Male rape in the courtroom: Issues and concerns

The treatment of male rape complainants by the criminal justice system has received very little attention in the legal literature in this country. This article begins to fill this gap by analysing the cross-examination of complainants in a small number of cases involving allegations of male rape or sexual assault. In particular, it identifies several common themes in defence questioning of complainants. The article concludes that there appear to be significant similarities in the treatment of male and female rape complainants and that the experiences of male complainants should be taken into account when considering reforms to the criminal justice process.