Serious Paul wrote:Obviously there is a problem, one I feel that is even larger than these numbers let on. So what do we do? My response is obvious, but am I missing something?
And, as you point out, what those statistics
don't show is the scope of unreliability that the UCR and NCVS have. (Uniform Crime Report and National Crime Victimization Survey.) Especially in the case of crimes like rape, where there is often much displaced shame felt by the victim of the crimes, the UCR, which is often the primary source for "official" criminal statistics in this nation, far from accurately reflect the magnitude of sexual offenses in this country.
I think some of the statistics you cited point out one major thing we can do:
Paul wrote: the median age of rape victims was about 22 years.
...in particular.
Rape victims, women in particular, need to be more educated on predatory warning signs and in how to defend themselves. Most women by this age are familiar with what rape is, and if they haven't been sexually assaulted, most have either known personally, or know of someone who has been. And of those who don't, it's most likely because it hasn't been brought in the open. That's just sad, not to mention scary. And while most women are familiar with the terms "date-rape drugs," "GHB," etc. - not all of them realize specific things, like not accepting drinks poured to you by other individuals unless within your vision, the fact that just because you are drunk does
not mean you waive your right to give consent, or the common misconception that rapists are often strangers.
The media likes to embelish the outrageous stories, but in truth, a strong majority of all sexual assaults and rapes occur by someone the victim knows personally. While universities and other institutions offer education on these matters, they are often elective, if offered at all. I know that in my seven years of college, the only presentation I've been to was one I got to attend while in my sorority. Otherwise, I would have not been. Preventative education has been increased, but it needs to continue increasing for the young adult population.
Education needs to take place in elementary schools more, too, but I think it focuses too much on preventing victims and not enough on preventing assailants. Many may have memories of grade school teachers telling children not to get into a car with a stranger and never to let anyone touch you in your private spots, but how many remember a teacher or other adult role model, other than parents, instructing you as a child to never touch other people's private parts, that other people doing this are bad even if they say they are and to not follow their behavior, etc.? Sure it occurs, but it much rarer.
Fact of the matter is, most education children receive is going to be in the home. Parents are one of the most valuable sources of information for kids - both positively and negatively. I would really like to see more parental involvment in the schools and some sort of incentives given to parents who participate
with their children in programs for drug abuse resistance, sexual education, etc. I don't see anything like that in society currently and I think it would be a great initiative for government to take on. I can't say if it would be successful or not because it hasn't occurred to my knowledge, but I think it would be worth a try.
Recidivism, on the other hand, is a hard one to tackle. Sexual predators are one of the largest groups to recommit their crimes. If I weren't such a staunch advocate of human rights, (yes even for the proven guilty in a court of law), I would recommend a chemical castration process that would eliminate the ability for an assailant to assault again. However, this will not happen and it's silly to entertain the idea. Rather, I would like to see smaller drug crimes receiving more community-based or punitive sentences, and requiring these vicious criminals to stay in prison longer, receiving stiffer sentences and forcing them to actually serve them through the implementation of more truth-in-sentencing laws throughout the states that still do not have them.
Okay, I've written a book now. This is all just opinion, but I'm pretty passionate about this subject and a large part of my MS degree will have been spent studying and researching it. My thesis is actually dealing with CSEC, but that's almost a whole 'nother ballgame.