NCJ Number
70974
Date Published
1980
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In a study of cases of rape, unlawful sexual intercourse (USI) with girls under 13, and incest, over a 10-year period in Great Britain, 36-39 percent of offenders received prison sentences.
Abstract
Criminal records for these three types of sexual offenses for 1951-1961 were obtained from the courts. During this time USI cases with girls under 13 nearly doubled, reaching 512 in 1961. However, most of the increase was due to increases in rape and incest reporting. Rape acquittals remained a constant 23 percent, and sentencing varied only slightly during the 10-year period, with noncustodial sentences rising from 14 percent to 22 percent. On the whole, 36-39 percent of all crimes in this category brought 3 or more years of prison. About 28 percent of all victims were 9 years old or under, although the proportion of these children had dropped in 1961. Followup of criminals reveals that an ever increasing number commit futher sexual or other offenses, although sex offenders are at lower immediate risk than property offenders. Sex criminals appear to reoffend during times of great personal stress rather than at regular intervals. Tables and a bibliography of seven references are included.