SEX CRIMES UNITS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO THE ALARMING INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED RAPES--121 PERCENT NATIONWIDE BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970--AND FROM PRESSURE BY WOMEN'S GROUPS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO ARGUE THAT RAPE VICTIMS REQUIRE DELICATE TREATMENT. HOWEVER, POLICE DEPARTMENTS FACED WITH BUDGET CUTS AND CONFLICTING PUBLIC DEMANDS FOR POLICE ACTION OFTEN ELIMINATE THESE SPECIAL UNITS OR MERGE THEM WITH OTHER UNITS. IN NEW YORK CITY, ALTHOUGH THE INNOVATIVE SEX CRIMES ANALYSIS UNIT HAS BEEN INACTIVE DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, THE BOROUGH SEX CRIMES SQUADS HAVE REMAINED INTACT. THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S HIGHEST RAPE REPORTING RATE IN THE NATION (60 PERCENT). IN ADDITION, COOPERATION BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAS HELPED EXPERTS ESTABLISH RAPE PATTERNS. STATE LAW IN CONNECTICUT REQUIRES ALL POLICE AGENCIES, HOSPITALS, AND COUNSELING GROUPS TO COMPLETE A FORM DETAILING INFORMATION ON BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE ASSAILANT; THIS DATA IS THEN FED INTO A COMPUTER AND DISSEMINATED TO VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS. ISSUES CONCERNING THE DEBATE OVER SEX CRIMES UNITS INCLUDE THE TENDENCY OF OFFICERS TO BURN OUT DURING INVESTIGATIONS OF TRAUMATIC CASES, THE SEX OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS, CHANGING STEREOTYPICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD RAPE, PARTICULARY THOSE HELD BY OLDER POLICE OFFICERS. TRAINING FILMS FOR VETERAN OFFICERS, RAPE KITS DESIGNED FOR MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND OTHER INNOVATIONS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EASING THE PLIGHT OF THE RAPE VICTIM AND INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE RAPIST WILL BE CAPTURED. THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE AND COUNSELING GROUPS AS WELL AS WITH PROSECUTORS' OFFICES ARE DISCUSSED. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)