NCJ Number
208599
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 3-21
Date Published
January 2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect of offender preassault alcohol use in rape incident outcomes.
Abstract
Although alcohol consumption is known to be a factor in one third to two thirds of rape incidents, there has been a paucity of research on the role that offender preassault alcohol use plays in rape incidents. The current study analyzed 362 attempted and completed rape incidents drawn from the 1992 through 1996 National Crime Victimization Survey in order to examine how offender preassault alcohol use impacted the outcomes of these rape incidents. The authors hypothesized that offender preassault alcohol use would be related to high risk assault characteristics, such as stranger assaults and the use of a weapon, as well as more severe assault outcomes, such as completed rapes and physical injury. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that offender pre-assault alcohol use was indeed related to risky assault characteristics, particularly stranger assaults, night assaults, and outdoor locations. However, after controlling for demographic variables and assault characteristics, offender preassault alcohol use was associated with less likelihood of rape completion and less likelihood of victim physical injury. Offender preassault alcohol use was also found to be related to greater victim resistance. Future research should focus on the different combinations of offender preassault drug and alcohol use to understand how combinations of drug use might impact rape incident outcomes. Tables, notes, references