Rural-Urban Differences in Sexual Victimization and Reporting

Abstract

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.

Sex offenders, housing and spatial restriction zones

“…Many sexually oriented offenses are unreported (Koss 1996;Bachman 1998), particularly in rural areas (Ruback and Menard 2001). In fact, much of what we know about sex crimes comes from information gathered about convicted offenders.…”

Residential Concentrations of Rural Registered Sex Offenders

“…However, research regarding rural-urban differences in sexual offenses is very limited (Ruback and Menard 2001). What has been shown is that although the absolute numbers of sexual victimizations are lower in rural communities than in urban communities, the rate of victimization is actually higher.…”

“…Crime rates have been shown to be relatively stable at locations, regardless of the level of aggregation (including community, neighborhood, and micro-location level) (Chatravorty and Pelfrey 2000;Eck et al 2000;Sherman and Rogan 1995;Spelman 1995;Taylor 1997;Weisburd and Green 1994, however also see Ruback and Menard 2001). Social disorganization theory measures are well able to explain both general crime rates and several specific types of offenses, including sex crimes.…”

“…First, Ruback and Menard (2001) outline a number of reasons (including social, psychological, and institutional/organizational issues) to believe that sexual assaults are more under-reported in rural areas than urban areas. This would suggest that the small differences shown in data on numbers and rates of sexual assaults in urban vs. rural areas may be an even smaller difference.…”

“…This would suggest that the small differences shown in data on numbers and rates of sexual assaults in urban vs. rural areas may be an even smaller difference. Ruback and Menard (2001) also report that according to data from rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania, there is actually a higher rate of sexual victimization in rural counties than in urban counties. Other data suggest there is no significant difference.…”