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Sexual Assaults in Wisconsin 1999-2001

NCJ Number
200329
Date Published
March 2003
Length
54 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on sexual assaults, focusing on five sexual assault offense types, reported to law enforcement agencies in the State of Wisconsin from 1999 to 2001.
Abstract
In this report, the Wisconsin Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) presents data on sexual assaults for the period of January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2001, covering 3 years, as part of the Uniformed Crime Reporting (UCR) program. There are currently 377 participating law enforcement agencies submitting sexual assault data to the SAC. This report focuses on five sexual assault types defined by the national and Wisconsin Incident Based Reporting systems (IBRS) and one additional category defined by State Statutes: forcible rape, forcible sodomy, assault with an object, forcible fondling, and statutory rape, and ejaculate/excrete upon victim. Data include information on victim characteristics, offender characteristics, relationship and arrest outcome, and sexual assault by county and municipality. In 1999, there were 6,002 sexual assaults reported of which 21.1 percent were forcible rape, 9.1 percent forcible sodomy, 3 percent sexual assaults with an object, 47.6 percent forcible fondling, 18.6 percent statutory rape, and 0.5 percent ejaculation/excrete upon victim. In 2000, there were 5,549 sexual assaults reported of which 24.2 percent were forcible rape, 9.6 percent forcible sodomy, 3 percent sexual assaults with an object, 45.3 percent forcible fondling, 17.2 percent statutory rape, and 0.6 percent ejaculation/excrete upon victim. In 2001, there were 5, 292 sexual assaults reported of which 22.7 percent were forcible rape, 9 percent forcible sodomy, 2.9 percent sexual assaults with an object, 48.3 percent forcible fondling, 16.7 percent statutory rape, and 0.5 percent ejaculation/excrete upon victim. The statistics show a 1 percent decrease in reported sexual assaults for 1999, a 10.4 percent decrease in reported sexual assaults for 2000, and a 4.7 percent decrease in reported sexual assaults for 2001. The total number of sexual assaults reported to law enforcement has remained fairly stable for the last few years. Possible explanations for the changes in the number of reported sexual assaults could include a change in the number of victims willing to report, increased reporting by mandated reporters, and improvements or changes in record keeping. Appendices include information on data collection and interpretation, sexual assault statutes, and sexual assault report. Tables and charts