NCJ Number
61710
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RAPE VICTIMS' NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF THEIR RAPES, INTERVIEWS WITH CONVICTED RAPISTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND THE NATURE OF THE MODEL PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTING KANSAS CITY RAPE VICTIMS, ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS OF FOUR RAPE EXPERIENCES ILLUSTRATE THE TERROR, PAIN, AND VIOLENCE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME, AS WELL AS THE LACK OF VICTIM PRECIPITATION OF RAPES. SIX CONVICTED RAPISTS IN ONE MISSOURI PRISON PRESENTED WIDELY VARYING ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR CRIMES, THEIR VICTIMS, AND THE REASONS FOR THEIR ACTS. A PSYCHOTHERAPIST WHO HAS TREATED BOTH RAPISTS AND RAPE VICTIMS BELIEVES THAT RAPISTS DIFFER FROM NONRAPISTS IN THEIR LACK OF SOCIAL SKILLS, RATHER THAN IN TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES UNDERGONE. KANSAS CITY'S METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION TO COUNTER SEXUAL ASSAULT, (MOCSA) ORGANIZED IN 1974, HAS TRAINED NEARLY 15,000 POLICE OFFICERS AND RECRUITS TO DEAL APPROPRIATELY WITH RAPE VICTIMS, MAINTAINS A 24 HOUR TELEPHONE CRISIS LINE, PROVIDES VICTIM ADVOCATES TO ADVISE RAPE VICTIMS, AND PROVIDES EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC. ACCORDING TO A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF RAPISTS ARE NONVIOLENT; ABOUT 78 PERCENT USE JUST ENOUGH FORCE TO CONTROL THE VICTIM; ABOUT TWO PERCENT ARE VIOLENT PSYCHOPATHS WHO RESPOND VIOLENTLY TO RESISTANCE: AND ALL RAPISTS SEE WOMEN AS OBJECTS RATHER THAN AS HUMAN BEINGS. ONE KANSAS CITY POLICE OFFICER DESCRIBES THE CITY'S PROGRAM AS A MODEL EFFORT INVOLVING COOPERATION AMONG THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, LABORATORIES PROCESSING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, AND MOCSA. AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, 37 PERCENT OF KANSAS CITY RAPE CASES RESULT IN FILING OF CHARGES, VERSUS A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 7 PERCENT. OTHER ISSUES, FACTS, AND RESULTS ARE DISCUSSED WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A PLANNED MOCSA DEMONSTRATION CALLED WOMEN TAKE BACK THE NIGHT. (CFW)