The Statistical Analysis on Female Victims of Violent Crimes

June 9, 2000

According to the new social welfare policy under the government's "555 Family Care Project", the percentage of female victims of violent crimes is expected to be reduced below 50%. In 1999, there are in total 14,125 victims of violent crimes. There is a decrease by 13.4% as compared to 16,315 victims of the preceding year. There are 6,756 male victims, accounting for 48% and 7,369 female victims, accounting for 52%. The victims of robbery and rape (gang rape) cases are mostly female. Female victims of the above two types of crimes account for 84% and 99% of all victims. More than 90% of the suspects of the above two crimes are male. It indicates that in terms of robbery and rape (gang rape) cases, the female victims are relatively weaker and are susceptible to such crimes. The following is an analysis on robbery and rape (gang rape) cases in Taiwan area involving female victims with respect to time, location, method of such crimes, as well as occupation, age and education of suspects and victims. The analysis can serve as reference for the public and help in crime prevention.

I. Most robbery cases incur during 19:00 to 24:00 at night, which account for 31% of all such cases.

31% of robbery cases (1,025 cases) incur at night during 19:00 to 24:00. 22.5% of robbery cases (745 cases) incur during 12:00 to 17:00 in the afternoon. The above indicates that offenders prefer nighttime when surroundings are not easily seen.

II. Most robbery cases incur at transportation sites, which account for 75% of all such cases.

74.6% of robbery cases (2,467 cases) incur at transportation sites. 11.9% of robbery cases (394 cases) incur at shops and streets. The above indicates that most offenders choose transportation sites such as roads.

III. Most offenders of robbery cases use motorcycles as a mean of committing the crime, which account for 58% of all such cases.

58.4% of suspects for robbery cases (802 cases) by method of crimes use motorcycles as a mean of committing crime. 15.4% of suspects (211 cases) commit such crime on foot. The above indicates that most offenders choose motorcycles as a mean of committing the crime.

IV. 65% of offenders of robbery cases are jobless and 58% of such offenders are graduates of junior high schools.

64.7% of suspects of robbery cases (888 offenders) are jobless. 8.4% of such offenders (115 offenders) are labor. 7.9% of such offenders (108 offenders) are students. Thus, we should pay heed to the problem of students committing crimes.

58.3% of suspects of robbery cases (801 suspects) are graduates of junior high schools. 23.3% of suspects (323 suspects) are graduates of senior high schools.

V. More than 50% of rape (gang rape) cases incur at late night and nighttime.

32.1% of rape (gang rape) cases (428 cases) incur at 0:00 to 03:00 late night. 22.7% of such cases (302 cases) incur during 19:00 to 24:00 at night. Women should refrain from going out alone in the night to prevent incidents.

VI. Most rape (gang rape) cases incur at residences, which account for 67% of all such cases.

66.7% of rape (gang rape) cases (883 cases) incur at residences. 15.1% of such cases (201 cases) incur at porno entertainment locations. The above indicates that most offenders of the crime choose breaking into residences, apartments and choose porno entertainment locations for committing such a crime. People should enhance the security of residence and watch out for own safety when visiting porno entertainment locations.

VII. Most offenders of rape (gang rape) cases use bare hands to coerce victims, which account for 45% of all such cases.

45% of offenders (561 cases) use bare hands to coerce victims. 18.7% of offenders (233 cases) use violent acts to coerce victims. More than 10% of such cases involve use of drugs. The related government agencies should enhance their efforts in fighting drug use and prevent offenders using drugs as a mean of committing crime.

VIII. 29% of suspects of rape (gang rape) cases are at the age of 20 to 29. 34% of such suspects are jobless and 47% of such suspects are graduates of junior high school.

29.2% of suspects of rape (gang rape) cases (475 suspects) are at the age of 20 to 29. 21.2% of such suspects (345 suspects) are less than 18 years old. The above indicates that suspects of such a crime are mostly juvenile delinquents. We should take note of the trend of more and more young offenders committing this crime.

33.8% of such suspects (551 suspects) are jobless. 17.1% of such suspects (279 suspects) are labor.

47.1 of suspects of rape (gang rape) cases (767 suspects) are graduates of junior high schools. 29.5% of such suspects (481 suspects) are graduates of senior high schools.

IX. 65% of victims of rape (gang rape) cases are less than 18 years old. 42% of such victims are students.

65.2% of victims of rape (gang rape) cases (1,144 victims) by the age of victims are less than 18 years old. 16.2% of such victims (285 victims) are at the age of 20 to 29. 42.4% of such victims (744 victims) by the occupation of victims are students. 35.2% of such victims (618 victims) are jobless. The above indicates that most victims of such a crime are minors less than 18 years old and children. In other words, offenders usually choose children with no strength to resist as their targets. The government should endeavor to enhance the knowledge and sense of sexual assault of children and teenagers in preventing such a crime.

X. Robbery cases are declining over the past few years. Rape (gang rape) cases are less than the preceding year (1998).

Robbery cases over the past decade sometimes increase and sometime decrease. 1996 has the highest number of robber cases, which is 6,746 cases. 1992 has the lowest number of such cases, which is 749 cases. Ever since 1997 when the overall, complete projects against crime, organized crime, possession of ammunition and violent crimes were launched, the robbery cases have been declining for the past three years. On the other hand, triplicate copies of record were used for case reporting (by civilians) to police stations from July 1, 1995. Since then, various cases have doubled. Robbery cases in 1995 were 4.7 times in excess of the number in 1994.

For the past decade, 1998 has the highest number of rape (gang rape) cases, which is 1,587 cases. 1992 has the lowest number of such cases, which is 534 cases. Rape (gang rape) cases are mostly significant cases and there is seldom omission in reporting such cases. Thus, there was no significant increase in number of such cases in 1995. Compared to 1998, there were 225 cases less in 1999. However, such cases are increasing in recent years. Thus, the government should focus on protecting women from offenders of such a crime.