TY - JOUR
T1 - Rural-urban differences in sexual victimization and reporting
T2 - Analyses using UCR and crisis center data
AU - Ruback, R. B.
AU - MÉNARD, K. S.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - In this study, the authors analyzed data from Uniform Crime Reports and from rape crisis centers in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Although absolute numbers of sexual victimization cases reported to rape crisis centers were higher in urban counties, rates of sexual victimization were higher in rural counties, particularly those with above median proportions of female officeholders in the county. Subsequent analyses indicated this effect was not related to the provision of victim services but could be related to a better educated population being more likely to use such services. In terms of reporting to the police, urban counties and counties with higher levels of assaults by strangers had higher rates of reporting to the police, although these effects were somewhat qualified by an interaction of the two variables. Additional analyses suggest that whether the county is urban or rural is related to the amount of funding allocated to victim services programs.
AB - In this study, the authors analyzed data from Uniform Crime Reports and from rape crisis centers in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Although absolute numbers of sexual victimization cases reported to rape crisis centers were higher in urban counties, rates of sexual victimization were higher in rural counties, particularly those with above median proportions of female officeholders in the county. Subsequent analyses indicated this effect was not related to the provision of victim services but could be related to a better educated population being more likely to use such services. In terms of reporting to the police, urban counties and counties with higher levels of assaults by strangers had higher rates of reporting to the police, although these effects were somewhat qualified by an interaction of the two variables. Additional analyses suggest that whether the county is urban or rural is related to the amount of funding allocated to victim services programs.
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U2 - 10.1177/0093854801028002001
DO - 10.1177/0093854801028002001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:23044528280
SN - 0093-8548
VL - 28
SP - 131
EP - 155
JO - Criminal Justice and Behavior
JF - Criminal Justice and Behavior
IS - 2
ER -