Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Jon Krakauer’s Missoula examines the complex intersection of sexual violence, campus culture, and legal accountability in a small college town. Through meticulous reporting, the book investigates how cases of rape are processed by local law enforcement, prosecutors, and university administrators in Missoula, Montana. Krakauer traces the journeys of several survivors as they navigate a justice system that frequently prioritizes procedural hurdles over victim support, revealing how institutional inertia and cultural attitudes toward gender shape legal outcomes. The narrative also explores the perspectives of police investigators, county attorneys, and defense counsel, offering a nuanced look at the structural challenges that complicate prosecution. By situating these individual cases within broader patterns of campus sexual assault, the work highlights systemic gaps in how communities respond to violence against women. Grounded in extensive interviews and public records, the book serves as a detailed examination of legal bureaucracy, institutional responsibility, and the lived realities of survivors seeking accountability.