NCJ Number
58553
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
DATA ON ALL ARRAIGNMENTS FOR RAPE AND RAPE-RELATED CRIMES, COLLECTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PROBATION OF MASS., FOUND THAT MOST OFFENDERS ARE MEN UNDER THE AGE OF 30 AND 25 PERCENT ARE JUVENILES.
Abstract
THE STUDY IS BASED ON THE STATE'S CENTRALIZED CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENCY RECORDS SYSTEM AND COVERS THE PERIOD 1974 TO 1978. THE NUMBER OF ARRAIGNMENTS REMAINED CONSTANT AT ABOUT 548 PER YEAR, RATHER THAN INCREASING AS MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED FROM THE STATE'S INCREASED EMPHASIS ON RAPE PROSECUTION. DURING THE PERIOD, 13 WOMEN WERE CHARGED. (A SPECIAL STUDY WILL BE PUBLISHED ANALYZING THESE WOMEN RAPISTS). MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 17 AND 25 ACCOUNTED FFOR 52.01 PERCENT OF THE DEFENDANTS--72 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR RAPE AND 28 PERCENT OF ARRESTED FOR RAPE-RELATED OFFENSES. DEFENDANTS AGED 16 TO 20 ACCOUNTED TO 25.55 PERCENT OF ARRAIGNMENTS-54.02 PERCENT OF THE RAPES AND 45.98 PERCENT OF RAPE-RELATED CHARGES. THE MEAN AGE OF JUVENILE DEFENDANTS DECLINED FROM 15.22 IN 1974 TO 14.80 IN 1978. THE BOSTON METROPOLITAN AREA (ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, NORFOLK, AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES) ACCOUNTED FOR 58.80 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S' ARRAIGNMENTS. SUFFOLK COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST RAPE RATE AND, NANTUCKET AND DUKES COUNTIES, WITH THE SMALLEST POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, RANKED SECOND AND FOURTH. TABLES PRESENT THE STUDY'S STATISTICAL SUPPORT, AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINS LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF THE RAPE-RELATED CRIMES. (GLR)