to strengthen the relationship with the victims of sexual offenses, and to promote legislation that will expand their rights.
This year, the attorney's office launched the "online attorney's office" application, which allows those involved in the case to receive information about the status of the case and the stages of the criminal procedure.
According to Attorney Osheret Shoham, head of the Sexual Offenses Forum at the Prosecutor's Office, "Sexual offense cases are a major part of the cases handled by the Prosecutor's Office, in terms of the resources and efforts invested in them.
We are in an ongoing process of significant professionalization in the field of sexual offenses.
"We understand that beyond the toolbox of the usual criminal attorney, an additional toolbox is required that concerns victims of sexual offenses, which requires sensitivity, listening and sharing. That is why we conduct in-depth training and further training for attorneys, which provide the professional knowledge necessary to handle these offenses," explains Attorney Shoham.
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