NCJ Number
173865
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: April 1998 Pages: 179-192
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined two samples of single-offender completed rape and attempted rape incidents reported to the Chicago police to determine whether rapists escalated the level of violence in their attacks when victims fought back.
Abstract
The first sample involved all founded rape cases in 1979 (1,530 completed and attempted rape incidents), while the second sample involved 25 percent of all rape complaints made by women to the Chicago police in 1982 (612 completed and 59 attempted rapes). Demographic characteristics were assessed for both victims and offenders, including age, race, marital status, and employment status. Chi-square analysis of data revealed the type of victim resistance matched the assailant attack strategy. Additionally, forceful verbal resistance was a more common response to verbal attacks, and physical resistance was more likely in attacks where offenders used initial physical force or threats with weapons. Forceful physical resistance by victims was not related to the use of physical force by offenders during and after rapes. Offender use of physical force prior to rape was significantly related to the existence of such force by the offender during and after rape. Evidence was mixed on whether the association between the offender's initial attack (verbal or physical) and victim rape and physical injury varied according to victim resistance. Resistance in response to verbal or physical attack, however, did not lead to increased offender violence after rape. 25 references, 1 note, and 4 tables