Rape Definition Changed


December 30, 2011

FBI Director Robert Mueller has officially approved a new and broader definition of rape in the Bureau’s Uniform Crime Reporting program.


Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: FBI Director Robert Mueller has officially approved a new and broader definition of rape in the Bureau’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, or UCR.

David Cuthbertson: The old definition of rape did not include male victims of rape. It just did not provide a comprehensive statistical accounting of rape.

Halpern: I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, and this is FBI, This Week. The change in definition allows for more complete rape offense data—ensuring all victims of the crime will be accounted for through the UCR program. The program serves as the nation’s crime reporting system and collects data from 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the country. David Cuthbertson, the assistant director of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division, says….

Cuthbertson: The FBI’s UCR program does expect to see an increase in the reported rape offenses once this change is implemented.

Halpern: The change will be implemented over the next few years.

Cuthbertson: As resources will allow, state and local jurisdictions will make changes to their systems and begin collecting the new data.

Halpern: That’s what’s happening at the FBI, This Week.
 

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