경찰관의 양성평등의식 수준이 성범죄 수사 태도에 미치는 영향 연구

초록

This study aims to empirically examine the effect of police officers’ gender equality awareness on their investigative attitudes toward sexual violence crimes. In sexual violence cases, physical evidence is often limited, and victims’ statements frequently play a central role in determining the facts of the case. Therefore, police officers’ gender-related perceptions and attitudes may have important implications for investigative judgment. This study conceptualized gender equality awareness as consisting of gender equality perception, gender role norms, rape myth acceptance, and personal experiences of sexual harassment or related victimization. Investigative attitudes toward sexual violence crimes were measured in terms of confirmation bias and presumption of guilt. Data were collected through a survey of police officers in South Korea. A total of 145 valid responses were used for the final analysis. Respondents were asked to read a hypothetical sexual harassment scenario adapted from the Daejeon District Court decision rendered on January 8, 2025, Case No. 2022No3668, and then answer questions regarding their judgment of the case. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. The results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between confirmation bias and presumption of guilt. This finding suggests that police officers who are more likely to maintain their initial judgments or prior beliefs may also be more likely to form stronger judgments regarding the suspect’s guilt. However, gender equality perception, gender role norms, rape myth acceptance, and personal experiences of sexual harassment or related victimization did not have statistically significant effects on either confirmation bias or presumption of guilt. These findings indicate that investigative attitudes toward sexual violence crimes may not be explained solely by individual gender-related perceptions. Rather, they may be shaped by multiple factors, including the specific context of the case, evidentiary structure, investigative experience, and organizational decision-making procedures. This study contributes to the literature by empirically examining the relationship between police officers’ gender equality awareness and investigative attitudes toward sexual violence crimes, focusing specifically on confirmation bias and presumption of guilt. The findings suggest that education on gender sensitivity remains important, but it should be accompanied by procedural mechanisms that help investigators review their initial judgments, consider contradictory evidence, and examine alternative explanations. Such measures may contribute to enhancing objectivity and procedural fairness in sexual violence investigations.

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