Bibliographies
Victimisation studies: Incidence and prevalence
Updated March 2010
This bibliography of recent research has been compiled from the library collection of the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Where available online, a link to the document is provided. Most other items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the interlibrary loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2008 report: research on rape and violence
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Sacramento, CA: CALCASA, 2008
This report is a compendium of research on issues related to rape, sexual assault and violence. While all efforts have been made to include research from as many sources as possible, it is inevitable that other valuable sources of research may contain information not included in this report. Statistics cited in this report reflect the importance of including diverse information on these issues. Not all studies cited are scientifically based or have been peer reviewed, however, statistics derived from those sources provide important and credible information on these issues. For this reason, full reference information has been provided for each statistic. Additionally, all studies are available through the CALCASA Rape Prevention Resource Center Library.
Adult sexual violence in Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia
Taylor, N.; Putt, J.
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2007, 6p (Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice no.345)
Knowledge about sexual violence against women from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is scant. While many of the reasons for not reporting sexual violence to police are likely to be similar to those for mainstream women, women from diverse backgrounds can face additional cultural and related factors affecting their ability and/or willingness to report violence. This paper reports on findings from a multi dimensional study investigating these issues. Participants indicated the need for appropriate interpreters when reporting sexual violence, a preference for female police officers to handle the case, protection of complainants, and more effective dissemination of information on how the criminal justice system processes sexual assault cases. There is a clear need to address fundamental attitudes and beliefs within particular communities about sexual violence and this will require strong community leadership and the support of local community members
Are men and women equally violent? Understanding claim making
Fisher, S.
Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Newsletter no.21 Apr 2005: 9-10
A forum that addresses men as victims of domestic violence was conducted in South West Sydney in December 2004. The author was a panellist at this forum and presents his thoughts on the issues raised in this article. Further research that embraces a pro-feminist male positive stance is recommended.
Coming forward: the underreporting of heterosexist violence and same sex partner abuse in Victoria
Leonard, W.; Mitchell, A.; Patel, S; Fox, C.
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society; Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Bundoora, Vic.: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, 2008, 80p
An online survey undertaken between September 2007 and February 2008 asked 390 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgender (GLBT) Victorians about their experiences of heterosexist violence and same sex partner abuse. It also asked them about: service access and quality when reporting incidents of abuse and pursuing cases through the criminal justice system; their knowledge and use of Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs); and barriers and 'incentives' to their reporting and seeking assistance following an incident of heterosexist violence or same sex partner abuse. This report presents the survey results. It includes findings relating to: the incidence of violence and abuse; when and where it occurred and who perpetrated it; the degree to which GLBT people hide their sexual orientation or gender identity to minimise the risk of violence; reporting and seeking assistance; and barriers to increased reporting.
Crime and justice in South Australia, 2004 - offences reported to police, the victims and alleged perpetrator
South Australia. Office of Crime Statistics and Research
Adelaide, SA: Office of Crime Statistics and Research, Attorney General's Department, 2005, 265p
This report is published annually and contains statisitics on all aspects of the South Australian criminal justice system including police incidence reports, victims of offences recorded by police and offences cleared by apprehension.
Crime victimisation
Australian Bureau of Statistics
In: Trewin, Dennis, ed. Year book Australia 2007. Belconnen, ACT: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007 (Year book no.89) p332-334
The National Crime and Safety Survey (NCSS) was carried out from April to July 2005 and collected information from individuals and households about their experience of selected crimes during the previous 12 months. The crimes covered by the NCSS included: house break ins, motor vehicle theft, robbery, assault and sexual assault. The analysis of the results covers: victims of crime; crime victimisation rates by type, including theft and sexual assault; crime reporting rates; feelings of safety at home alone, during the day and after dark; and people's perceptions of neighbourhood problems
Domestic violence incidence peaks: seasonal factors, calendar events and sporting matches
Braaf, R.; Gilbert, R.
Sydney, NSW: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2007, 20p (Stakeholder paper no.2)
Some studies and anecdotal evidence suggest a rise in domestic violence at certain times of year or with certain public events. This paper presents findings from a study on the possible relationship between seasonal changes and weather, public holidays, and football events and reported domestic violence incidents. After discussing international studies, the authors examine Australian state statistics on domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, homicide, domestic violence orders, and alcohol related assaults, for 2003 to 2005. Incidents are compared with public holidays including Christmas and New Years Day, days of the week, football finals, and the rising temperature of summer. The evidence suggest some correlation, which has implications for policing and prevention strategies. The authors stress that these factors do not cause people to become violent, but are instead associated with increased alcohol consumption, interpersonal and child contact, and opportunities for violence.
Experience of personal violence
Australian Bureau of Statistics
In: Trewin, Dennis, ed. Year book Australia 2007. Belconnen, ACT: Australian
Bureau of Statistics, 2007 (Year book no.89), p338-340
This article introduces the Australian Bureau of Statistic's Personal Safety Survey, as an example of their in-depth data collection. Two diagrams were reproduced for this article, concerning people who reported experiencing violence in the preceding 12 months. The diagrams divide the results into those who experienced violence and those who did not, whether the violence was physical or sexual, and whether it was a threat or an assault, for men and for women.
Extent, nature, and consequences of rape victimization: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey
Tjaden, P.; Thoennes, N.
Washington, D.C. : US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, 2006
Results of the National Violence Against Women Survey indicate that 17.7 million women and 2.8 million men in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives. This report takes a detailed look at the survey findings with regard to the prevalence and consequences of rape victimization. Researchers found differences in rape prevalence relating to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as other factors such as whether victims were first raped as minors. Findings also indicate that rape remains a largely underreported crime and that, despite increased levels of research over the past few decades, there are still significant gaps in researchers' understanding of rape victimization.
A gap or a chasm? Attrition in
reported rape cases
Kelly, L.; Lovett, J.; Regan, L.
London: Home Office Research, Development and
Statistics Directorate, 2005
Home Office figures show an ongoing decline in the conviction rate for reported rape cases, with the conviction rate in 2002 being 5.6 per cent. This report draws on material from two evaluation projects funded by the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Violence Against Women Initiative in an attempt to explain the high attrition rate in rape cases. It presents findings from the evaluation of two Sexual Assault Referral Centres, one non-centre based support service and three comparison areas where there was no specialist service for victims. Researchers tracked 3,500 rape cases through the courts and interviewed 228 rape victims. The authors identify six points at which attrition is likely to occur, and make recommendations for targeted interventions to reduce the attrition rate in these cases.
Investigating and detecting recorded offences of rape
Feist, A.
London: Home Office, 2007
This report summarises the findings of a study of attrition in reported offences of rape of a female in England and Wales in 2003/04. It was designed to explore several aspects around the detection and conviction of rape cases: the reasons behind the decline in recorded detection rates for rape since 1997; why marked variations in detection rates exist in different forces; and what factors best predict whether a recorded offence gets to court and results in a conviction. The study was conducted in eight forces in England and Wales. In total, data on 676 cases were collected.
Measuring domestic violence and sexual assault: a review of the literature and statistics
Phillips, J.; Park, M.
Canberra, ACT: Parliament of Australia, 2006, 23p
Major Australian resources, research and studies on violence and sexual assault against women are reviewed. The report summarises information on whether violence against women in Australia is growing, what proportion of victims know the perpetrators, injuries to women in cases of sexual assault, state and territory comparisons, what proportion of victims access support services, criminal justice outcomes, women's fear of violence, the economic, social and health costs of violence against women, at risk groups, and international crime victim and violence against women surveys.
Non-reporting and hidden recording of sexual assault: an international literature review
Lievore, D.
Barton, ACT: Commonwealth Office of the Status of Women, 2003, 135p
This report is an international literature review on the issues of non-reporting of sexual assault, and hidden recording (that is, the degree to which sexual assault is recorded as a secondary charge versus primary charge). The focus is on females aged 16 years and older, of diverse backgrounds and situations. The review focuses on research conducted in Australia, England and Wales, Canada, New Zealand and the United States since 1992, and includes the 2000 sweep of the International Crime Victims Survey. Data sources and their limitations are discussed. Risk of sexual assault is found to correlate with gender, age, victim-offender relationship and partner status. Factors effecting decisions to report sexual assault are explored, with personal barriers and perceptions of the criminal justice system having an important role. Attrition and hidden recording of sexual assault is considered. Sexual assault is discussed in relation to indigenous women, women from non-English-speaking backgrounds, rural Australia and women prisoners. The report also looks at recording of sexual assault in other systems, and finds that marginalisation is both a risk factor and a barrier to reporting.
Personal safety survey, Australia, 2005
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Canberra, ACT: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006, 62p
This publication presents results from the national Personal Safety Survey (PSS) conducted during August to December 2005. Information is about men's and women's experience of physical or sexual assault or threat by male and female perpetrators. PSS respondents were asked about their experiences of the different types of violence, since the age of 15, by different types of male and female perpetrators (including current partner, previous partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or date, other known man or woman, and stranger). More detailed information, such as where the incident occurred and what action was taken, was then collected for most recent incident of each of the different types of violence by a male and female perpetrator. Additional information was also collected about respondents experience of current and previous partner violence such as frequency and fears of violence, incidents of stalking and other forms of harassment and general feelings of safety.
Physical violence
Australian Bureau of Statistics
In: Green, Robin, ed. Year book Australia 2008. Belconnen, ACT: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008 (Year book no.90), p426-430
The ABS Personal Safety Survey of people aged 18 years and over was conducted from August to December 2005, and gathered information about people's feelings of safety and experience of different types of violence, harassment and stalking. Drawing on the Survey data, this article includes a diagram of the experience of violence, statistics of characteristics and location of physical assault incidents, characteristics of victims and perpetrators of physical assault, and the consequences of and responses to physical assault.
Pilot study on sexual assault and related offences in the ACT: stage 3
Borzycki, M.
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2007, 54p (Research and public policy no.79)
The objectives of this pilot study were to examine the feasibility of an integrated justice information system by focusing on sexual assault and related offences. Stage 3 of the project addressed data collection and data tracking, and provided a snapshot of sexual assault and related offences in the ACT. This report discusses issues connected with data collection and data tracking. Its recommendations for improvements to what is collected and how it is collected are designed to improve the process and outcomes of future data tracking. The snapshot of sexual assault and related offences shows that: most victims are women and girls, and most are less than 25 years old; the perpetrators were men and boys; the victims were often younger than their attackers; most of the offenders were known to the victims but family violence was involved in only a few cases; about half of all incidents were reported to police without delay; the average time lapse between the initial report to police and the finalisation of the case in the lower courts was about six months; incidents reported to police resulted in the conviction of about one third and the acquittal of about one in 10 apprehended offenders.
Reporting sexual assault: a social ecology perspective
Ménard, K. S.
New York: LFB Scholarly Publications, 2005
The author examines the effects of individual and contextual factors on victims' decision to contact the police. First, she surveyed college students to investigated social norms regarding the reporting of criminal events. Second, she examined the combined effects of individual and county factors on sexual assault victims' decision to contact the police. She found that at the individual level, the odds of the victim contacting the police were greater when the assault was severe or was committed by a stranger. However, even severe assaults by known offenders were unlikely to be reported. At the county level, indicators traditionally associated with crime reduced the odds of victims contacting the police. In addition, increased gender equality and victim services decreased the odds of rural as compared to urban victims reporting to the police.
Results of the Personal Safety Survey 2005
Morrison, Z.
Aware: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Newsletter no.13 Dec 2006: 9-14
The 2005 Personal Safety Survey provides information on the nature and extent of physical and sexual violence in Australia, experiences of abuse and harassment, and feelings of safety within the home and community. This article discusses the survey's findings on sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. It looks at overall rates of sexual assault and other forms sexual violence, including sexual violence within partner violence, changes in the incidence of sexual assault since 1996, characteristics of sexual assault victims, including age and location of incident, who perpetrates sexual assaults, what proportion of assaults have been reported to police, changes in reporting rates to police over the last ten years, and sexual abuse that occurred prior to age 15.
Sex workers and sexual assault in Australia: prevalence, risk and safety
Quadara, A.
Melbourne, Vic: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2008, 39p (ACSSA issues no.8)
This paper examines the nature and extent of sexual assault against sex workers in Australia within their work context. It reviews contemporary research on the prevalence of sexual assault, perpetrators of sexual assault, risk factors, legal contexts, occupational health and safety protocols, prevention strategies, public attitudes to sex work and sex workers, and inequality and discrimination. It examines the conditions that make sex workers vulnerable to sexual assault, the barriers to disclosure and accessing support services faced by sex workers, and strategies that may help to prevent sexual assault against sex workers.
Sexual assault against men
Australian Institute of Criminology
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2008, 1p (Crime facts info no.170)
Data collected in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey 2005 includes statistics on the incidence of sexual assault against men. This fact sheet summarises the information on men's experience of physical and sexual violence in the 12 months prior to the survey.
What caused the decrease in sexual assault clear-up rates?
O'Brien, K.; Jones, C.; Korabelnikoff, V.
New South Wales. Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2008 (Crime and justice bulletin: Contemporary issues in crime and justice no. 125)
'The proportion of sexual assault incidents recorded by the NSW Police Force as 'cleared' or 'partially cleared' fell from 63 per cent in 1995 to 28 per cent in 2006. This study assesses three possible reasons for the decrease: (1) changes in the time taken by police to clear sexual assault incidents; (2) changes to the definition of what constitutes a 'cleared' sexual assault incident; and (3) changes in the number (and proportion) of cases where police are able to lay criminal charges. There is no evidence to support the first of these possibilities, very little evidence for the second, but considerable evidence for the third. While it is not possible to give any definitive explanation for the fall in the number (and proportion) of cases where police are able to lay charges, the most plausible reason is that the profile of sexual assault cases coming to police attention has shifted in a way that makes victims less willing or less likely to give evidence against suspected offenders. The changes in offence profile that are consistent with this interpretation include statistically significant decreases in the proportion of incidents involving physical injury, weapon use and co-occurring offences and a significant increase in the proportion of incidents where the victim and offender were known to one another.'
What is the outcome of reporting rape to the police? 'Study of reported rapes in Victoria 2000-2003: Summary research report'
Morrison, Z.
Aware: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Newsletter no. 17 2008: 4-11
The 'Study of reported rapes in Victoria 2000-2003: summary research report' presents the results of an extensive analysis of police investigations into rape offences in Victoria. The report provides particular insight into those cases that enter the criminal justice system and are filtered out. Overall, the study shows a high attrition rate for rape that might have actually increased, with offenders charged in only 15 per cent of cases. In particular, Aboriginal victims, victims with a mental illness or psychiatric disability, and those influenced by alcohol or other drugs around the time of the offence were some of the groups of people least likely to see charges laid. This article discusses the background of the study, its aims and methods, and then provides an abridged summary of the main findings in relation to the outcomes of cases, the relationship between case characteristics and case outcomes, and cases involving diverse groups.