IN 1977, APPROXIMATELY 60,000 RAPES, OR 1 EVERY 8 MINUTES, WERE REPORTED TO THE POLICE, BUT THE TRUE NUMBER IS FAR HIGHER BECAUSE MANY INCIDENTS ARE UNREPORTED. THE BOOK DESCRIBES BOTH STATUTORY AND FORCIBLE RAPE AND SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT RAPE. THESE INCLUDE THE IDEAS THAT MOST RAPE VICTIMS ARE ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMEN; THAT MOST RAPES ARE COMMITTED BY STRANGERS; AND THAT MOST RAPES ARE SPONTANEOUS EVENTS OCCURRING IN DARK, DESERTED AREAS. A RAPE VICTIM WILL OFTEN FIND LITTLE HELP FROM THE LEGAL SYSTEM IF SHE WAITS MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO IN REPORTING THE RAPE. SHE IS AT A SIMILAR DISADVANTAGE IF SHE HAD BEEN DRINKING OR TAKING DRUGS PRIOR TO THE RAPE AND IF SHE KNEW HER ATTACKER. FEW PROSECUTIONS TAKE PLACE IF THE VICTIM WAS HITCHHIKING OR ON A DATE WITH THE ACCUSED RAPIST. THE BOOK EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR VICTIMS TO COOPERATE THOROUGHLY WITH RAPE INVESTIGATORS, DESPITE FEELINGS OF CONFUSION, EMBARRASSMENT, OR FEAR. SUPPORT ADVICE FOR VICTIMS ARE USUALLY AVAILABLE FROM A LOCAL RAPE CRISIS CENTER OR HOTLINE. AFTER REPORTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT, THE VICTIM SHOULD BE CERTAIN NOT TO MOVE ANYTHING AT THE CRIME SCENE AND NOT TO CHANGE HER CLOTHES OR TAKE A BATH OR SHOWER, BECAUSE ALL THESE ELEMENTS MAY PROVIDE EVIDENCE. FINALLY, THE VICTIM SHOULD CALL A CLOSE FRIEND OR RELATIVE FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING THE REPORTING PROCESS AND DURING THE SUBSEQUENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION. GENERALLY, A PROSECUTOR WILL CHARGE THE ACCUSED MAN WITH RAPE IF THE VICTIM DID NOT CONSENT TO THE ACT, IF THERE WERE THREATS OF FORCE, AND IF THERE WAS MEDICAL VERIFICATION OF INTERCOURSE. WHEN ONE OF THESE ELEMENTS IS MISSING, THE ACCUSED OFTEN WILL NOT BE CHARGED WITH RAPE, ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT BE CHARGED WITH A MINOR OFFENSE. THE FINAL CHAPTER DISCUSSES PREVENTIVE MEASURES ALL WOMEN SHOULD FOLLOW TO LESSEN THEIR CHANCES OF BECOMING SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE INCLUDED, AND A LIST OF ANTIRAPE ORGANIZATIONS IS APPENDED. (PRG)