NCJ Number
193443
Date Published
2002
Length
220 pages
Annotation
This book provides a detailed analysis of the power serial rapist's victim-selection process.
Abstract
The authors explore criminological research on rape and the victimological literature to provide integrated perspectives of the offender, his victims, and the sexual crimes. Past victimization theories and models are explained, with attention to their relative explanatory strengths and limits. By selecting the most useful features of past victim-selection typologies, the authors develop an assessment of the types of people most likely to be victims. In applying the explanatory and predictive capability of the victim-selection typology proposed by the authors, the case of Gilbert Escobedo, the "ski mask rapist," is analyzed in detail. After providing background material on Escobedo, past victimization models and theories are applied to the case for the purposes of interpreting and explaining his method of selecting victims. The victim-selection typology developed by the authors is then applied to the Escobedo victim-selection process. This typology takes into account personal and micro-level factors associated with victims, as well as geographic issues, routine activities, lifestyle patterns, and residential areas. In addition, the model not only includes issues associated with victimology and victimization, but also addresses criminological issues and offender factors. Unlike the previous approaches that provided typologies of victims or models for understanding victimization, the authors' scheme does both. The authors demonstrate where and how their own victim-selection typology significantly advances the assessment of female victim selection by sexual offenders similar to the ski mask rapist. The book concludes with a review of the implications of the authors' model for future clinical treatment, criminal justice administration and policy, and ongoing research. 125 references and a subject index