NCJ Number
16644
Date Published
1973
Length
81 pages
Annotation
ANALYZES DATA FROM POLICE RECORDS AND OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DISPOSITION OF CASES, DETERRENCE, DATA DEFICIENCIES, CRIME COMPLAINT FORMS, ATTITUDES OF POLICE AND JURORS, AND THE TREATMENT OF THE VICTIM.
Abstract
THE DATA OF POLICE RECORDS ARE CONSIDERED BY THE AUTHORS INVOLVED IN RAPE PATTERNS. AREAS ANALYZED FROM THE AVAILABLE DATA INCLUDE THE TIME FRAME, LOCATION, VICTIMS, VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONS, THE NATURE OF THE FORCE, WEAPONS AND INJURIES, INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION, AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS AS TO AGE AND RACE AND WHETHER HE ACTED SINGLY OR IN A GROUP, INITIAL ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE RAPIST AND VICTIM WERE MOST FREQUENTLY IN AN INTERIOR SETTING IN THE HOURS FROM 8 P.M. TO 2 A.M. APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE RAPES STUDIED INVOLVED OTHER CRIMES RELATED TO THE VICTIM. A HIGH PROPORTION OF THE CRIMES WERE STRANGER UPON STRANGER ATTACKS. DISPOSITION STATISTICS INDICATE AN EXTREMELY LOW RATE OF CONVICTION FOR THOSE ACCUSED OF RAPE. A NEW POLICE CRIME COMPLAINT FORM WHICH WILL INCLUDE A CHECKLIST OF ALL VALUABLE INVESTIGATIVE AND RESEARCH DATA PARTICULARLY FOR RAPE IS RECOMMENDED. A GENERAL MALE CYNICISM REGARDING THE SERIOUSNESS OR THE FACT OF RAPE IS DEEMED TO PERMEATE POLICE AND JUROR ATTITUDES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT POLICEWOMEN TRAINED ESPECIALLY FOR DEALING WITH RAPE VICTIMS ASSUME A LARGER ROLE IN INTERVIEW AND INVESTIGATIVE WORK IN RAPE CASES.