NCJ Number
86727
Journal
Medicine Science and the Law Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1983) Pages: 41-53
Date Published
1983
Length
13 pages
Annotation
An analysis of newspaper reports of approximately 500 prosecutions for male homosexual offenses in England was carried out to determine the nature and circumstances of these crimes.
Abstract
Less than half the reports concerned prosecutions for activities with boys under 16 years. The majority were incidents of public indecency or importuning, usually in or around public conveniences. Nonconsensual molestation of males over age 16 was hardly ever reported. Many of the offenses with the under 16's involved boys who participated willingly. The use of force was hardly ever reported. The validity of findings based on press reports appears viable, since these findings correspond to results from studies using primary data. In general, the study supports the view that too many of the incidents brought before the courts are essentially 'victimless' crimes or minor public nuisances. The unwanted side effects of these prosecutions can be very serious, and alternative methods of control should be developed. Tabular data and six references are given.