University of Virginia Library

Police Attribute Rise In Assaults
To Lack Of Common Sense

By PAT GRANEY

To counter recent
publicity about a so-called
"epidemic" of rape and assault,
the Charlottesville Police
Department released figures
last week indicating the
increase is due to a rise in the
"crimes of opportunity"
resulting from lack of
"common sense" precaution
on the victim's part.

From Jan. 1 through Dec. 8
the report accounts for seven
alleged rapes and seven cases of
assault, with three of the rape
charges proving to be
unfounded. Including the
alleged rape of an 18-year-old
city girl Dec. 10, the total of
12 substantiated incidents
compares with seven rape or
assault cases reported in 1971.

"The apparent increase is
due to a lack of public
concern," warns Frank W.
Johnstone, an administrative
assistant to Charlottesville
Police Chief John DeK. Bowen.
"People have become careless
about locking doors and
windows, what we really have
had is an increase in the
'crimes of opportunity'."

The report states that 70 to
80 per cent of the rapes or
attempted rapes in the City
could have been prevented.

Precautions Not Taken

"In 14 reported rapes or
attempted rapes, 50 per cent
occurred because an
elementary precaution of
locking a door or window was
ignored, 14 per cent occurred
when a victim knew the
suspect and either invited him
in or willingly went into a
dangerous situation," the
report said.

Force or violence is rarely
used. In only 14 per cent of
the reported cases did the
attacker use force or violence
to abduct the victim or enter
the home. The report cites the
arrest of a prowler who admitted
to having entered 42-46
homes, and never forced a door
or broke a window.

Escort System Established

Recent rape and assault
incidents have moved the
University to establish an
escort system for women
returning home late at night,
and to present seminars on
self-defense.

According to Mr. Johnstone,
the higher incidents of
"stranger to stranger" crimes
are due to the transient student
community.

"Prowlers are not afraid to
enter a house around certain
areas of town," he asserted.
"They know that they do not
run the risk of encountering a
husband or family situation."

"This should only reinforce
the need to lock doors, and
take other necessary
precautions. What upsets me
the most is the public apathy,"
Mr. Johnstone lamented.
"People are not willing to gt
involved. When they hear
screams, they immediately
ignore them, or justify a reason
not to find out what is
happening."

Increase In Women

Mr. Johnstone also
attributed the rise in rape and
assault cases to the increasing
number of women attending
the University, especially those
who live off grounds.

He indicated the working
relationship between the
Charlottesville Police and the
University Security
Department was geared to
increase protection and
cooperation.

Mr. Johnstone emphasized
the need for community
cooperation and education.