| Knowing how sexual assault victimization and reporting vary as a function of data source and context has implications for both the criminal justice system and victim services. In this study, we analyzed data from 48 monthly reports by the rape crisis centers in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Although absolute numbers of sexual victimization were higher in urban counties, rates of sexual victimization were higher in rural counties for both child and adult victims. Contextual level factors, such as funding, did not predict the rate of sexual assault victimizations among children or adults. however, county spending per capita did affect reporting to the police for child victims; counties with greater funding had higher rates of reported child sexual assault victimizations. Regarding adults, victim offender relationship, county type, and their interaction predicted reporting. That is, urban counties and counties with higher levels of assaults by strangers had higher rates of reporting to the police, although urban counties with high rates of stranger assaults had lower rates of reporting. Possible reasons for and implications of these patterns of results will be discussed. |
Updated 05/20/2006