RAPE RESEARCH TO DATE HAS BEEN LIMITED BY THE FACT THAT ONLY 3 PERCENT OF CASES RESULT IN CONVICTION. THEREFORE, MOST OF THE LARGE SCALE STUDIES SUMMARIZED HAVE USED EITHER EXAMINATION OF POLICE REPORTS OR RETROSPECTIVE INTERVIEWS WITH PRISON POPULATIONS. MANY OF THE INMATES INTERVIEWED WERE IMPRISONED FOR CRIMES OTHER THAN RAPE BUT DISCUSSED RAPES THEY HAD COMMITTED. THE PICTURE PAINTED IS OF MALE UNDER AGE 30, GENERALLY BELONGING TO A MINORITY GROUP (WHICH MAY BE A FUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM USED TO GATHER DATA), GENERALLY WORKING ALONE, USUALLY ATTACKING THE WOMAN IN HER OWN HOME, AND USING THREATS OR A WEAPON IN MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF CASES. THE VICTIMS WERE YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE, OFTEN OF THE SAME RACE AS THE RAPIST, AND USUALLY STRANGERS TO THE RAPIST. RAPES AFTER PARTIES OR PICKUPS IN BARS MADE UP A MINORITY OF CASES. THE RAPISTS GENERALLY FELT IT WAS THE WOMAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT RAPE BY DRESSING CONSERVATIVELY, NOT GOING OUT ALONE, AND BEING CAREFUL ABOUT TALKING TO STRANGERS. THIS ADVICE WAS EVEN GIVEN BY CONVICTED RAPISTS WHO HAD COMMITTED RAPE AFTER BREAKING INTO A HOME. MOST VICTIMS RESIST; ABOUT A THIRD ARE INJURED. AN OVERVIEW IS GIVEN OF THE WORK OF RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND OTHER COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES. THE LONG TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IS DETAILED, A TRAUMA USUALLY AGGRAVATED BY THE ATTITUDES OF PARENTS, HUSBANDS, AND FRIENDS. RAPE LAW IS ALSO SURVEYED. CHANGES IN TRADITIONAL RAPE LAW BY REDEFINITION OF RAPE, PROOF REQUIREMENTS, AND PROTECTION OF VICTIM PRIVACY ARE DESCRIBED. BOTH NOTES AND AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE APPENDED. (GLR)