NCJ Number
162768
Date Published
1995
Length
212 pages
Annotation
This book overviews the historical and current social context of rape in the United States and identifies major law enforcement, judicial, correctional, and psychotherapy trends in dealing with both rapists and victims.
Abstract
The book examines the legal definition of rape, identifies the nature of sexual assault through a review of common rape myths, presents a description of rapist types and motivations, and offers statistical profiles of both rapists and victims. Pros and cons of major response options to sexual assault are identified, and legal, medical, and psychological procedures and ramifications of rape are discussed. Because the book compiles a wide variety of current information sources, it should be helpful to students, scholars, researchers, journalists, administrators and victim advocates of women's shelters and rape crisis centers, rape prevention instructors, legislators and policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and interested laypersons. Book chapters specifically deal with the cycle of rape victimization, pornography, and problems with sexual assault studies. Additional chapters consider procedures, trends, and developments related to law enforcement, judicial, and correctional systems and to the medical treatment of sex offenders. A directory of major providers of services for victims and offenders and an annotated bibliography of print and nonprint resources for further research are included. References and figures