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Determinants of Completing Rape and Assault

NCJ Number
103156
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1986) Pages: 203-217
Author(s)
A J Lizotte
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study used National Crime Survey data for 1972-1975 to compare factors in attempted versus completed rape, assault on females, and assault on males.
Abstract
A total of 970 rapes and attempted rapes of women; 1,036 attempted and completed assaults on females; and 1,040 attempted and completed assaults on males were included in the analysis. Data were obtained on the following variables for each incident: offender age and use of weapon; victim's education and marital status; place and time of incident; number of victims; whether the victim used force, no force, or a weapon; victim injuries requiring medical attention; and the number of offenders. Multivariate analysis was used to distinguish factors for attempted and completed rapes of women and assaults on females and males. For rape and male assaults, highly educated victims were less likely to experience completed attacks. For rape offenders, the use of a weapon increased the probability of a completed attack. A rape injury requiring medical attention also correlated positively with a completed attack. These variables were not related to completed assaults for men or women. Older offenders were more likely to complete a rape but less likely to complete an assault on a woman. Offender's age was not related to completed assaults on men. Resisting rape with and without force decreased the likelihood of a completed attack compared to nonresistance. Men and women who resisted assault with force, however, fared much worse than those who resisted without force or did nothing. Victims' sex was an insignificant factor in distinguishing between attempted and completed rapes and assaults on males and females. 2 tables and 27 references.

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