NCJ Number
70951
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This 1977 study provides demographic and criminal history data about 90 convicted, imprisoned rapists, their attitudes toward and characteristics of the crimes, and a 1978 profile of rapists culled from various studies.
Abstract
The sample of 90 rapists was chosen from 2,456 rapists imprisoned in California with forcible rape as part of their charge. Data were obtained from case material and statements from the rapists. The offenders ranged in age from 18 to 55, with median age 23; 39 percent were black and 42 percent white. The median level of the sujects' schooling was 11th grade, and only 19 percent had ongoing marital-type relationships with women. Eighty-six percent had a prior adult criminal history, 53 percent a violent criminal history. Thirty-one percent had at least one prior rape conviction. In 73 percent of the rapes, the victim and rapist were strangers; 47 percent of the rapes occurred in the victim's home. Sixty-six percent of the rapes involved some violence, and 14 percent resulted in serious injury to the victim. In statements obtained from 86 of the subjects, 76 percent denied their crime, claiming total innocence or saying they were drunk or had consent of the victim. The rapists approached their victims in a variety of ways, but multiple rapists tended to repeat the same method. The 1978 rapist profile suggests that rapists are typical felons who commit rape in certain circumstances or while committing some other felony. Notes and tables are included.