NCJ Number
29894
Date Published
1975
Length
373 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF NATIONAL SURVEYS OF CITIZEN ACTION GROUPS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO DETERMINE THEIR APPROACH TO AND HANDLING OF RAPE CASES, WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR INNOVATIVE CHANGES.
Abstract
UNTIL RECENTLY THE CRIME OF FORCIBLE RAPE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VICTIM HAD RECEIVED LITTLE ATTENTION. BUT WITH THE GROWING ANXIETY ABOUT ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY, WHICH HAS REACHED SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION HERETOFORE UNTROUBLED BY THE THREAT OF CRIME, THE RISING INCIDENCE OF RAPE HAS EMERGED AS A PROBLEM OF NATIONAL DIMENSIONS. IN RAPE AND ITS VICTIMS, DISCUSSION IS CONFINED TO FORCIBLE RAPE OF ADULT WOMEN, GENERALLY DEFINED AS THE CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A FEMALE THROUGH THE USE OF FORCE OR THE THREAT OF FORCE BY A MALE OTHER THAN HER HUSBAND. THE BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS: 'THE POLICE RESPONSE,' 'THE RESPONSE OF MEDICAL FACILITIES,' 'THE RESPONSE OF PROSECUTORS' OFFICES,' AND THE 'RESPONSE OF CITIZENS' ACTION GROUPS.' THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IN EACH IS BASED UPON THE FINDINGS OF NATIONAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED AMONG EACH OF THESE FOUR GROUPS, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS PLACED ON AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEGUN INNOVATIVE CHANGES IN THEIR APPROACH TO CASES OF RAPE. EACH SECTION PRESENTS FINDINGS FROM THESE NATIONWIDE SURVEYS AND THEN SUGGESTS GUIDELINES BASED ON THOSE PROGRAMS, TECHNIQUES, PROCEDURES, AND POLICIES THAT APPEAR TO BE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE AND VALUABLE IN TREATING RAPE VICTIMS AND WHICH THEREFORE MIGHT BE SUITABLE FOR TRANSFER AND REPLICATION IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE GUIDELINES IN EACH SECTION, THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN MATERIALS THAT MAY BE USED AS SAMPLE FORMS FOR POLICE AND HOSPITAL PROCEDURES OR THAT AUGMENT THE DISCUSSION OF SUCH TOPICS AS THE POLICE INTERVIEW OF A RAPE VICTIM, COUNSELING FOR RAPE VICTIMS, AND LEGAL ISSUES BEING RAISED BY RAPE LAW REFORMISTS. (SNI ABSTRACT)