WRITING SAMPLE

Women risk rape at college

College women are at greater risk for rape than those in the general population according to study by the U.S. Department of Justices National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. By Kaitlyn McCoach Three percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year. Collegiate women are at greater risk for rape than those in the general population according to a study done by the U.S. Department of Justices 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. Rape victimization has the potential to be a large problem and many see it as a major public policy concern. Report Findings 1.7 percent of female college students are victims of attempted rape 1.7 percent of college women reported being coerced into having sex 13 percent of college women have been stalked

Completed Rapes on Campus

10% Fraternity House

31% Other Living Quarters

59% Victim's Residence

Out of all completed rapes on campus most occur in living quarters.

Previous research suggests that collegiate women are at greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population of a comparable age group. Most sexually assaulted women know their assailant. Some victims do not characterize sexual assault as a crime because of embarrassment, confusion, or refusal to label the perpetrator as a rapist. Many choose to stay silent because they blame themselves for their sexual assault. This inaction is of great concern and numerous reports are devoted to it. One such report is

WRITING SAMPLE Rape in the United States: The Chronic Failure to Report and Investigate Rape Cases. http://judiciary.senate.gov/pdf/10-09-14KilpatrickTestimony.pdf . What can we take from this? There is a rising fear that college campuses have become hotspots for criminal activity. This fear draws attention to the sexual victimization of college women. The study reinforces the importance of many organizations efforts, such as Security on Campus, Inc http://www.securityoncampus.org/, to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault. Background information The National College Women Sexual Victimization study results are based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women attending a two- or four-year college or university with at least 1,000 students. The U.S. Department of Justices National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released the report. Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, conducted the federally funded study. To obtain the report from the National Institute of Justice Web site visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/. Visit the Office of Justice home page http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov for additional criminal justice materials.