After 80 years, FBI changes definition of rape


 by: Donna M. Carbone

For years, critics have protested that the FBI’s definition of rape is not encompassing enough. Among other things, the definition did not account for assaults where the victim was drugged or drunk nor did it include males who had been assaulted.

When the 2010 Uniform Crime Report was released, a five percent drop in assaults was heralded. Since the old definition of rape was still in place, the statistics were skewed. Accurate crime stats are important! Legislators see reduced figures as a signal to cut services and allocate less money for the capture and prosecution of rapists. 

In January of this year, the Obama administration announced a revision to the FBI’s definition of rape. That revision will now allow for coverage of assaults formerly omitted and will provide greater leverage for proposed anti-crime initiatives. The downside is that the change will take several years to be fully implemented.

In announcing the policy change, Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, stated that the new definition “will lead to more accurate reporting and a far more complete understanding of this crime.” It really won’t.  A whole lot more than updated verbiage is needed before rape is “understood” and women feel comfortable reporting sexual assaults. Until we educate society that rape is not about sex – until we remove the stigma of shame associated with rape – individuals brutalized by this crime will remain shivering in the shadows.

The women (and men) who survive a sexual assault should be lauded in the press. Those who are determined to bring their attackers to justice are heroes. These brave survivors are on the front line, fighting in the courts and sending a powerful message to assailants that they will not quiver in fear. We should award medals so that rapists know we are coming for them.

Until we make “victim” a word to fear in the heart of every predator, we will never reduce the incidence of sexual assault.



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