FBI changes definition of rape to include men as victims

[Wolf-Pup (imported)]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/sto ... Stories%29

WASHINGTON – The FBI (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topi ... estigation) is changing its long-standing definition of rape for the first time to include sexual assaults on males following persistent calls from victims advocates who claim that the offense, as currently defined in the agency's annual crime report, has been undercounted for decades.

Under the current definition, established 85 years ago, many of the sex crimes alleged in the ongoing prosecution of former Penn State (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topi ... University) assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Jerry+Sandusky) would not be counted in the bureau's Uniform Crime Report, one of the most reliable measures of crime in the United States (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topi ... ted+States). Sandusky is accused in alleged assaults and sexual misconduct involving 10 male victims.

Rape is currently defined as the "carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will."

The new provision will define rape as any kind of penetration of another person, regardless of gender, without the victim's consent.

"This long-awaited change to the definition of rape is a victory for women and men across the country whose suffering has gone unaccounted for over 80 years," said Vice President Biden, who has worked extensively on domestic-violence issues, in a statement released Thursday.

Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project, and 90 other organizations that support victims of sexual abuse have been pushing for such a change for more than a decade, saying that the public has long been "misled" about the prevalence of rape.

"If you can't measure it accurately, you can't monitor it and you can't direct appropriate resources to deal with the problem," Tracy said.

In September, a survey of major city police chiefs found that 80% believed the old definition was "not adequate," according to the review by the Police Executive Research Forum (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topi ... arch+Forum), a Washington, D.C. (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/D.C), think tank.

"The crimes are still being prosecuted under state law, but the current definition is not a true reflection of the nature of sexual assault in the United States," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the police research group.

FBI Director Robert Mueller has approved the change, which will be phased into the data-collection process over the next two to three years.

[Dave (imported)]

That's good news. The FBI is becoming less homophobic.

[tugon (imported)]

I am glad they are recognizing male rape. This will help victims and educate local police to create a more supportive environments for male victims. I shamefully admit to never reporting any of my rapes. My adult sexual abuse began during the days of blaming the victim. Being aware there were very little interest or knowledge of male rape by our small city police. I also had the knowledge that if I pressed charges and he was not incarcerated my life would be worse and family might be harmed as threatened. Being too afraid kept me a victim for far too long.

This may also make more services available for male victims at ER's and counseling centers. All my references are based on living in a small city surrounded by rural areas and farms.

[moi621 (imported)]

I object to the requirement of penetration.

I mean if some Amazon really had her mind on taking me in,

against my will, that would not qualify as rape because she is the penetratee?

Moi

I can dream, can't I.

Ref. Goldeneye, near the end. Just before the lady gets a helicopter lift.

[tugon (imported)]

I object to the requirement of penetration.

I mean if some Amazon really had her mind on taking me in,

against my will, that would not qualify as rape because she is the penetratee?

Moi

I can dream, can't I.

Ref. Goldeneye, near the end. Just before the lady gets a helicopter lift.

Rape is not a dream it is a nightmare that you relive the rest of your life.

[Mac (imported)]

I object to the requirement of penetration.

I mean if some Amazon really had her mind on taking me in,

against my will, that would not qualify as rape because she is the penetratee?

Moi

I can dream, can't I.

Ref. Goldeneye, near the end. Just before the lady gets a helicopter lift.

I was thinking the same thing. What about a woman who forcably has sex with a man who does not desire to have sex with her?

[punkypink (imported)]

nice to see they're catching up with the times.

[gareth19 (imported)]

Excuse me, this is nonsense. The FBI fights crime, it doesn't define it. Crimes are a matter of statue, and the legislative not the executive branch makes statute law. Congress would have to alter the definition of rape in the US Code. If the FBI decided that smoking pot was OK, it would still be a crime because it is so defined in US statute. Even if the FBI thought that homosexuality was an unpardonable crime against God and nature, when it was removed as a crime by various state legislatures; that was that.

California's definition of rape is "Carnal intercourse with a woman without her lawful consent." They deleted "of previously chaste character, other than the defendant's wife" that originally appeared after "woman." When the victim was the defendant's wife, the crime was assault; when the victim was male, the crime was either assault or contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

[BossTamsin (imported)]

*Waits for some feminist group to get all bent out of shape and start arguing how men cannot be raped, it's something that only happens to women, same as how spousal abuse only happens to women....*

[Riverwind (imported)]

Garth and IEunuch, you both are right on the money.

River