NCJ Number
43524
Date Published
1978
Length
93 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS ARE GIVEN OF A 2-YEAR PROJECT WHICH SURVEYED A NATIONWIDE SAMPLE OF POLICE AND PROSECUTING AGENCIES, INTERVIEWED RAPE VICTIMS, AND GATHERED STATISTICS.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT FOUND THAT RAPE IS THE MOST UNDERREPORTED CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES. ONLY A FRACTION OF THE RAPES COMMITTED ARE REPORTED, MOSTLY BECAUSE THE VICTIM FEARS THE TREATMENT SHE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE POLICE AND PROSECUTORS. OF REPORTED CRIMES, ONLY 5 PERCENT LEAD TO APPREHENSION OF A SUSPECT AND LESS THAN 3 PERCENT TO A CONVICTION. RAPISTS ARE LARGELY INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATION. THE VICTIM IS GENERALLY AGE 20 OR YOUNGER; THE RAPIST AGE 30 OR YOUNGER. MOST ATTACKS INVOLVE STRANGERS OR SLIGHT ACQUAINTANCES. MOST RAPES TAKE PLACE IN THE VICTIM'S HOME OR ON THE STREET. SEVERE FORCE IS USED IN 60 PERCENT OF ATTACKS; 'STRONG-ARM' FORCE IN 75 PERCENT. MOST INJURIES ARE MINOR, BUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTEREFFECTS ARE MAJOR. (RAPE-HOMICIDES WERE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS STUDY.) THE STUDY FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE POLICE OFFICER IS GIVEN LITTLE TRAINING IN THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF RAPE INVESTIGATION, YET THE INITIAL CONTACT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SOURCE OF EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION. TRAINING FOR POLICE AND INVESTIGATORS IS SUGGESTED. A SERIES OF TRAINING MANUALS IS BEING ISSUED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. APPENDIXES PRESENT TABLES ANALYZING DATA FROM POLICE REPORTS IN SEATTLE, WASH., DETROIT, MICH., KANSAS CITY, MO., NEW ORLEANS, LA., AND PHOENIX, ARIZ. GIVEN ARE NUMBER OF VICTIMS, AGE, RACE, WITNESSES, LOCATION OF OFFENSE, WEAPONS USED, TYPES OF RESISTANCE, INJURIES SUSTAINED, AND AN ANALYSIS OF FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATION.