Impacts of Self-Protection on Rape and Injury

Researchers will analyze data from the 1992'2002 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to investigate which types of self-protective (SP) actions are most and least effective for avoiding a rape and associated physical injury under different circumstances and, most significantly, the sequence of SP action and injury.

The project goals are to (1) examine a large national probability sample of crimes; (2) take account of the sequence of SP actions and injury; (3) control for confounding correlates of defensive actions; and (4) assess 16 SP actions coded in the post-1992 NCVS on the outcomes of crimes. The findings are intended to help determine whether women's resistance to rape offenders increases the probability of additional injury and whether the effects of SP vary depending on the relationship of the offender and victim.

ca/ncf