Rape as Instrumental Violence - A Study of Youth Offenders (From Gender Issues, Sex Offenders, and Criminal Justice - Current Trends, P 161-170, 1984, Sol Chaneles, ed. - See NCJ-96412)

• NCJ Number: 96423
• Author(s): S R Van Ness
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The 38 rapes committed by 27 male offenders incarcerated in 3 youth correctional institutions in Ohio did not represent violence based on sudden rage; instead, they suggested a definition of rape as instrumental violence motivated toward gaining some reward.

Abstract

Members of the sample along with 27 other delinquent peers agreed to complete 2 questionnaire instruments, one prepared by the researcher and Bienvenu's Inventory of Anger Communication. The 38 incidents all involved rapes acted out during the course of other crimes (burglary or robbery) or acted out within a few hours of becoming angered by fights or arguments with others. The rape victims were never those with whom the rapists fought. Victims were generally less physically powerful than their assailants and often coerced with knives or handguns. Most offenders knew in advance that they would rape. Records showed no evidence of brain lesions or psychosis to support any physiological explanation of the behavior. The rapes represented only one type of violence found in the careers of most of the subjects. Data tables and 14 references are supplied.