NCJ Number
145360
Date Published
1993
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of a 3-year study by the United States Senate Judiciary Committee's majority staff concerning the causes and effects of violence against women, with emphasis on rape cases and their investigation and prosecution.
Abstract
The analysis concluded that although females experience all the crimes that occur, rape and domestic assault affect women disproportionately. In addition, the criminal justice system fails to meet its goals of apprehending, convicting, and incarcerating violent criminals. Robbers are 30 percent more likely to be convicted than a rapist, and a convicted rapist is 50 percent more likely to receive probation than is a convicted robber. In addition, a rape prosecution is more than twice as likely as a murder prosecution to be dismissed, and 30 percent more likely to be dismissed than a robbery prosecution. Therefore, both laws and policies must change. The proposed Violence Against Women Act provides a comprehensive approach to addressing all forms of violence against women and creates a civil rights remedy for victims of crimes motivated by gender. Tables, footnotes, appended methodological information, and endnotes