cover image Sex Crimes

Sex Crimes

Alice Vachss. Random House (NY), $21 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-679-42435-2

In 1982, after seven years as a public defender in Manhattan, Vachss became chief of the Special Victims Bureau in the district attorney's office in Queens, where she vigorously prosecuted sex criminals for 10 years. In 1992 she was fired for openly criticizing her superiors. Vachss contends that ``there seems to be a residuum of empathy for rapists that crosses all gender, class, and professional barriers.'' Judges, juries, defense attorneys, police and even prosecutors, she charges, frequently collaborate ``in giving the rapist a break.'' Vachss describes inside details of office politics and courtroom practices which show how such ``collaboration'' occurs. Angry, insightful and righteous, this memoir recounts specific cases against pedophiles, serial rapists and incest offenders. (June)