THE DATA BANK FROM WHICH THE STUDY IS DRAWN REPRESENTS MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA, BUT ACCOUNTS FOR A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF 78 PERCENT OF THE AREA'S REPORTED RAPES. DATA WERE GATHERED FROM POLICE INITIAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSON REPORTS, POLICE INVESTIGATION REPORTS, AND SPECIAL COURT DATA CODING FORMS DESIGNED FOR THE STUDY AND COMPLETED BY LOCAL PROSECUTORS. THE ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED IN THREE PARTS. THE FIRST FOCUSES ON THE ECOLOGICAL VARIABLES WHICH DESCRIBE THE VICTIMS AND SUSPECTS AND LOCATION, TIME, AND SITUATIONAL FACTORS INVOLVED. THE SECOND PART DESCRIBES THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS SURROUNDING THE COMMISSION OF A RAPE: THE OFFICIAL RESPONSES INITIATED BY A REPORT, THE PROVISION OF VICTIM SERVICES, THE POLICE INVESTIGATION, AND THE TRIAL IN CIRCUIT COURT. TRENDS IN REPORTED RAPE ACROSS THE 5-YEAR PERIOD AND CROSS-COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL COMPARISONS ARE REPORTED IN THE THIRD SECTION. SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE MOST COMMON REASON CITED FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION WAS FEAR OF POLICE AND COURT PROCEDURES; (2) VICTIM RESISTANCE, PARTICULARLY PHYSICAL RESISTANCE, SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE CHANCE OF THWARTING A RAPIST; (3) RAPE IS A YOUTH OR YOUNG ADULT CRIME, WITH MOST VICTIMS AND SUSPECTS FALLING WITHIN THE 15 TO 24 YEAR RANGE; (4) BLACKS ARE VICTIMIZED AT A DISPORTIONATELY HIGH RATE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR RACIAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE COMMUNITY; (5) RAPES BY STRANGERS ACCOUNT FOR JUST OVER HALF OF ALL RAPES; (6) THE SETTING OF THE VICTIM'S FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE SUSPECT WAS ALMOST EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND STREETS, PARKING LOTS, AND PARKS; AND (7) NO PATTERN APPEARS IN THE INCIDENCE OF RAPE IN TERMS OF THE DAY OF THE WEEK OR MONTH OR THE PHASES OF THE MOON. TABULAR DATA AND MAPS ARE PROVIDED. A DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA BANK DEVELOPMENT AND COPIES OF THE DATA FORMS ARE APPENDED. (KBL)