Spring Break
UAPD investigates alleged rape at fraternity house
Jack Willems
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
The UA police department received a report of an acquaintance rape on the first day of school this year, August 25. The alleged rape occurred between 12:30 and 5 a.m. August 23 at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house, according to the police report.
The case is still under investigation and no arrests have been made, said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer at the UAPD. The alleged victim was not seriously hurt, Crain said. Alcohol was involved in the situation, he said. Both the alleged victim and the accused are UA students, Crain said.
Blake Allen, president of the fraternity, knew nothing about the incident, he said. Allen declined to comment further.
This is the second case of rape reported to the UAPD this year, Crain said. The other case ended in the arrest of one student, he said. In 2006, the UAPD received three reports of sexual offenses, according to the 2006 Cleary Report.
In most rape cases, the investigation is not about whether sex actually occurred, but whether there was consent at the time, Crain said. In most rapes reported to the UAPD, the circumstance is typically one where the alleged victim and the accused knew each other beforehand and alcohol is involved, Crain said.
"When alcohol is involved, prosecutors must determine what role alcohol played in that situation," Crain said. "The majority of the cases reported to us boil down to the accuser's word against the subject's word."
Studies have shown that rape as a crime is underreported, Crain said. Rape crisis centers have often received more reports of rape than police departments, he said. This may be because some victims feel it is their fault or feel that they do not want the perpetrator to get into trouble, especially if they know that person, Crain said.
An FBI report in 2006 estimated that the rate of forcible rapes in the U.S. was 60.9 offenses for every 100,000 female inhabitants that year. The number of forcible rapes reported to law enforcement officials across the country decreased by 4.3 percent last year, according to FBI crime statistics. In cities the size of Fayetteville, the number decreased by 4.5 percent. In the southern part of the U.S., the number decreased 2.9 percent.
The case is still under investigation and no arrests have been made, said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer at the UAPD. The alleged victim was not seriously hurt, Crain said. Alcohol was involved in the situation, he said. Both the alleged victim and the accused are UA students, Crain said.
Blake Allen, president of the fraternity, knew nothing about the incident, he said. Allen declined to comment further.
This is the second case of rape reported to the UAPD this year, Crain said. The other case ended in the arrest of one student, he said. In 2006, the UAPD received three reports of sexual offenses, according to the 2006 Cleary Report.
In most rape cases, the investigation is not about whether sex actually occurred, but whether there was consent at the time, Crain said. In most rapes reported to the UAPD, the circumstance is typically one where the alleged victim and the accused knew each other beforehand and alcohol is involved, Crain said.
"When alcohol is involved, prosecutors must determine what role alcohol played in that situation," Crain said. "The majority of the cases reported to us boil down to the accuser's word against the subject's word."
Studies have shown that rape as a crime is underreported, Crain said. Rape crisis centers have often received more reports of rape than police departments, he said. This may be because some victims feel it is their fault or feel that they do not want the perpetrator to get into trouble, especially if they know that person, Crain said.
An FBI report in 2006 estimated that the rate of forcible rapes in the U.S. was 60.9 offenses for every 100,000 female inhabitants that year. The number of forcible rapes reported to law enforcement officials across the country decreased by 4.3 percent last year, according to FBI crime statistics. In cities the size of Fayetteville, the number decreased by 4.5 percent. In the southern part of the U.S., the number decreased 2.9 percent.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 3
Suzanne Allen
posted 9/06/08 @ 12:12 AM CST
A true crime of rape is a horrific one, that said many times these alleged crimes are actually the result of poor choices mixed with alcohol consumption resulting in a consensual sexual encounter. (Continued…)
Post a Comment