FBI — Attorney General Eric Holder Announces Revisions to the Uniform Crime Report’s Definition of Rape.
This new, more-inclusive definition is a definite improvement over the old definition used to collect national crime statistics. The old definition defined rape as “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” That definition left out so many victims—men, women raped by other women, anyone incapacitated by drugs, alcohol or disability who could not consent, oral penetration, object penetration, etc.
The new definition, while not perfect, is much better:
“The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
This definition is used just to collect and aggregate crime data from local police departments, and does not affect statutes.
FBI Announces Revisions to Definition of Rape
FBI — Attorney General Eric Holder Announces Revisions to the Uniform Crime Report’s Definition of Rape.
This new, more-inclusive definition is a definite improvement over the old definition used to collect national crime statistics. The old definition defined rape as “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” That definition left out so many victims—men, women raped by other women, anyone incapacitated by drugs, alcohol or disability who could not consent, oral penetration, object penetration, etc.
The new definition, while not perfect, is much better:
“The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
This definition is used just to collect and aggregate crime data from local police departments, and does not affect statutes.