NCJ Number
50841
Journal
JOURNAL OF POLICE SCIENCE AND ADMINISTRAION Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 318-323
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PATTERNS FOUND AMONG 159 RAPE CASES IN WICHITA, KANS., ARE EXAMINED; THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE OUTCOME IS TRACED; AND SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR 'OPEN SYSTEM' HANDLING INVOLVING MANY COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
Abstract
EXAMINATION OF THE 159 CASES, WHICH OCCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 1977, FOUND THAT RAPE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME TO ANY FEMALE. UNLIKE EARLIER STUDIES, THIS SURVEY FOUND THAT WHITE FEMALES WERE AS LIKELY TO BE RAPED BY BLACK MALES AS BY WHITE MALES. ALTHOUGH 112 OF THE CASES INVOLVED WOMEN AGED 15-25 YEARS, THE AGE RANGE WAS 4 YEARS TO 91 YEARS. ALSO CONTRARY TO OTHER STUDIES, STREETS AND BARS WERE NOT THE MOST COMMON LOCATIONS; 79 RAPES OCCURRED IN THE VICTIM'S HOME AND 32 INVOLVED FORCIBLE ENTRY. THE LOWEST INCIDENCE WAS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, PEAKING ON THE WEEK-ENDS. MIDNIGHT TO 3 A.M. WAS THE PEAK TIME. OF THE 159 CASES, 30 LACKED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE, 20 WERE NOT PROSECUTED, 43 OF THE REMAINING CASES WERE ATTRIBUTED TO 17 INDIVIDUALS, AND THE REST ARE UNSOLVED. OF THE 17 ALLEGED RAPISTS, CASES WERE DISMISSED FOR 5. THE PROBLEMS OF COLLECTING MEDICAL DATA AND PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR RAPE VICTIMS ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS ARGUED THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT POSSIBLY PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES THE VICTIM NEEDS. THE OPEN SYSTEM MODEL USED IN WICHITA IS DESCRIBED. THIS APPROACH ALERTS HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS, MEDICAL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, AND PATROL OFFICERS TO THE NEEDS OF RAPE VICTIMS AS WELL AS THE EVIDENCE NEEDS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES ARE MOBILIZED TO HELP THE VICTIM THROUGH HER PERSONAL CRISIS AND TO HELP HER DURING PROSECUTION OF THE CASE. THROUGH SUPPORTING THE VICTIM, THE OPEN SYSTEM ACTUALLY HELPS TO APPREHEND AND PROSECUTE THE RAPIST. TABULAR DATA AND A DIAGRAM OF THE OPEN SYSTEM MODEL ARE PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)