Rape is most commonly committed by someone known to the victim, and often committed without force or violence. The United States is estimated to have the highest incidence rate of forcible rape of any industrialized country. The rates of rape have increased over the last few decades. One difficulty in understanding the extent of the problem is that rape is highly underreported--the most underreported crime in the United States. Rape is defined as any sexual contact against consent through force or threat of force, or when the victim was incapacitated with alcohol or other drugs. One of the major reasons rape is not reported is because victims don’t think they will be believed. Related to this, is the belief that they are to blame for the rape. Desire to avoid the heavy social stigma and embarrassment associated with being raped is another reason why women are less likely to report this crime. States with the highest reported rape are located in either the western or southeastern regions of the country. Reported rape rates differ for large cities. With the exception of New York City (1997), which had the highest number of reported rapes of any city in the country, findings for cities are relatively consistent with the State data. A higher accessibility of services may lead to a higher likelihood to report this crime. Rape has three major types--stranger, date or acquaintance, and wife rape. Rape by a stranger is less common than intimate rape but it is the most commonly reported type of rape. Laws that consider rape of a spouse are not universal. An examination of the legal status of wife rape indicates no determinable regional differences in the exemption status of the States. 12 figures, 21 references