FYI:Sexual Assault in College

FYI: Sexual Assault in College

by: skylar mabe

Rape victimization is a potential problem of large proportion and of public policy, reports the National College Women Sexual Victimization.

A completed and/or attempted rape happens to 3 percent of college during a year at college reports the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice. College campuses host large concentrations of young women who are at greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group. Based on their findings, Bonnie Fisher and her colleagues estimate that the women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year.



• 1.7 percent reported being coerced to have sex
• 1.7 percent were victims of attempted rape
• 13 percent have been stalked since the beginning of the school year

• 60 percent of completed rapes took place on campus at the victims residence
• 31 percent occurred in other living quarters on campus
• 10 percent occurred at a fraternity
• At a college of 10,000 female students approximately 350 of those women could experience rape


Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

What is Rape?

Female College Students Victimized

New study shows shocking results about rape on college campuses.

By Andrea Ritchie

A recent study shows that about 3 percent of college women have experienced a completed rape or attempted rape during a college year.

The U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released their report, "The Sexual Victimizationof College Women", today showing these statistics of female students:

• 1.7 percent were victims of attmepted rape.
• 1.7 percent reported being coerced to have sex.
• 13 percent of the sexual victimization occured after 6 pm.
• 31 percent occurred on campus in living quaters.
• 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.

The study was federally funded and conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, who is a professor at the University of Cincinnati, and Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.

The NCWSV study explained that, "Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them.Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women." College professors were cites as a low percentage of offenders in this case, and were not seen to commit rapes or coercions.

The study also showed that out of 10,000 females an estimated 350 rapes would occur per year.

Fisher found that many women do not characterize their sexual victimizations as a crime for a number of reasons:

• Embarrassment
• They do not clearly understand the legal definition of rape.
• They do not want to define someone as a rapist.
• They blame themselves for their sexual assault.

This study was based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected and nationally sampled 4,446 women attending a 2-4 year college or university.

For more information, please see:

Help with Rape

More Information on Rape

College Females Victimized

COLLEGE FEMALES VICTIMIZED!

A Study estimates that women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year--finding with serious policy implications for college administrators.

Three percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year, often occurring after 6 p.m. in living quarters, and usually by someone they know, shown in a study released Monday.

The study “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” offers a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American colleges. The study shows:

• 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of attempted rape.
• 1.7 percent of college women reported being coerced to have sex.
• 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.
• 60 percent that took place on campus occurred in the victim’s residence.
• 31 percent occurred in other living quarters on campus.
• 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.

The study also showed that many women do not characterize their sexual victimizations as a crime for a number of reasons (such as embarrassment, not clearly understanding the legal definition of rape or not wanting to define someone they know who victimized them as a rapist) or because they blame themselves for their sexual assault. The study reinforces the importance of many organizations’ efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.

Sexual Assault of Women on College Campuses

New report should have college administrators worried for safety of female students.

By Skyler Holley

A new study released Monday shows that about 3 percent of college women have experienced a completed or attempted rape.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice estimate that about 1.7 percent of female students were victims of attempted rape and another 1.7 percent of female students reported being coerced to have sex.

The study, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” was federally funded and conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.

The NCWSV study results are based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample, of 4,446 women attending a 2- or 4-year college or university. All students selected for the survey went to schools with at least 1,000 students.

The authors of the study explained, “Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them.” Usually it was a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend, a classmate, friend, acquaintance, or a coworker who sexually victimized the women. College professors were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact, but were not identified as committing and rapes or coercions.

More Statistics:

• About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year
• Majority of incidents occurred after 6 p.m. in living quarters
• 60 percent of completed rapes occurred in the victim’s living quarters
• 31 percent occurred in other living quarters on campus
• 10 percent occurred at a fraternity
• 90 percent of offenders were known to the victim
• A college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year.

Rapes occurring off-campus happened mainly in residences. Sexual contacts and threatened victimizations also occurred in bars, dance clubs, night clubs and work settings.

The attention to the sexual victimization of women has been brought on by the increasing concern that colleges are becoming hotspots for criminal activity. Previous research suggests that women on college campuses could be at greater risk for sexual assault than other women in a comparable age group.

Often women do not believe their victimizations are a crime because of embarrassment, they do not understand what rape is, they blame themselves, or they do not want to identify their assailant as a rapist.

More Information:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/assist/nvaa2002/chapter22_4sup.html

College Victimization

By:  Hannah McKenna

10/12/09

College woman are at greater risk of getting raped than any other age group.

Study shows that 3 percent of college females are victims of attempted rape.  1.7 percent of college women have been forced to have sex.  Thirteen percent of women have claimed they have been stalked.  "The Sexual Victimization of College Women," looks into the nature of assault which happens at many colleges.  Bonnie S. Fisher put together this study.

Most rape happens after 6pm.  60 percent of rapes occur in the victims dorm.  Other rape incidents have take place in bars, night clubs, and work places.

Most victims know the person who raped them.  Most commonly the person who victimized the woman is usually a classmate, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, co-workers or acquaintances.

The National Institute of Justice and the Bureau put together statistics, that if there is a college of 10,000 female students, there could be more than 350 rape incidents.  Fisher also stated woman to not categorize their rape as a crime.  They do not want to believe someone they know to be a rapist because they blame themselves for their assault.

There is a fear that college campuses have become a target for criminal activity.  Researches have shown that college students are not free from risk of criminal assault.  College woman are at more risk of getting raped than any other age group of females.

The NCWSV surveyed women by telephone.  4,446 women and 2- and 4- year universities were surveyed.  No colleges with less than 1,000 people were surveyed.  For every 1,000 women, 35 women are raped.  Rape victimization is a huge problem that effects a large population of females.

External Links:

The NCWSV Survey

The Victimization of College Women

Wikipedia

Research finds shocking results about college rape victims

by Adam Keelan

University of Cincinnati study finds shocking results about rape on college campuses. Study also finds that college campuses are hot spots for criminal activity.

About 3% of college women experience a completed or attempted rape every year, according to a US government agency.

The Study

The US Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released their study today about rape in American colleges. The report, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” took an in-depth look into the frequency and nature of sexual assaults that occur on college campuses across the nation.


The Findings

The study found that 1.7% of female students were attempted rape victims. The study also found that 13% of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.

Other important findings:
- 1.7% of college women report to be victims of forced sex every year
- 60% of completed rapes take place at the victim’s residence, on campus
- 31% were in other living quarters on campus
- Remaining 10% at fraternity houses

The Authors

The study was conducted by University of Cincinnati professor, Bonnie S. Fisher, along with Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner. The study was also federally funded.

The study was conducted through a telephone survey of randomly selected, female college students. A total of 4,446 active students were questioned and the schools that were surveyed had to have a minimum of 1,000 students.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors of the study tell us, “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim.” The authors also say that the offenders were usually boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, or other classmates.

Although many sexual assaults go unreported, the study clearly shows that rape on college campuses is a serious problem and that college campuses are growing hot spots for sexual and criminal activity.

For More Information:
University of Cincinnati Official Website
Bonnie S. Fisher Biography
Francis T. Cullen Biography

The Sexual Victimization of College Women Nationwide

By Paige Wall


Today the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report saying about 3 percent of college women are involved in a sexual assault case during a college year.


The report titled “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” reinforces the importance of many organizations’ efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.


The federally funded study headed by Bonnie S. Fisher, professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner emphasizes how important this issue truly is.


The Data Stated:
• 1.7 percent of female college students are victims of attempted rape,
• 1.7 percent of female college students are being coerced to have sex.
• 13 percent of female college students are being stalked since the beginning of the school year
• Vast majority of these incidents occur after 6 p.m. in living quarters
• Nearly 60 percent take place on campus in the victim’s residence
• 31 percent occur in other living arrangements on campus
• 10 percent occur in fraternity houses


The authors said, “About nine in 10 offenders are known to the victim, most often a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance or coworker sexually victimized the women.”
Fisher found many women do not characterize their sexual victimizations as crimes with reasons being:
• Embarrassment
• not understanding the clear definition of rape
• not wanting to define someone they know as a rapist
• blaming themselves for their sexual assault


How safe are college campuses? They’ve become the new hot spot for criminal activity which leads to the rising fear on them.
Previous research suggests college females are at a greater risk for rape and/or sexual assault than women in the general public or in a comparable age group.


Who took part in this survey? The NCWSV telephone study’s results are based off of 4,446 randomly selected women who are attending a 2 or 4 year college or university.
The sample was limited to schools with at least 1,000 students.


Survey Results:
• For every 1,000 women attending their institutions, there may be 35 rapes in a given year
• For a campus with 10,000 women, the number of rapes could exceed 350
• More broadly, when projected over the Nation’s female student population of several million, these figures suggest rape victimization is a potential problem of large proportion and of public policy interest.


The National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are components of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.


For More Information:
Dateline NBC: Rape on Campus
Students and Campus Rape

Sexual Assault in Connection with College Women

According to a recent study, more women are becoming victims of sexual assault on college campuses, making it an issue that needs to be brought to attention.

About 3 percent of college women experience a completed and, or attempted rape during a college year, according to a study released today.

The study, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” was done by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The report offers a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American Colleges. The federally funded study was conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.

The data collected within the study showed:
• 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of attempted rape
• 1.7 percent of college women reported being coerced to have sex
• 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year

According to this study, a vast majority of the incidents occurred after 6 p.m.

In the occurrence of a completed rape:
• 60 percent occurred in the victim’s residence
• 31 percent occurred in other living quarters on campus
• 10 percent occurred at a fraternity

Most off-campus victimization also occurs in residences. Outside of residences, sexual contacts and threatened victimizations also occurred in bars, dance clubs, nightclubs, and work settings.

Based on their findings, it was estimated that the women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes each year. This finding has serious policy implications for college administrators.

Many women do not identify their attacker or characterize their sexual victimization as a crime for many reasons. Such reasons include embarrassment, not clearly understanding the definition of rape, or not wanting to label someone they know who victimized them as a rapist. Some victims blame themselves for the sexual assault.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” say the authors. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim. Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women. College professors were not identified as committing any rapes or sexual coercions, but they were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact.”

The results of this study stress the importance of improving education and knowledge about sexual assault.

Due to the light being shed on the issue of sexual assault, people are now becoming aware that colleges are becoming prime areas for criminal activity. According to earlier research, college women are at a greater risk for rape and other types of sexual assault than the general population, and therefore warrant special attention.

The results of the NCWSV study were based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who were attending a 2- or 4-year college or university. Each school had at least 1,000 students.


More Information:
Sexual Assault
Frequenty Asked Questions

Sexual Victimization of Women Grows Across College Campuses

By Alex Ruano

Incidents of sexual victimization are becoming a cause for concern for college campuses and college women; a study shows some startling statistics.

Three percent of college women experience rape during a college year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics in a study released today.

The report, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women”, offers a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American Colleges.

The report was released by U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice.

The report was conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati,

Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.

The study includes the following statistics:

· About 1.7 percent of college women were victims of attempted rape.

· About 1.7 percent of women reported being coerced to have sex.

· About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.

· Nearly 60 percent of completed rapes occurred at the victim’s residence.

· Approximately 31 percent occurred in a living quarters on campus.

· Approximately 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.

· Incidents of threatened victimization and sexual contacts occurred in bars, dance clubs,

nightclubs, and work settings.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” said the authors. Offenders were identified as boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, classmates, friends, or coworkers. About nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim.

College professors were not identified as having committed rapes or coercions but were however, cited as an offender in a low number of cases.

Fisher and her colleagues also found that many women do not characterize their victimization as a crime for a number of reasons.

Reasons Women May Not Report a Rape

· Embarrassment.

· Not understanding the legal definition of rape.

· Not wanting to accuse someone they know of being a rapist

· They blame themselves for the sexual assault.

Who was surveyed?

· NCWSV study results are based on a telephone survey 4466 women attending 2- or 4-

year colleges on average.

· For every 1,000 women attending college, there are 35 incidents of rape in any given

academic year; at an institution of 10,000 students, this number would jump to 350 students.

· The sample was limited to colleges with at least 1,000 students.

Attention to the victimization of college women has prompted a fear that college
campuses may be becoming a hot spot for criminal activity.

These statistics, when projected over several million of the Nation’s student female population, suggest the rape victimization is a potential problem of large proportion and of public policy interest.

For additional information:

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics

U.S. Department of Justice releases scary report

The U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report today discussing the disturbing numbers of young women, who have been sexually assaulted, in American colleges.

The federally funded report was headed up by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner. Their findings showed about 3 percent of college women experienced a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year.

The data also showed that 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of attempted rape. About 1.7 percent of the college reported being coerced to have sex. In the report it estimated that close to 13 percent of women have been stalked since the beginning of the year.

These events commonly occur after 6 pm, 60 percent occur in the victims living quarters, 31 percent occur in other living quarters while 10 percent occur at fraternity houses.

"Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them," the authors wrote. About 90 percent of completed and attempted rapes were offenders who were known to the victim. Fisher concluded that schools that have 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes each year.

The report has raised a lot of eye brows through out the nation. Mostly this research shows that colleges are not ivory towers and have become hot spots of criminal activity.

Also Fisher found that many women do not characterize their sexual victimization's as a crime for many different reasons. This research also hopes to reinforces the importance of many organizations' efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.


For More Information
http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf
RAINN

College Campus Rape Study

By: Michael Costeines

A US Government study today shows that 3 percent of college women experience a completed or attempted rape during a college year.

According to the study conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, 1.7 percent of female students were victims of a attempted rape, while another 1.7 percent were coerced to have sex.

The study was based of 4446 women who attend a two or four year college with at least 1000 students and filed into a report titled "The Sexual Victimization of College Women".

It includes that 13 percent of college women have been stalked, mostly during the night hours in there living quarters, and 60 percent of the campus rapes happened at the victims residence. The other 40 percent came from other living quarters and fraternity gatherings, the study shows.

" Most victims knew the person who was sexually victimizing them", the author wrote, backing up the nearly 90 percent claim that the victim new the offenders. The boyfriend or Ex, classmate,friend, or co-worker were the general suspects of most rape cases.

Fisher's study adds that a college with 10000 female students could experience 350 rapes a year. In many cases, Fisher argues that some female students don't come forward with sexual assault cases, because of fear of embarrassment or a unclear understanding of the definition of rape.

The study comes with a growing number of criminal activity happening on college campus's, with higher risk of assault to women then in other parts of society in a comparable age group.

Percentage Breakdown of Statistics as Follows:

1.7- Victims of a attempted rape

1.7-coerced in having sex

13-women stalked since beginning of the year

60-women raped in residence

31-women raped in living quarters

10-women raped at a fraternity

For More Information: Use these following websites


http://www.rainn.org/


http://www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_NCWSV466

http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf

Study Reports that Rape is Commonplace on College Campuses.

By Andrew Lucas

A study released today showed that 3 percent of college women experience an attempted and/or completed rape during a college year. 90 percent of the time the victim knew the offender.

The report, released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, takes a look at the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring on American college campuses.

The study results are based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who were attending a 2 or 4 year college or university. The sample was limited to schools with at least 1,000 students.

One disturbing fact that was found in the survey was that for ever 1,000 women attending a college institution, 35 incidents of rape will occur in a given academic year.

Other statistics include:

-1.7% of female college students were victims of attempted rape.

-About 1.7% women reported being coerced into sex.

-An estimated 13% of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.

-Nearly 60% of completed rapes occurred in the victim’s place of residence.

-30% occurred in other locations.

-10% occurred at a fraternity.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors, Bonnie S Fisher, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner, wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim. Most often a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women. College professors were not identified as committing any rapes or sexual coercions, but they were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact.”

Based on their findings, Bonnie Fisher and her colleagues estimate that the women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year—at a finding with serious implications for college administrators.

In closing, the report attempts to take the information found and developing programs and policies that may reduce female students’ risk of victimization.

Additional information:

-The report

College Women And Rape

College Women and Rape

By Dana Erickson

College women are one of the most targeted groups for rape. Rapists see the college campus as a place for easy access to young women.

Three percent of college women experienced a completed rape and/or attempted rape during a college year. According to a study by Bonnie Fisher, Francis Cullen, and Michael Turner, college women experience these acts mostly in living quarters but also in bars, dance clubs, nightclubs, and work settings.

People Commonly Known To Be Rapists

Women that become victims of an assault usually know the person that tried to rape them. “Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors of “The Sexual Victimization of College Women” wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known…. Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend, acquaintance, or coworker…. College professors were not identified…, but they were cited [in] cases involving unwanted sexual contact.

Colleges: Common Place for Rape

Colleges are now hot spots for criminal activity including rape. College women are at greater risk compared to women in the general population or in a comparable age group. Colleges should start finding ways to protect their female population.

Stats

• 3 % of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year
• 1.7 % female college students are victims of attempts
• 1.7% college women report being coerced to have sex
• 13% college women get stalked since the beginning of school year
• Vast majority of rapes occurred after 6 pm
• Completed rapes: 60% in victim’s residence, 31% in other living quarters, 10% at fraternities

Why Women Don’t Tell

Women have a problem of telling people about their victimization. They may be embarrassed about letting themselves into the situation. There is the possibility of not fully understanding what rape is. They also might have the problem of not wanting to ruin the reputation of the person that did rape them.

Who Was Surveyed

• 4446 women attending a 2-or4-year college or university
• Schools that had at least 1000 students


External Links


More Stats On Rape
Graph
Office Of Justice
NIJ

US Department Rape Study

Three percent Female Students Sexual Assault Victims, Study Shows

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Study that about 3 percent of college women experience a completed and/or an attempted rape during a college year. Attention to sexual victimization of college women has been promted by the fear that college campuses have become hot spots for criminal activity.

Rising Rape Rate of Female College Students Revealed in U.S. Department’s New Study

An alarming rate of three percent of female college students are the victims of an attempted and/or completed rape during a college school year. Nine out of 10 percent knew their attackers; boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, classmates, friend acquaintances, or coworkers were the most common.

The study also revealed some of the patterns of sexual assualts that occur on college campuses. The majority of sexual assualts occur after 6 p.m. while in living quarters. Thirty-one percent of completed rapes occur in other living quarters (not the victim’s), while 10 percent occur at Fraternity’s. Even most of the off-campus assaults happen in some sort of living quarters.

The study was conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen, and Michael G. Turner. Along with sexual assaults, the study also found that 1.7 percent of college women are coerced into having sex, as well as 13 percent of women being stalked since the beginning of the school year.

The results from this study were found through a telephone survery of 4,446 randomly selected women who were attending a two or four year college or university. The study only interviewed students who attend schools with atleast 1,000 students. The victimization rate of 35.3 per 1,000 women is a disturbing thought to college administrators.

Researchers have shown that college campuses and their students are not free from risk of criminal victimization. These women are at a greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population.

This study reinforces the importance of many organizations' efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.

For more information:

The Sexual Victimization of College Women

Sexual Assault and Response

Sexual Assault Statistics on College Campuses

Sexual Assault Proves Problem For College Campuses

Recent study shows that sexual victimization is a growing problem on college campuses across America.


By Susanna Gaither

Three percent of college women experience rape, according to a report released today by The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The report, "The Sexual Victimization of College Women" offers a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American colleges.


The data shows that

· About 1.7 of female college students were victims of attempted rape.
· About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.
· The vast majority of these incidents happened after 6 p.m.
· Nearly 60 percent took place in the victim’s residence, 31 percent occurred in other living quarters, and 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.


Authors of the study Bonnie S. Fisher, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner said that it was common for the victim and the person who sexually victimized them to know each other.


"Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, class mate, friend acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women," the authors wrote. "College professors were not identified as committing any rapes or sexual coercions, but they were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact."


Based on their findings, Bonnie Fisher and her colleagues estimate that the women a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 per year--a finding with serious policy implications for college administrators.


Reasons women do not report sexual assault crimes:
· Embarrassment
· Not clearly understanding the legal definition of rape
· Not wanting to define someone they know as a "rapist"
· Because they blame themselves for their sexual assault


This data reinforces the fact that college campuses have become hot spots for criminal activity. Previous research suggests that women in college are at a greater risk for assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group. Therefore, college women become a group whose victimization warrants special attention.


Who was surveyed?

· NCWSV study results are based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who were attending a 2- or 4- year college or university.
· Limited to schools with at least 1,000 students


For more information on NCWSV or safety on college campuses, visit these websites.
http://www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_NCWSV466
http://www.safety.com/articles/college-and-campus-safety.html
http://crime.about.com/od/guideforvictimsofcrime/tp/collegesafety.htm

David Matheny
Three percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year, according to a study released Monday.
“The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” offers an in-depth look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault on college campuses.
The report was released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The study was federally funded, and conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.
The study reported these statistics:
· 1.7% of college women reported being coerced to have sex
· 13% of women have been stalked since the beginning of the year
· 60% of assault took place in victims residence
· 31% of assault took place in other living quarters
· 10% of assault occurred at a fraternity
Also note the study also showed that the vast majority of incidents occurred after 6 p.m. And when considering unwelcome sexual contact and threatened victimization, incidents also took place in bars, night clubs, and work settings.
The study also pointed out who is doing the assaulting. “Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim, most often a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or co worker sexually victimized the women. College professors were not identified as committing any rapes or sexual coercions, but they were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact.”
Fisher and her colleagues estimate that at a college of 10,000 female students, more than 350 rapes a year could occur. The victim will often not go to authorities because of embarrassment, not knowing the definition of rape, and not wanting to associate attacker with being a rapist.
It is for this reason the study reinforces the importance of many organizations efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.
Attention to sexual victimization has been prompted by rising fear that college campuses have become hot spots for criminal activity. Researchers suggest that a college female may be at more risk for sexual victimization than women in the general public.
Surveys for these reports were given over telephone in national samples. The samples include 4,446 women who were attending a 2 or 4 year college. The samples were limited to schools with at least 1,000 people. The most eye popping figure that was discover was that for every 1,000 women on these campuses, that 35 incidents of rape will occur.

What to do if victimized
Study

Study Shows Sexual Victimization of College Women

College Campuses: Are they safe or a target for crime?

About 3 percent of college women experience an attempted or completed rape in a school year according to a study released today by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The data in the report, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” shows:

· 1.7% of college women are victims of attempted rape

· 1.7% of college women have been coerced to have sex

· 13% of college women are stalked from the beginning of the school year

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them. For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim,” reported Bonnie Fisher, one of the authors of the study. “Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend, acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women.”

According to Fisher and her colleagues who co-authored the report, Francis Cullen and Michael Turner, a college with 10,000 female students could have over 350 rapes a year. The report also shows where these assaults are happening:

· 60% of rapes that occurred on campus were in the victim’s residence

· 31% occurred in the other living quarters on campus

· 10% happened at a fraternity

Off-Campus victimization also occurs mostly in residences. Incidents also take place in bars, dance clubs, nightclubs and work settings.

Fisher also found that many victims do not characterize their attacks as a crime for a number of reasons including embarrassment, blaming themselves for their sexual assault, not clearly understanding the definition of rape and not wanting to define someone they know as a rapist.

Previous research has found that college women are at greater risk for rape or sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group. College campuses are not safe havens but have become hot spots for criminal activity.

These study results are based on a telephone survey consisting of:

· 4,446 college women randomly selected across the nation

· The women were attending a 2- or 4-year college or university

· It was limited to schools with at least 1,000 students

The National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are components of the Office of Justice programs. Other components of the Office of Justice include the Office for Victims of Crime, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

For Additional Information Please Visit:

Understanding Sexual Victimization

Rape and Sexual Assault

RAINN: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

Sexual Victimization of Women Grows on College Campuses

Rape and other forms of sexual victimization of women is steadily increasingly and becoming a greater problem on college campuses across America.

By Kaitlyn Hodgins

Three percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year, according to a report released Monday.

The report, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women” was federally funded and release by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice.

The report, conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner, offered a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American Colleges.

The Data Showed
· About 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of attempted rape.
· About 1.7 percent of college women reported being coerced into having sex.
· About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.
· Of the incidents of sexual victimization, the vast majority occurred after 6 p.m. in living quarters.
· For completed rapes, nearly 60 percent that took place on campus occurred in the victim’s residence.
· 31 percent occurred in other living quarters on campus.
· 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.
· Most off-campus victimization, especially rapes, also occurred in residences.
· However, particularly for sexual contacts and threatened victimizations, incidents also took place in bars, dance clubs, nightclubs and work settings.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim. Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or co-worker sexually victimized the women.”

According to the report, “College professors were not identified as committing any rapes or sexual coercions, but they were cited as the offender in a low percentage of cases involving unwanted sexual contact.”

Based on the findings of Bonnie Fisher and her colleagues, they estimate that the women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year—a finding with serious policy implications for college administrators.

The National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are components of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.

Fisher also found that many women do not characterize their sexual victimizations as a crime for a number of reasons.

Reasons Women May Not Report a Rape
· Embarrassment.
· Not clearly understanding the legal definition of rape.
· Not wanting to define someone they know who is victimized them as a rapist.
· They blame themselves for their sexual assault.

The study reinforces the importance of many organizations’ efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.

Previous research suggests that college women are at greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group. College women might, therefore, be a group whose victimization warrants special attention.

Attention to the sexual victimization of college women, however, also has been prompted by the rising fear that college campuses are not ivory towers but, instead, have become hot spots for criminal activity. Researchers have shown that college campuses and their students are not free from the risk of criminal victimization.

Who was surveyed?
· NCWSV study results are based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected national sample of 4,446
· Women who were attending a 2-or4- year college or university.
· The sample was limited to schools with at least 1,000 students.

Furthermore, from a policy perspective, college administrators might be disturbed to learn that for every 1,000 women attending their institutions, there may well be 35 incidents of rape in a given academic year (based on a victimization rate of 35.3 per 1,000 college women). For a campus with 10,000 women, this would mean the number of rapes could exceed 350.

Even more broadly, when projected over the nation’s female student population of several million, these figures suggest that rape victimization is a potential problem of large proportion and of public policy interest.

For additional information please see:

Rape Statistics
Violence Against College Women
College Violence
Sex Between Acquaintences or Date Rape?
Why Don't Women Report Rape?
Myths and Facts about Sexual Violence

Sexual assault grows on college campuses

Rape and other forms of sexual victimization has become an increasing problem for college women all across America.

By Kelsey Hinchliffe

About 3 percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year, according to a report released today by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice.

The report, titled “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” was completed by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati.

The statistics

The study demonstrates the following statistics:

· About 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of attempted rape

· About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year

· Nearly 60 percent of completed rapes occurred in the victim’s residence

· About 10 percent of completed rapes occurred at a fraternity

· Nearly 9 out of 10 of the offenders were known to the victim

· About 350 rapes occur during an academic year at an university of 10,000 students

Where do rapes take place and by whom?

The majority of rapes took place after 6 p.m. in some sort of living quarter. A large amount of threatened victimizations however, took place in bars or dance clubs.

The majority of offenders were also known to the victim. “Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend acquaintance, or coworker sexually victimized the women,” says Fisher.

Reporting sexual victimization

Fisher also found that many do not report the sexual victimizations as crimes. Often embarrassment, not understanding the legal definition of rape, and not wanting to label someone they know as a rapist, all contribute to this silence when it comes to sexual assault crimes.

Staying safe on campus

Research also shows that college campuses have become very popular spots for criminal activity. Women in college are at a much greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population. College women need attention from organizations that improve knowledge about sexual assault.

Who took part in this survey?

This survey was conducted by telephone based on a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who are attending a 2- or 4- year college. The sample was limited to schools with at least 1,000 students.

For more information visit:

How to stay safe on college campuses

How to report crimes involving sexual assualt

Navy becomes animal conscious with sonar addition

The Navy and several environmental groups reached an agreement Friday allowing the service to use a powerful form of sonar during military exercises under way near Hawaii. The accord ends a brief court battle that the Navy had said could threaten national security.


An issue was whether the so-called midfrequency sonar, which blasts strong sound waves under water in hopes of detecting foreign submarines, causes harm to whales and other marine mammals.


Under the agreement, the Navy will use that technology but will be required to post observers who will look for whales or other animals that might be affected. It will also have to limit the sonar’s use to areas more than 25 nautical miles from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.


The legal skirmish was touched off a week ago when the Pentagon, in an effort to ensure the Navy’s ability to use the sonar during the war games, gave the service an interim national security exemption from the Marine Mammal Protection Act.


But on Monday a federal district judge in Los Angeles, Florence-Marine Cooper, granted the environmental groups a temporary restraining order, declaring that the Navy’s failure to look closely at the environmental effects of the sonar was an “arbitrary and capricious” violation of another federal statue, the National Environmental Policy Act.


Joel Reynolds, a senior lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, said there was scientific consensus, including a study by the International Whaling Commission, that the sonar could cause “a wide spectrum of injury, from behavioral change to mass standing and death.”


The Navy appealed Judge Cooper’s ruling to the federal appeals court in San Francisco, contending ina brief filed Wednesday that suspending the sonar during the exercises, which began on June 26 and are to continue through July 28, could cause “definite and serious damage” to national security, foreign relations and the good of the public.


The exercise, in which the Navy had planned to begin using the sonar this Thursday, are known as the Rim of the Pacific, or Rimpac, and involve military units from the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Chile, and Peru


“Rimpac is the only opportunity for their participating nations to train together,” the Navy said in the brief. “It is the only exercise scheduled in the next two years in which Pacific Rim forces can engage in realistic antisubmarine warfare training.”

Environmentalists debate harm of new Navy sonar

By Andrew Lucas

The Navy and several environmental groups reached an agreement Friday allowing the service to use a powerful form of sonar during military exercises under way near Hawaii. The accord ends a brief court battle that the Navy had said could threaten national security.

At issue was whether the so-called mid frequency sonar, which blasts strong sound waves under water in hopes of detecting foreign submarines, causes harm to whales and other marine mammals.

Under the agreement, the Navy will use that technology but will be required to post observers who will look for whales or other animals that might be affected. It will also have to limit the sonar’s use to areas more than 25 nautical miles from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

The legal skirmish was touched off a week ago when the Pentagon, in an effort to ensure the Navy’s ability to use the sonar during the war games, gave the service an interim national security exemption from the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

But on Monday a federal district judge in Los Angeles, Florence-Marie Cooper, granted the environmental groups a temporary restraining order, declaring the Navy’s failure to look closely at the environmental effects on sonar waves was an “arbitrary and capricious” violation of another federal statute, the National Environmental Protection Act.

Joel Reynolds, a senior lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, said there was scientific consensus, including a study by the International Whaling Commission, that the sonar could cause “a wide spectrum of injury, from behavioral change to mass stranding and death.”

The Navy appealed Judge Cooper’s ruling to the federal appeals court in San Francisco, contending a brief filed Wednesday that suspending the sonar during the exercises, which began on June 26 and are to continue through July 28, could cause “definite and serious damage” to a national security, foreign relations and the good of the public.

The exercises, in which the Navy had planned to begin using the sonar this Thursday, are known as the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, and involve military units from the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Chile and Peru.

“RIMPAC is the only opportunity for these participating nations to train together,” the Navy said in brief. “It is the only exercise scheduled in the next two years in which Pacific Rim forces can engage in realistic antisubmarine warfare training.”

Navy Reaches Agreement with Environmental Groups to Use Sonar

By Lauren Young

The Navy and several other environmental groups reached an agreement Friday allowing the service to use a powerful form of sonar during military exercises under way near Hawaii. The accord ends a brief court battle that the Navy had said could threaten national security.

At issue was whether the so-called midfrequency sonar, which blasts strong sound waves under water in hopes of detecting foreign submarines, causes harm to whales and other marine animals.

Under the agreement, the Navy will use what technology that will be required to post observation who will look for whales or other animals that might be affected. It will also have to limit the sonar use to areas more than 25 nautical miles from the northwest Hawaiian islands marine national monument.

The ledge skirmish was touched off a week ago when the Pentagon, in an effort to ensure the Navy’s ability to use the sonar during the war games, gave the service an interim national security exemption from the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

But on Monday a federal district judge in Los Angeles, Florence-Marie Cooper, granted the environmental groups a temporary restraining order, declaring that the Navy’s failure to look closely at the environmental effects of the sonar was an “arbitrary and capricious” violation of another federal statute, the National Environmental Policy Act.

Joel Reynolds, a senior lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, said there was scientific consensus, including a study by the International Whaling Commission, that the sonar could cause “a wide spectrum of injury, from behavioral change to mass stranding and death.”

The Navy appealed Judge Cooper’s ruling to the federal appeals court in San Francisco, contending in a brief filed Wednesday that suspending the sonar during the exercises, which began on June 26 and are to continue through July 28, could cause “definite and serious damage” to national security, foreign relations and the good of the public.

The exercises, in which the Navy had planned to begin using the sonar this Thursday, are known as the Rim of the pacific, or Rimpac, and involve military units from the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Chile and Peru.

“Rimpac is the only opportunity for these participating nations to train together”, the Navy said in the brief. “It is the only exercise scheduled in the next two years in which Pacific Rim forces can engage in realistic antisubmarine warfare training.”

For more information, please visit:
Understanding Sonar
U.S. Navy Sued to Block Mid-frequency Sonar Harmful to Whales