NCJ Number
37689
Date Published
1976
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT IS THE RESULT OF QUEEN'S BENCH FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF RAPE, THE MODES OF RAPISTS, AND THE STRATEGIES USED BY RAPE VICTIMS AND ATTEMPTED RAPE VICTIMS TO RESIST SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Abstract
THE QUEEN'S BENCH FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES WHO RECEIVED UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FUNDING IN 1974 TO EXPLORE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF RAPE ON VICTIMS AND TO EVALUATE THE SAN FRANCISCO AGENCIES WHICH RESPOND TO THEM. THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF TWO STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE FOUNDATION: ONE OF RAPE VICTIMS AND ONE OF RAPE OFFENDERS. IN BOTH THE MAJOR FOCUS WAS THE SAME: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF VICTIM RESISTANCE TO RAPE? THE FOUNDATION WAS INTERESTED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH RESISTANCE DETERRED THE RAPE ATTACK, THE PARTICULAR KINDS OF RESISTANCE THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH CERTAIN KINDS OF RESISTANCE PROVOKED INCREASED VIOLENCE. THE VICTIM STUDY PRESENTS INFORMATION ON THE BEHAVIORS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE FACED RAPE ATTACKS, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATTACK SITUATIONS, AND THE RESPONSE OF THE ASSAILANTS. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VICTIM OF COMPLETED RAPES AND ATTEMPTED RAPES WERE COMPARED IN AN EFFORT TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS RESISTANCE TECHNIQUES. WHILE THE OFFENDER STUDY HAD THE SAME PRIMARY GOALS, RAPE WAS ANALYZED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE OFFENDERS. THE RAPIST'S AIMS, HIS SELECTION OF A VICTIM AND PLANNING OF THE ATTACK, HIS PERCEPTION OF PROVOCATION OF THE ATTACK, AND HIS RESPONSE TO VICTIM BEHAVIOR DURING THE ATTACK WERE CONSIDERED. IN ADDITION, OFFENDERS' IDEAS ABOUT PREVENTION OF RAPE WERE SOLICITED. BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES, CONCLUSIONS ARE PRESENTED ON THE COMMON PATTERNS OF ASSAULT, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RAPES AND ATTEMPTED RAPES, THE FREQUENCY AND CAUSES OF VICTIM INJURY, AND THE METHODS OF PREVENTING RAPE. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE AN OUTLINE FOR A SUGGESTED RAPE PREVENTION WORKSHOP AND A SHORT PAPER ON THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON VICTIMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)