Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This presentation reports the results of a recent study funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to examine the prevalence, nature, and reporting of sexual assault and drug-facilitated sexual assault on campus. The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study, conducted by RTI International collected data from a random sample of over 5,850 undergraduate women and 1,550 undergraduate men at two universities and will present data that address the following research questions.
1. How prevalent are sexual assault and drug-facilitated sexual assault among university women?
2. What factors are associated with sexual assault and drug-facilitated sexual assault among university women, and how do these factors differ by assault type?
3. What are the barriers to reporting sexual assault and drug-facilitated sexual assault among university women, and what can be done to increase reporting?
4.What perpetrator and victim factors are associated with sexual assault and drug-facilitated sexual assault perpetration by university men, and how do these factors differ by assault type?

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Between 1996 and 2005, Uniform Crime Reports show an increase in girls’ arrests for assaults. Previous research has suggested two possible reasons for this increase. Some suggest that girls are becoming more violent, while others argue that increases in girls’ arrests for assaults may be an artifact of changes in parents’ and police response to girls’ conflicts in the home. To test these possibilities, this study uses data for 445 agencies (N=128,787) which continuously reported to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) during the years 1996-2005 and information on state domestic violence arrest laws. Bivariate analyses, which assessed the patterns of female violence across years, failed to find evidence of increasing female violence. Through logistic regression analyses, support is found for increasing social control practices despite the fact that after controlling for injury, weapon use, and other characteristics of the incident, state arrest policies appear to equally increase the odds of arrest for boys and girls. Further, an unexpected finding is that African American girls were more likely to be arrested than white girls until arrest laws were introduced into the model indicating that the effect of race was mediated by domestic violence laws. Directions for future research are discussed.

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Roundtable
Abstract: The decision to report sexual assault is highly personal for each victim, and yet extremely vital for the criminal justice system. No enforcement of the law or prosecution of the offender can occur until the victim makes the decision to report and cooperate with the process. Policy and programmatic efforts in recent years have attempted to increase sensitivity toward victims and their needs, and to make victims comfortable with this sometimes difficult process. This study combines qualitative and quantitative data from hospital-based victim service programs in two large metropolitan areas, including one with a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program. The goals of the study are to identify the factors that motivate victims to report sexual assault and seek medical care. This study will present the experiences and thoughts of both victims and the professionals who serve them, including healthcare professionals and members of the criminal justice system. These experiences will enhance the understanding of the needs of victims, and the challenges professionals face when serving them, and will allow for suggestions for the future.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: There has been a growing interest in the field of criminal justice concerning the impact that community characteristics have on the nature of domestic violence and the police response to domestic violence incidents. Using data from the 2000 NIBRS, we will compare the impact of community characteristics on domestic vs. non-domestic assaults for 2,821 jurisdictions that include information on 577,862 assaults. We will specifically focus on an urban/rural distinction among communities. There will be an examination of urban vs. rural variations in the nature of incidents reaching police attention as well as an analysis of the police response.