CONSIDERING THAT RAPE IS A VIOLENT CRIME WITH A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE OF INCIDENCE, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE ATTENTION PAID TO IT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHOULD BE AS INTENSIVE AS THAT GIVEN TO HOMICIDE. THE MODEL DESCRIBED IS SUGGESTED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CURRENT SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING RAPE. IT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE REPORTING OF THE CRIME, INCREASE ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS OF OFFENDERS, AND DEVELOP METHODS FOR WORKING SYMPATHETICALLY WITH VICTIMS DURING THIS TRAUMATIC PERIOD. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RAPE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AND ITS TASKS ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH A DISCUSSION OF EVIDENCE COLLECTION, DATA ANALYSIS, COORDINATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND COORDINATION WITH WOMEN ORGANIZED AGAINST RAPE (WOAR), THE ORGANIZATION WHICH DESIGNED THE MODEL PRESENTED. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S RAPE PROSECUTION UNIT IS DESCRIBED AND ITS TASK DELINEATED, AND A DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED OF THE VICTIM ADVOCATE, TRAINING, COORDINATION WITH POLICE, COORDINATION WITH WOAR, AND DATA COLLECTION. JOINT PROJECTS SUGGESTED FOR RAPE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AND RAPE PROSECUTION UNIT MEMBERS INCLUDE VICTIM AND WITNESS PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT, AN ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM, A JOINT MEDIA AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, AND DATA COLLECTION. MANY CITIES ALREADY HAVE INSTITUTED SOME OF THE CHANGES PROPOSED AND HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN REPORTING RATES, CONVICTION RATES, AND SUPPORT AND HELP FOR THE VICTIMS. A FLOW CHART OF THE MODEL SYSTEM IS PROVIDED. (RCB)