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NEW DATA SHOW RAPES DOWN, REPORTS OF RAPE UP

According to data just released by the FBI, the number of rapes reported to
police rose slightly in 2001. The FBI estimates that 90,491 forcible rapes
were reported to police in 2001, an increase of 0.3 percent from 2000's
total.

But the data, from the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reports, do not
necessarily mean that the total number of rapes has increased - just the
number reported to law enforcement. According to Justice Department figures,
only about one out of three rapes is reported.

Other data released this fall, from the Justice Department's annual National
Crime Victimization Survey, showed rape and sexual assault continued their
decade-long decline last year, falling to 249,000 total attacks from 261,000
in 2000. NCVS, because it includes all attacks whether or not reported to
police, is widely considered a more accurate survey of the total number of
rapes and sexual assaults. (The next issue of RAINNews will include a full
report on 2001 stats.)

For the limited purposes of the Uniform Crime Reports, the FBI counts only
forcible (not statutory) rapes, and excludes attacks against men. UCR
defines forcible rape as "the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and
against her will." According to UCR, in 2001, there were 62.2 forcible rapes
per 100,000 females in the nation. This is a decline of 12% from the 1997
level, and a decline of 26% over the last 10 years.

A complete copy of the study is available at online at
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/01cius.htm.

Excerpted from RAINNews, November/December 2002


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The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. With a national perspective and broad reach, RAINN is a trusted resource for media, policymakers and the public. Additionally, RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. Comprised of more than 1,000 local affiliates, the hotline has helped more than half a million victims of sexual assault since 1994. For more information, please visit the RAINN website at www.rainn.org


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