THE RATE OF REPORTED RAPE IN NEW MEXICO DURING 1976 WAS 40.5 PER 100,000 POPULATION, COMPARED TO 26.4 PER 100,000 NATIONALLY. IN BERNALILLO AND SANTA FE COUNTIES, THE RATES WERE 67.4 AND 70.9 PER 100,000, RESPECTIVELY. COUNTIES WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH NUMBERS OF REPORTED RAPES ARE THOSE IN WHICH RAPE CRISIS CENTERS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED. THE CENTERS HAVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HOSPITALS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES. RAPE CRISIS COUNSELORS ACT AS ADVOCATES FOR RAPE VICTIMS, GUIDING THEM THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. SUCH PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF VICTIMS ENCOURAGES REPORTING, THEREBY INFLUENCING STATISTICS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NATIONALLY ONLY ONE-TENTH OF ALL RAPES COMMITTED ARE REPORTED. IN NEW MEXICO, THE REPORTING RATE IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 70 AND 80 PERCENT. WITH INCREASED REPORTING, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND AWARENESS, AND MORE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS, A DETERRENT EFFECT APPEARS TO BE RESULTING IN NEW MEXICO. THE RATE OF REPORTED RAPE IN THE STATE DECLINED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1977, APPARENTLY AS A RESULT OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION EFFORTS BEGUN IN 1972-1973.