Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town, a 2015 book by Jon Krakauer, focused on a series of sexual assault cases between 2010 and 2012 and the way that the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Attorney's Office, and the University of Montana handled those cases. Missoula's handling of rape cases sparked a Justice Department's investigation that found a "pattern of disrespect and indifference toward alleged victims" by Missoula law enforcement, prosecutors, and the university, with scathing blame directed at the Attorney's Office. While being interviewed on NPR about the book, Krakauer stated, "I don't mean to single out Missoula: Its rape rate is a little less than the national average; I think its problems with dealing with rape are pretty depressingly typical." Nevertheless, reporting by Krakauer and local and national journalists showed what they characterized as a troubling pattern of authorities mishandling investigations, treating victims with hostility and suspicion, reflexively protecting alleged perpetrators at the expense of victims, declining to prosecute large numbers of credible rape allegations, and creating an atmosphere where victims were unlikely to come forward after an attack. Krakauer placed a significant portion of the blame for the mishandling of rape prosecutions on a single Deputy County Attorney, Kirsten Pabst, who now serves as the Missoula County Attorney. The book also charted deep divisions within the town about the allegations, particularly those involving football players from the Montana Grizzlies.
Missoula Rape and the Justice System in a College Town a 2015 book by Jon Krakauer focused on a series of sexual assault cases between 2010 and 2012 and the way that the Missoula Police Department the Missoula County Attorney's Office and the University of Montana handled those cases Missoula's handling of rape cases sparked a Justice Department's investigation that found a "pattern of disrespect and indifference toward alleged victims" by Missoula law enforcement prosecutors and the university with scathing blame directed at the Attorney's Office While being interviewed on NPR about the book Krakauer stated "I don't mean to single out Missoula Its rape rate is a little less than the national average; I think its problems with dealing with rape are pretty depressingly typical" Nevertheless reporting by Krakauer and local and national journalists showed what they characterized as a troubling pattern of authorities mishandling investigations treating victims with hostility and suspicion reflexively protecting alleged perpetrators at the expense of victims declining to prosecute large numbers of credible rape allegations and creating an atmosphere where victims were unlikely to come forward after an attack Krakauer placed a significant portion of the blame for the mishandling of rape prosecutions on a single Deputy County Attorney Kirsten Pabst who now serves as the Missoula County Attorney The book also charted deep divisions within the town about the allegations particularly those involving football players from the Montana Grizzlies