[user104658]

I don't know, there's a difference between victim blaming and pointing out the need for awareness of safety - which I think is what sheriff might ham-fistedly be trying to get at.

If someone is attacked, then the guilty party is the attacker. There's no question about that part. They are criminals with no respect for other humans, and fully deserve to be punished for that.

But aside from that it's important to recognise that those people are out there. They exist, and with the best will in the world, they will sadly always exist... There's no getting around that. And with that in mind, it IS important for people to be aware of risks and keep themselves safe. It IS important that young girls be wary of going home with strange men, it IS important to tell our sons that it's a bad idea to walk home through the roughest part of town at 2am. That's not about "blaming them" if they are attacked... Just about pointing out that the risks are very real.

Or, I suppose, remembering that just because something SHOULDN'T happen, doesn't mean it WON'T happen, and living life as if the world is as it should be (safe, respectful) instead of how it actually is (chaotic and sometimes ****ing scary) is ill advised.