NCJ Number
85031
Date Published
1981
Length
222 pages
Annotation
The study analyzed 1,409 rapes and attempted rapes reported to the Long Beach Police Department (California) between 1976-80 in order to obtain information on rape as a basis for developing public rape prevention programs, police rape prevention training programs, and better police deployment strategies.
Abstract
Rape is concentrated in specific geographic areas of Long Beach. Demographic factors correlated with rape are percentage of unemployed persons, population per square mile, percentage of single unit structures, number of blacks and Hispanics, and percentage of persons 14 years and under. Most rapes (80 percent) are committed by strangers and single suspects. Rapes increase after sunset, reaching a peak about midnight and then declining. Rape suspects tend to be unarmed, or, if armed, use a knife. The number of rape victims who are less than 10 years old is extremely low. At age 10, the number of rapes increase to a peak at 20 years and decrease until about age 35, at which point it levels off. Most victims are white followed by black, Hispanic, and Asian. Rape tends to be an interracial offense when a white suspect is involved and an intraracial offense when a black suspect is involved. Rapists most frequently contact their victims at the victims' residences. These findings suggest that Long Beach police should be assigned in greater numbers to sectors of the city experiencing the greatest frequency of rape and should receive inservice training in handling rape cases. Rape prevention courses should be included in junior high and high school curriculums, and police education programs should be concentrated in those high rape areas. Data tables, chapter references, survey methods, study results, and about 100 references are included. (Author abstract modified)