Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Jon Krakauer documents several sexual assault cases occurring between 2010 and 2012 in Missoula, Montana, focusing on the experiences of female students at the University of Montana. He details the legal proceedings involving high-profile college football players and the systemic failures of the Missoula Police Department and the county attorney’s office. The narrative examines how acquaintance rape is handled by law enforcement and how cultural biases regarding victim behavior influence jury decisions and prosecutorial choices. Krakauer reports on the specific administrative and judicial barriers that prevent survivors from obtaining convictions in a community centered on collegiate athletics.

Readers of investigative journalism and legal scholarship read this book to understand the procedural gaps in the American justice system regarding non-consensual sex. It serves those interested in how Title IX regulations and local politics intersect during criminal investigations. The reader gains a technical perspective on the psychological trauma of survivors and the specific difficulties of litigating cases where physical evidence is absent but testimony is conflicting. It provides a sobering look at how institutional loyalty can prioritize a university's reputation over student safety and public accountability.