NCJ Number
50156
Date Published
1977
Length
36 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF THE 84 CASES OF FORCIBLE RAPE REPORTED IN THREE IDAHO COUNTIES DURING 1976 DOCUMENTS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSES, OFFENDERS, AND VICTIMS, AND EXAMINES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RESPONSE.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS COVERS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE RAPE EVENT (E.G., TIME OF OCCURRENCE, LOCATION, USE OF WEAPONS, THREATS AND INJURIES TO VICTIM, RESISTANCE BY VICTIM, CIRCUMSTANCES PRIOR TO THE RAPE, USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL BY OFFENDER AND/OR VICTIM, DEGREE OF ACQUAINTANCE BETWEEN OFFENDER AND VICTIM), THE AGE AND RACE OF THE OFFENDER, AND THE AGE, RACE, AND OCCUPATION OF THE VICTIM. OUT OF 84 REPORTED RAPES, 28 WERE CLEARED BY ARREST. THE 29 ADULT AND 7 JUVENILE ARRESTEES ARE TRACKED SEPARATELY THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS INDICATING THE PERCENTAGES OF CASES DISPOSED OF AT EACH STAGE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS. ONLY 16.7 PERCENT OF THE 84 REPORTS RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, BUT 73.7 PERCENT OF THE OFFENDERS WHO WERE PROSECUTED WERE CONVICTED. TWENTY-ONE CASES COULD NOT BE PROSECUTED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH VICTIMS. ONLY FOUR OFFENDERS RECEIVED PRISON SENTENCES. SUPPORTING DATA (INCLUDING A COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF RAPE REPORTS, ARRESTS, AND CLEARANCES FOR THE ENTIRE STATE) ARE PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF STUDY FINDINGS. (LKM)