SEO: DOJ releases report on sexual victimization

Nov. 18, 2013 By Keighley Joyce Summary Blurb: With 3 percent of American college women experiencing rape each academic year, the U.S. Department of Justice deems college campuses as hot spots for sexual assault in a report released today.

Sexual assault frequent on college campuses

Approximately 3 percent of college women in the U.S. experience completed or attempted rape during an academic year. The statistic, released today by the U.S. Department of Justice, prompted the DOJ to bolster the need for sexual assault education at universities and college institutions. The DOJs National Institute of Justice and Bureau Justice Statistics examines the prevalence of sexual assaults and victimizations occurring on American college campuses in the report, The Sexual Victimization of College Women, conducted by University of Cincinnati professor Bonnie S. Fisher. Fisher randomly surveyed more than 4,000 women from two- or four-year college institutions to find the following results. Study results Of the 3 percent of women who experience rape during an academic year, 1.7 percent have been victims of attempted rape. The data also reports that about 13 percent of college women had someone stalk them since the beginning of the academic school year. The study reports that the vast majority of sexual victimization incidents occurred after 6 p.m. in the victims or perpetrators living quarters, such as fraternity houses and on-campus housing. For on-campus completed rapes: - Nearly 60 percent occurred in victims residence - 31 percent occurred in other on-campus living quarters - 10 percent occurred at a fraternity

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K.Joyce, DOJ Report, p. 2 The study also offers information on victim-offender relationships:

Exhibit 4 shows the relationship between victim and offender. The Sexual Victimization of College Women Photo courtesy of https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf

Hot spot for criminal activity The DOJ reports that women attending college are at a greater risk for sexual assault and misconduct than other women in the general population. The idea that college campuses are hot spots for criminal activity drives responsiveness to the sexual victimization of college women. Sexual assault education The high sexual assault risk of college women demands special attention. Fisher, who conducted the study, found that many women do not report their sexual victimizations to authorities. The DOJ reported that some women do not characterize their sexual victimization as criminal offenses for a number of reasons: - Embarrassment - Not clearly understanding the legal definition of rape - Because the victim blames themself.

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K.Joyce, DOJ Report, p. 3 The report released today reinforces the importance of raising awareness and educating college students on sexual assault. Some college institutions are already proactive in educating their students on the dangers of the crime. For example, the University of Maryland is committed to teaching the campus community about the nature of sexual assault and misconduct. The University of Maryland has detailed procedures on sexual assault and misconduct. The university also has a sexual assault education and response program called CARE. ###