Of Sexual Assault;
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C .. ..?O~'31Q', '. ! ,> ,'l) > ..,', ", .. ~:~ :,.~ '< , , • - "". \-<' 9::)"1// FOREWORD The Governor's Justice comnission (GJC), in the Spring of this year, decided \ that a statistical report focusing exclusively on the crilre of rape in Rhode Island was in order. This was sparked by the fact that Rhode Island experienced its fourth consecutive year of rape incident increase, and not as a result of sensational-type \- occurrences experienced in a nearby New England state. The GJC was fortunate to receive data and assistance from the Rhode Island Rape Cr~is center, Inc. (ccmrronly refeiredto in this report and elsewhere as RCC). To gether, data from both agencies, we believe, will give the reader and the general public a broader understanding of particular details involving th~s v~olent" crilre. IN As, the cover of this report states, the years 1981 and 1982 are h~ghl~ghted; heM ever I occasionally I reference is made to other years. This report contains the following four sections:, . Overview .Specific Infonmation . • Trend Graph, Map, National Comparison Chart, and .General Laws - Definitions of Sexual Assault; Although this report contains much data, it should be noted what the report does not contain. At this time, for a host of reasons, courts and profile data were not available. For example, the GJC would have liked to have included data that spoke to the aIrount of p30p1e that were convicted for sex related crimes in I,' Rhode Island during 1981 and 1982. Also, a nore detailed profile background of " .. ! the rapist, than what appears in this report, would have been preferred. Again, in several cases, many attempts to obtain !TOre infonnation Elimply, were not successful. Rhode Island's General Laws define what constitutes sexual assault (rape) by first, second and third degree categories, plus their correlate penalties. When classifying the degree of sexual assault inflicted upon a victim, the Rape Crisis Center generally utilizies said General Laws,'definitions asa guide. For con-· fonnity with unifonn Crime Reporting (UCR) requirements, this state's city and town police departments, as well' as others throughout the country, utilize (follow) this definition: THE VICTIM •••••• Rape (Forcible), as defined in the UCR Program, is the' carnal Is generally young, ilccordinq tn Hi1pe Crisis Center (RCC) knowledge of a female forcibly and .against her will. Assaults , ' reports. The reports H:vealed thdt in 1981 and 1982, 46% or attempts to ccmnit rape by force or threat of force are also and 59% respectively, wer0 victims whose age ranged from included; howevex, statutory rape (without force) ahd other sex under 13 to 18. An averaqe of only 7% of the victims were (VICTIM) offenses are not included in this category. above 35 years of aqe. Eighty one percent (81%) of the victims were white, both years. The report noted, however, Many agencies, including the state's individual police departments, played a key that older women are somewhat rclucti1nt to report rape, role in supplying the Governor's Justice Ccmnission with vital data and infor.mation. while younger women an'? qeneri111 y not. However, a most worthy role was filled by Ms. Marcia Blair of- the Rape Crisis Center. She was instrumental in infonning the GJC just What the magnitude of rape is in Rhode Island,. and the general processes involved in handling rape cases and related admini THE RA PIS T • • . I • • strative procedures. Ms. Blair also assistedtl1e GJCin the interpr~tation of RCC's annual statistical report. Dermis Tierney of the GJe 1 s Statistical 1¥lalysis center The rape offender, i1ccorJinq to arrest information, was (SAC) also provided much professional assistance in the compiling of this report. 22 years of age and older, b3~ of the time in both 1981 (RAPIST) ,. and 1982. For two consecutive years, over 50% of the W. Bradley CXCMther Frederick C. Williamson No:o:nan Dakake rapists were reported to be white, and close to 35% to Executive Direcb')r Chairperson Director be black. Governor's Justice Comnission Statistical Analysis 222 Quaker Lane, W. Warwick, R. I. 02893 center (401) 277-2620 (401) 277-2620 The publication of this ·reIX'rt is supported by Cooperative Agreement #8l-BJ-CX-K017 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Pennission to reproduce or transmit all or parts of this reIX'rt may be -received fran the .publishing State of Rhode Island agency listed above. ~, ----L--~~~--~-~·'~·--·-~-··-··-·--lr \", __ d L ....------------------------------------------------------------.--------------------------------------------------~------------------------------- '. OVERVIEW CONTINUED OVERVIEW CONTINUED THE SETTING OF THE CRIME ••.•.. THE MONTHS RAPE MOST COMMONLY OCCURRED. I' I I I According to Rape Crisis Center reports, close to 50% For the two years examined by the GJC, June and July had of se:x:ual assaults took place at either the victim's the highest amounts of rapes reported, 47 and 43 respec- or rapist's home or a residence shared by the victim (SETTING) tively. Conversely, December with 17 rapes reported was (MONTH) and rapist. the lowest. However, an RCC report stated that November was their most active month during 1981 and 1982. OUTDOOR AREAS OF CONCERN .•••• Q THE AMOUNT OF RAPES REPORTED •• I I I I According to a Governor's Just:ice Commission (.GJC) analy sis of RCC's location(s) of sexual assaults report (for The amount of rapes reported to various police depart 1982 only), approximately 20 incidents of rape were re ments throughout the state and The Rape Crisis Center ported in areas close to a body of water (heach, marin~, (RCC) varied wide~y for both years. For example, in pond), parking lots, and outdoor/indoor-type garages. (OUTDOORS) 1982 the GJCls tabulations show that 185 rapes were (AMOUNTS) other outdoor areas listed as experiencing recurring reported, while ReC' s records reveal 417, a 125% differ-· sexual assault activity were: playgrounds I grounds at ence. In 1981, RCC recorded 363 rapes, the GJC 167, a housing projects, alleys, streets, parks and areas near 117% difference. It may be concluded that although more retail establishments, such as cafes, restaurants and rapes are being reported to police authorities through- malls. out Rhode Island, many more go unreported suggesting that many women still prefer annonymity and simply "do not want to get involved" in any system whatsoever. FAMILIARITY BETWEEN VICTIM AND RAPIST •••••• In close to 50% of the rapes reported during 1981 and THE TREND OF RAPE IN RHODE ISLAND I I' I" 19.82, the victim and the rapist knew each other either well or slightly. Additionally, about·17% of the rapes (FAMILIARITY) Both the records of the Governor's Justice commission were reported to be committed by a relative. No prior (GJC) and the Rape Crisis Center (RCC) clearly indi knowledge of each other was reported in 35% of the cases cate a rising trend of rape activity ~n Rhode Island. each year. The GJC1s statistics for the past four years a~e as (TRENDS) follows: THE DAYS RAPE MOST COMMONLY OCCURRED •.•••• I 1~79 - 129. rapes reported 1980 - 159 " " In a survey completed by the GJC, Saturdays (21%) and ., 1981 - 167 " II II Fridays (18%) were .the most common days that rape oc " 1982 - 185 I curred. Sunday was the third most active day, meaning (DAY) I that week ends were particularly vulnerable periods for RCC's records available for a three year period in committing this crime. dicate the following: I 1980 - 275 rapes reported THE TIMES OF DAY RAPE MOST COMMONLY OCCURRED •••• I. 1~81 - 363 II II ... 1982 - 417 II II The survey revealed that the hours of 12:01 a.m. - 3:00 a.m. were the most (.21%) common hours in which rape oc While the rising rape trend is of great concern, curred. This was closely followed by the hours of 3:01 (TIME) two points should be noted. With the establishment p.m. - 6:00 p.m. which showed a 20% rape occurrence. of special programs for sexual assault (rape) vic tims in Rhode Island and elsewhere, it is logical that more victims, clearly not all, are seeking help " and are thus being classified as "reported". In the past, with l.ittle or no place to turn for help it is no wonder that this crime was ~nderreported.