NCJ Number
143951
Date Published
1991
Length
95 pages
Annotation
Three research projects gathered information from victim statements and offense and criminal history reports contained in police records to analyze reported rapes in Victoria, Australia during 1987-90.
Abstract
Findings revealed that 93.6 percent of the 1,473 victims were female, and 98.9 percent of the 1,853 offenders were male. Most cases involved single perpetrators. Offenders were predominantly young, with 42.7 percent ages 18-25 and 62 percent ages 18-30. A total of 53.2 percent of the rapes took place at the victim's or offender's home. Attacks by strangers accounted for 39 percent of the rapes; the rest involved people who had some form of prior acquaintance. The police were notified within a day in 54.6 percent of the cases and within a month in 81.2 percent. Results revealed the inaccuracy of common beliefs about rape, especially the belief that sexual assaults are mainly random events perpetrated by strangers in public places. Findings indicated the need to consider women equal and valued members of the community, to provide accurate information so that any protective measures are appropriate ones, and the need for sensitive handling of victims to avoid further trauma. Figures, tables, and 19 references