NEW MEXICO - REPORTING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND COURT DISPOSITIONS OF CASES, 1977

• NCJ Number: 58614
• Author(s): J FORAKER-THOMPSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: New Mexico State Police
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STATISTICS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN NEW MEXICO ARE PROVIDED, AS REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, AND IN COURT DISPOSITIONS OF CASES IN 1977.

Abstract

THE NATIONAL RATE OF REPORTED RAPE, ACCORDING TO FBI STATISTICS FOR 1976, WAS 26.4 PER 100,000 POPULATION. FOR NEW MEXICO DURING THIS PERIOD, THE RATE WAS 40.5 PER 100,000. IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, IT WAS 67.4 PER 100,000 AND IN SANTA FE COUNTY, IT WAS 70.9 PER 100,000. ALTHOUGH THESE STATISTICS SHOW THE RATE OF REPORTED RAPE IN NEW MEXICO TO BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THE RATE OF REPORTING IN THE STATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. REPORTING INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE EXISTENCE OF A RAPE CRISIS CENTER IN A COMMUNITY, IMPROVED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF THE NATURE OF THE CRIME, SENSITIVE HANDLING OF THE VICTIM BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND HOSPITAL STAFF, AND IMPROVED PROSECUTION BY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. NEW MEXICO HAS SOME OF THE BEST TREATMENT FOR RAPE VICTIMS IN THE NATION. IN BERNALILLO AND SANTA FE COUNTIES, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS WERE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED WITH EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HOSPITALS, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND VARIOUS OTHER HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES. MOREOVER, RAPE CRISIS COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN SERVING AS CLIENT ADVOCATES TO SEE VICTIMS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DUE TO INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN SUCH CENTERS, MORE WOMEN ARE REPORTING THE CRIME SO THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF REPORTED RAPES IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 70-80 PERCENT OF THOSE THAT ACTUALLY OCCUR, AS OPPOSED TO THE NATIONAL REPORTING RATE OF 10 PERCENT. NEW MEXICO HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF RAPE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS THAT ARE USED BY DOCTORS TO COLLECT EVIDENCE FROM THE VICTIM. TABLES REPORT THE RATE OF REPORTED SEXUAL ASSAULT BY COUNTIES AND STATEWIDE FROM 1971 THROUGH 1977. CASES REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VICTIM TREATMENT CENTERS IN 1977 ARE STATISTICALLY COMPILED. FINALLY, DATA CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF CASES, DISPOSITIONS, AND THE TYPES OF SENTENCES ARE APPENDED. (WJR)