NCJ Number
96421
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 9 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1984) Pages: 125-148
Date Published
1984
Length
5 pages
Annotation
According to most studies rape is primarily an intraracial assault. Yet a few studies have found the offense to be primarily interracial. There is general agreement that black offender-white victim is the predominant type of interracial rape. In all, these studies allude to regional and temporal variations in the racial characteristics of rape. In order to determine if there is temporal variation within one city, this study, using police data, examines the racial characteristics of rape for a five year sequential time period in San Diego, California. Furthermore, a factor controlling for the number of rapes committed by the same offender is entered into the analysis.
Abstract
The results indicate that rape is primarily intraracial during four years, but predominantly interracial during a fifth year. Further variations are revealed when the racial interactions are classified according to the extent of an offender's assaultive activity. The Series offender, one who commits two or more assaults, complicates the relationship between race and rape. The extensive assaults of a few individuals influence the racial characteristics of the crime. The Series assaults of black offenders suggests that interracial rape is not a unitary concept. Furthermore, it is illustrated that failing to control for the activities of the Series offenders distorts the actual number of offenders of any racial group and consequently over- and underestimates the representation of different racial groups. (Author abstract)