College Sexual Assault Crime Scripts

• In Event: Sexual Assault in Educational Settings

Abstract

Crime script analysis provides a framework for understanding the process of sexual offenses and examining the perpetrator's decision-making and actions. While prior research has documented scripts for various sexual crimes, the campus context remains under-studied. Although the prevalence and common characteristics of campus sexual assault are known, these broad statistics hide variations in how these crimes unfold. This study utilizes ten years of police reports from a mid-sized university town to develop crime scripts and identify distinct tracks within campus sexual assault. The analysis aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the crime's commission process and inform the development of targeted prevention strategies.

Authors

• Amelie Pedneault, Washington State University

• Ella Schulz, Washington State University