Sexual Assault on Campuses
Source :The National Organization for Women (NOW) More
Women are well aware of the methods used to keep them silent about rape: the justice system's reluctance to prosecute rapists, even when the evidence is overwhelming; the disbelief that survivors often face; and the insensitive and humiliating treatment women experience when they come forward.
All of these factors are compounded when rapes occur on college campuses because campus administrators and college police are determined to protect the image of their school—a safe campus image that will attract new students and more money. And that means administrators often discourage women from reporting rapes to local law enforcement, and either covertly handle as internal matters what should be criminal investigations or overtly punish women who speak out.
College Women at Risk
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, young women (ages 16-24) are most at risk of being raped. A study published in American College Health (September 1997) found that one out of every five young women surveyed reported they had been forced to have sexual intercourse. Yet even the largest universities report only a few sexual assaults per year, despite the requirement to report serious crimes on campus under the Campus Security Act of 1990. The general public may believe their local campus is a safe place, but in reality many young men have been sent the message that they can rape without consequence. Administrators often convince sexual assault victims to utilize the college's disciplinary system by promising that the matter will be handled quietly, an inducement not offered by civil authorities.
Sexual Victimization of College Women
NCJ 182369, December 2001, Research Report, Bonnie S. Fisher, Francis T. Cullen, and Michael G. Turner
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This NIJ Research Report presents a systematic analysis of the sexual victimization of college women by examining two national-level surveys that used two different survey methods: the National College Women Sexual Victimization Study and the National Crime Victimization Survey. The report—cosponsored by the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics—assesses the extent and nature of the sexual victimization of college women. Based on the study findings, it is estimated that more than 350 rapes per year may occur on a campus with a population of 10,000 female students
Sexual Assault on Campus:
What Colleges and Universities Are Doing About It
NCJ 205521, December 2005, Research for Practice, Heather M. Karjane, Bonnie S. Fisher, and Francis T. Cullen
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Colleges and universities are not always the safe havens they are thought to be; college women are at higher risk for sexual assault than their non-college-bound peers. Yet, many rapes and attempted rapes are unreported, perhaps because for the majority of these crimes, victim and assailant are acquainted. Schools vary widely in how they comply with Federal requirements to report and respond to sexual victimization. These are among the findings from the first major survey of the Nation's colleges and universities to inquire about sexual assault on campus and how schools are reporting and handling the problem. Many schools need guidance on how to comply with Federal requirements to disclose security procedures, report crime data, and ensure victims' rights. Promising practices in prevention, policy, victim support services, and other areas are discussed.