Perceptions of sexual violence terms used in statutes throughout the United States Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Megan Bears Augustyn, Alan H. Kennedy and Callie Marie Rennison
By: Pinchevsky, Gillian M
.
Contributor(s): Augustyn, Megan Bears | Kennedy, Alan H | Rennison, Callie M.
Material type: 
ArticleSeries: Violence Against Women.Publisher: Sage, 2023Subject(s): CRIMINAL LAW | SEXUAL VIOLENCE | INTERNATIONAL | UNITED STATESOnline resources: DOI: 10.1177/10778012231188088
In:
Violence Against Women, 2023, First published 30 July 2023Summary: The terminology used to describe sexually violent offenses vary, and how these labels are interpreted by the public remains unclear. This study explores the terms for the primary—legally most severe—offense of sexual violence in legal statutes across the United States and investigates how different terms evoke different perceptions about crime severity. Results indicate that nine different terms are used to identify the primary offense of sexual violence in state statutes, with significant differences in perceived severity for these terms. The findings have implications for the public's (mis)understanding of sexual violence and the treatment of survivors and perpetrators. (Authors' abstract). Record #8297
Violence Against Women, 2023, First published 30 July 2023
The terminology used to describe sexually violent offenses vary, and how these labels are interpreted by the public remains unclear. This study explores the terms for the primary—legally most severe—offense of sexual violence in legal statutes across the United States and investigates how different terms evoke different perceptions about crime severity. Results indicate that nine different terms are used to identify the primary offense of sexual violence in state statutes, with significant differences in perceived severity for these terms. The findings have implications for the public's (mis)understanding of sexual violence and the treatment of survivors and perpetrators. (Authors' abstract). Record #8297
