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Perceptions of Sexual Violence Terms Used in Statutes Throughout the United States

Bibliographic Data

ID12437460
AuthorsGillian M Pinchevsky (0000-0002-5399-3363, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA), Megan Bears Augustyn (0000-0002-6662-6802, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, corresponding author), Alan H Kennedy (0000-0002-2588-1030, William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA), Callie Marie Rennison (University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA)
Year2023
Volume30
Issue15-16
Pages3991-4011
Publication date2023-07-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueViolence Against Women (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1077-8012 • E-ISSN: 1552-8448
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10778012231188088
PMID37518987
OpenAlexW4385406676
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited49

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

Criminology · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Perception · Poison control · Political science · Sex offense · Sexual abuse · Sexual violence · State (computer science · Statute · Suicide prevention · Terminology · Computer Science · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works2
Citations per year2
Citation span2025 - 2026 (2)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 2
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