Analyzing Factors Related to Rape Clearance: Evidence from Massachusetts

• In Event: Exploring Strategies to Improve Crime Prevention, Reduction, and Clearance

Abstract

A high incidence of uncleared crime may reduce public faith in law enforcement agencies. Understanding the elements that are associated with clearance and gaining insight into potential ways to increase clearance rates are two benefits of studying criminal clearance. Previous studies have found that the likelihood of clearance depends on features of individual incidents. However, previous research failed to consider severity and aggregate socioeconomic factors simultaneously. This research leverages cross-sectional data from the National Incident Reporting System (NIBRS), Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS), and the Census to explore factors that associate with rape clearance in Massachusetts via multilevel modeling.

Authors

• Boci Meng, University of Massachusetts Lowell

• Jason Rydberg, University of Massachusetts Lowell