Released in November in both .pdf and ASCII formats, this 61-page research report delivers some alarming statistics on the prevalence of violence against women in the US. The report details the National Violence Against Women Survey's methods, then gives findings on the prevalence and incidents of rape, physical assault, and stalking; the risk of violence among racial minorities and Hispanics;...

In late April 2001, Human Rights Watch released a much-publicized report on male rape in US prisons. Featured in the New York Times and on Nightline, the 378-page report is the result of three years of research to "expose the problem of male rape in U.S. prisons." "It is based on information from over 200 prisoners spread among thirty-four states . . . as well as an exhaustive survey of state...

The United States Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear a case on whether an individual can sue a college for violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student's educational records. The case puts Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, against Ru Paster, an education graduate who claims he is unable...

Sexual assaults on campus have been a subject of great concern for decades, and this thoughtful website from the Center for Public Integrity provides insight into this troubling phenomenon. The investigative work for this project was done by Kristen Lombardi and Kristin Jones who began their work by surveying crisis service programs and clinics on or near college campuses across the country. They...

In early 2001, the Department of Justice released the report "Sexual Victimization of College Women," which offers "a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American colleges." The report provides data on the frequency, types, related injuries, and victim perceptions of sexual assault on campus. It finds that "about three percent of college women...

Yesterday, in a typical 5-4 split, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a portion of a 1994 federal law that allowed rape victims to sue their attackers in federal court. The case involved a Virginia Tech freshman who accused two football players of raping her in her dormitory room in 1994. After the two suspects, who claimed the sex was consensual, received little disciplinary action from...

Established in 1995 by the federal government, the Office on Violence Against Women is responsible for handing the Department of Justice's legal and policy issues regarding violence against women in the United States, along with working closely with other divisions within the Department and administering a variety of grant programs. One of the main components of the site is devoted to providing...