should young girls go to prison for "false rape claims"

People also deliberately make false claims about other crimes. Burglary so they can make dishonest insurance claim, GBH when they intend to get revenge on whoever it is who's been falsely accused.

A family connection was plagued by a woman who, as well as committing acts of vandalism against his relatives, made a series of allegations of assault against him.

Initially the police assumed my connection (a relative of a relative) had committed some low level offences but the woman quickly escalated, thank goodness. Her insanity became unmistakable.

Her final act was to call 999 claiming that my connection had broken in, tied her up and raped her. When the police arrived the ropes lay around her, as she said she had only just freed herself.

However the police smelled a rat and did some forensic work. They proved there had been no one else present and that the scene had been staged. On top of that, it turned out my connection couldn't have possibly done it. She was prosecuted and he has heard nothing further.

That's a case where the complainant should be prosecuted, but rape was only one of the charges she tried to have brought against a totally innocent man.

The percentage of deliberately false claims made of serious crimes is low, and AFAIK it's the same whether it's rape or the theft of valuable jewelry. In such cases prosecution may be suitable. However I am not sure that it's suitable for rape cases unless real malevolence can be demonstrated.

I think back to Jimmy Saville. How many of his victims might have been judged as wicked girls trying to smear a national treasure had they tried to get him charged?

Of course I'm being serious.

NameC
Is that post ment to be serious?

No, very few girls/women come forward as it is, this would deter everyone. And then all the rapists walk free, able to rape another day.

Then, if we're locking up people making false claims about rape, we would need to start locking up anyone who makes a false claim about anything. How about we lock up those that made false claims about Brexit? Lets just lock up everyone, because I'm yet to meet a person that has never lied about anything.

I think most people assume most men are innocent. Rape claims don't ruin people's lives (true or not) because of the halo effect.

here has been far to many of these false claims lately and it is ruining lives

that is true

To quote another poster...how does anyone know this

I don't know. I've heard of women destroying men's lives where they have made up false claims, but I suspect there's usually a mental disorder behind it. If it can be proved some way that it was malicious, then yes.
However, what about women that told the truth and the rapist was not convicted? There has to be evidence that the claim was made up, and the intention of the allegation, before a prison sentence.

The claim that false rape allegations are increasing is false

How does anyone know this? There have been quite a few in the media. Perhaps they have more potential to ruin lives because there's a drive to successfully prosecute more rapists (which yes I think is a great thing).

There has been far to many of these false claims lately and it is ruining lives.

That is true, whether or not it's far exceeded by unsuccessful rape convictions. It's not a competition.

so yes I think it's appropriate to punish someone who blatantly and intentionally lies about another person and causes distress

Well i think most people on the thread have said this

Not everyone but most

Sending someone to prison is not done to help them.

A rapist being found not guilty does not mean a perjury charge will be brought. I suspect it will only happen in a small number of cases where the cps believes that it has evidence to prove perjury beyond reasonable doubt.

I am sure mental incapacity is a defence and ‘being in a bad place’ can be used in mitigation for a lighter sentence.

However, if perjury is proved, of course a custodial sentence might be appropriate. Why wouldn’t it be?

if rape is a crime like no other (which it is) then it has to follow that a malicious allegation of rape (by which I mean 100% false with deliberate criminal intent) is a false accusation like no other and should be treated as such.

You are a splendid example.

You are truly talking shite!
"This confirmed in your mind the man made myth that women lie all the time"

It is not in my mind that women lie all the time. The words, "man made myth" make no difference to your statement at all.

Please quote where I have stated that women lie all the time.

You tell me thebe.....

Did you miss the man made myth reference or is this a willful misunderstanding.

No that doesn't say anything about all women lying.

MistressoftheYoniverse

Why does this conversation erupt periodically over rape and no other crimes? We know why.

I suppose I'm not a great person to listen to on this subject, as I'm too close to be objective, iyswim.

@thebewilderness
I have no idea how you got any of that from my post, at all. Where do I say that women lie all the time? Where have I given you an insight into my 'belief system'?

Interesting...women making false accusations are still victims?..mental health?...making it more difficult for real victims?...what if it was your son...sometimes people are just horrible ..or embarrassed..or angry..or hurt this does not absolve them from what they have chosen to do that deeply affects another person... so yes I think it's appropriate to punish someone who blatantly and intentionally lies about another person and causes distress

You are a perfect example, Flyingpompom.
A woman lied and this confirmed in your mind the man made myth that all women lie all the time.
I would be willing to bet you do not apply that belief system to everything bad that anyone does to everyone you know.

@batshitbetty
I'm sorry, I had intended to apologise to you. I was awfully rude, no excuses.

The person who was accused was a family member, and the accuser was a friend at the time. I hated her for a good while, and the damage to his life was extensive- unimaginably so. Over the years I've worked through my emotions a great deal, and I- along with the rest of my family- have forgiven her. She was a troubled young girl and we feel more pity than anger nowadays. Although we're no longer friends, she eventually went on to have a good life and I'm glad. And so is the man she accused, though it's taken a long time to get there.

So someone on the internet telling me I was wrong to feel that way hit a nerve. I'm sorry.

I suppose I'm not a great person to listen to on this subject, as I'm too close to be objective, iyswim.

There has been far to many of these false claims lately and it is ruining lives.

Not a tenth of the lives ruined compared to actual rapes that don't get convicted.

Tell you what. I can sort out the whole thing. Do it on balance of probabilities, strap everyone to lie detectors, make the level of consent 'enthusiastic and ongoing'. If men actually had to wait for enthusiastic consent, all those 'formally convicted but now acquitted' Che's Evans types would be in prison.

The claim that false rape allegations are increasing is false but it always goes hand in glove with the demand that women be punished for reporting rape

Yup

There are no more false rape allegations filed than any other crime and yet this is the one people demand punishment for. Coincidence? I do not think so.
Only about five percent of rapes are prosecuted.
The claim that false rape allegations are increasing is false but it always goes hand in glove with the demand that women be punished for reporting rape. The myth of false rape accusations is often also used by MRAs to argue for legalizing rape.