From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021
The current literature indicates that sexual violence against women (VAW) is chronically under-reported to law enforcement due to factors such as fear of retaliation, societal stigma, and practical obstacles. Using National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) incident-level data, this study examines c...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/5/701 |
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| author | Jessica C. Fleming Ashley K. Fansher Ryan Randa |
| author_facet | Jessica C. Fleming Ashley K. Fansher Ryan Randa |
| author_sort | Jessica C. Fleming |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current literature indicates that sexual violence against women (VAW) is chronically under-reported to law enforcement due to factors such as fear of retaliation, societal stigma, and practical obstacles. Using National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) incident-level data, this study examines changes in the reporting patterns of sexual VAW from 1992 to 2021. This period of focus is notable for significant and, at times, unprecedented societal shifts and legislative reforms. Our results suggest that there are three distinct time periods for sexual VAW reporting in the United States, each marked by various social and political movements. These results provide researchers and law enforcement practitioners alike with insights into the instability of shifts in the reporting of sexual VAW to the police, supporting changes in how reporting behaviors should be viewed over varying time periods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e377871d4d4433c8caaa9c87d5a6b99 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e377871d4d4433c8caaa9c87d5a6b992025-08-20T01:56:14ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-05-0115570110.3390/bs15050701From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021Jessica C. Fleming0Ashley K. Fansher1Ryan Randa2Department of Victim Studies, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, USADepartment of Criminal Justice, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USADepartment of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, USAThe current literature indicates that sexual violence against women (VAW) is chronically under-reported to law enforcement due to factors such as fear of retaliation, societal stigma, and practical obstacles. Using National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) incident-level data, this study examines changes in the reporting patterns of sexual VAW from 1992 to 2021. This period of focus is notable for significant and, at times, unprecedented societal shifts and legislative reforms. Our results suggest that there are three distinct time periods for sexual VAW reporting in the United States, each marked by various social and political movements. These results provide researchers and law enforcement practitioners alike with insights into the instability of shifts in the reporting of sexual VAW to the police, supporting changes in how reporting behaviors should be viewed over varying time periods.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/5/701sexual assaultreporting behaviorsviolence against womentrends |
| spellingShingle | Jessica C. Fleming Ashley K. Fansher Ryan Randa From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 Behavioral Sciences sexual assault reporting behaviors violence against women trends |
| title | From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 |
| title_full | From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 |
| title_fullStr | From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 |
| title_short | From Policy Reform to Public Reckoning: Exploring Shifts in the Reporting of Sexual-Violence-Against-Women Victimizations in the United States Between 1992 and 2021 |
| title_sort | from policy reform to public reckoning exploring shifts in the reporting of sexual violence against women victimizations in the united states between 1992 and 2021 |
| topic | sexual assault reporting behaviors violence against women trends |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/5/701 |
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