NCJ Number
171935
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1997) Pages: 101-119
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examines the goals of men who commit rape to better understand what drives the rapist.
Abstract
Perceptual deterrence research attempts to measure the effects of perceived certainty and severity of punishment in preventing criminal behavior, while considering the rewards (from the perception of the offender) of committing the crime. Many studies in the area of perceptual deterrence are lacking any measure of reward, resulting in an incomplete model. A group of 132 respondents for this study were drawn from the population of rapists in the maximum-security State penitentiaries in two Southern States. All were asked what factors led them to commit rape, while considering a low and high level risk of apprehension. Results revealed that rapists often have a specific motive in mind and have calculated the risks involved in committing the offense. More men committed rape out of revenge, or to punish the victim, than for any other single motive, while anger was a latent motive for many rapists. While rapists have a distorted perception of the role of sex and of females, this is not a full sign of mental illness or other cognitive impairment. Note, tables, references