the criminal behavior of the serial rapist

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m gA LLaw Enforcement Bulletin February 1990Volume59Number2PageS

Page 18

The Cover: Is the privatization of adultcorrectional facilities in America a passingfad or is it the future? See article p.1.

ISSN 0014-5688

FeaturesThe Privatization of Correctional Facilities:Fad or Future?By David K. Burright /.J. & ' 13

5 The Administrative Warning Ticket P ~ 9 g r a mBy Andrew J. Barto 1 , ; 2 . ~ 11'11 The Criminal Behavior of the Serial RapistBy Robert R. Hazelwood and Janet Warren ;).. 8 Ir-20 Critical Incident Stress DebriefingBy Richard J. Conroy \ O l O l ~ t b23 Foreign Searches and the Fourth AmendmentBy Austin A. Andersen

Departments

8 The Bulletin Reports10 Focus16 Book Reviews

United States Department of JusticeFederal Bureau of InvestigationWashington, DC 20535William S. Sessions, DirectorThe Attorney General has determined thatthe publication of this periodical is neces-sary in the transaction of the public busi-ness required by law of the Department ofJustice. Use of funds for printing this peri-odical has been approved by the Director ofti'.e Office of Management and Budget.Published by the Office of Public Affairs,Milt Ahlerich, A . s s i ~ t a n t Director

... :." ...

18 Police Practices30 Research Forum31 Unusual Weapon

Editor-Stephen D. GladisManaging Editor-Kathryn E. SulewskiAr tDirector-John E. OttAssistantEditor-Alice S. ColeProduction Manager-Andrew DiRosaThe FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin(ISSN-0014-5688) ,is published monthly bythe Federal Bureau of Investigation, 10thand Pennsylvania Ave., N.w., Washington,DC 20535. Second-Class postage paid atWashington, DC. Postmaster: Send addresschanges to Federal Bureau of Investigation,FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Washington,DC 20535.

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The Criminal Behaviorof the Serial RapistByROBERT R. HAZELWOOD,M.S.andJANET WARREN, D.S.W.

Special Agent Hazelwood is aninstructor at the FBI Academy as-signed to the Behavioral Science In-struction/Research Unit. Co-authorJanet Warren is with the Institute forPsychiatry and Law at the University ofVirginia in Charlottesville, VA.

From 1984 to 1986, FBI Special Agents assigned to theNational Center for the

Analysis of Violent Crime(NCA VC) interviewed 41 men whowere responsible for raping 837 victims. Previous issues of the FBI LawEnforcement Bulletin provided anintroduction to this researchl andthe characteristics of the rapists andtheir victims? This article, however, describes the behavior of theseserial rapists during and followingthe commission of their sexual assaults. The information presented isapplicable only to the men interviewed; it is not intended to begeneralized to all men who rape.

PREMEDITATIONThe majority of the sexual attacks (55-61 %) committed by thesemen were premeditated across theirfirst, middle, and last rapes, whilefewer rapists reported their crimesas being impulsive (15-22%) or opportunistic (22-24%). Although nocomparable data on serial rape areavailable, it is probable that thepremeditation involved in thesecrimes is particularly characteristicof these serial rapists. It is also prob

able that this premeditation isreflective of their preferential interest in this type of crime and largelyaccounts for their ability to avoiddetection.

February 1990 / 11


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METHODS OF APPROACH tim, and picking women up in rapes, and 17% of the last rapes.There are three different styles singles bars. Obviously, this style of Even though it is used less often

of approach rapists frequently use: initiating contact with victims re- than the con approach, the blitz ap-The "con," the "blitz," and the quires an ability to interact with proach results in more extensive"surprise."3 Each reflects a dif- women. physical injury and inhibits certainferent means of selecting, approach- fantasy components of the rape thating and subduing a chosen victim. " may be arousing to the rapist.The "Con" Approach The "Surprise" ApproachThe majority of the Case Number 1 sexual Case Number 3John, a man who raped more attacks ..committed by Sam, a 24-year-old male,than 20 women, told the inter- would preselect his victimsthese men wereviewers that he stopped one of through "peeping tom" ac-his victims late at night and premeditated ... tivities. He would then watchidentified himself as a the victim's residence to estab-

"plainclothes police officer. He lish her patterns. After decidingasked for her driver's license to rape the woman, he wouldand registration, walked back to The "Blitz" Approach wait until she had gone to sleep,his car and sat there for a few enter the home, and place hismoments. He then returned to CD Case Number 2 hand over her mouth. He wouldthe victim, advised her that her Phil, a 28-year-old male, ap- advise the victim that he did notregistration had expired and proached a woman loading intend to harm her if sheasked her to accompany him to groceries in her car, struck her cooperated with the assault. Hehis car. She did so, and upon in the face, threw her in the raped more than 20 womenentering the car, he handcuffed vehicle and raped her. On before he was apprehended.her and drove to an isolated another occasion, he entered alocation where he raped and women's restroom in a hospital, The surprise approach, whichsodomized the victim. struck his victim, and raped her involves the assailant waiting forin a stall. Exiting the restroom the victim or approaching her afterAs in the above case account, with the victim in his grasp, he she is sleeping, presupposes that thethe con approach involves subter- threatened her as though they rapist has targeted or preselected hisfuge and is predicated on the rapist's were involved in a lover's quar- victim through unobserved c o n t a ~ t

ability to interact with women. reI, and thus precluded inter- and knowledge of when the victimWith this technique, the rapist open- ference from concerned on- would be alone. Threats and/or thely approaches the victim and re- lookers who had gathered when presence of a weapon are often as-quests or offers some type of assist- she screamed. sociated with this type of approach;ance or direction. However, once however, there is no actual injuriousthe victim is within his control, the In a blitz approach, the rapist force applied.offender may suddenly become uses a direct, injurious physical as- The surprise approach wasmore aggressive. sault which subdues and physically used by the serial rapists in 19The con approach was used in injures the victim. The attacker may (54%) of the first rapes, 16 (46%) of8 (24%) of the first rapes, 12 (35%) also use chemicals or gases but most the middle rapes, and 16 (44%) ofof the middle rapes, and 14 (41 %) of frequently makes use of his ability the last rapes (percentages vary duethe last rapes. Various ploys used by to physically overpower a woman. to the number of rapes). This repre-the offenders included impersonat- Interestingly, despite its simplicity, sents the most frequently useding a police officer, providing this approach was used in 23% of means of approach and is used mosttransportation for a hitchhiking vic- the first rapes, 20% of the middle often by men who lack confidence

12/ FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin


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in their ability to subdue the victimthrough physical threats or subterfuge.CONTROLLING THE VICTIM

How rapists maintain controlover a victim is dependent upon twofactors: Their motivation for thesexual attack and/or the passivity ofthe victim. Within this context, fourcontrol methods are frequently usedin various combinations during arape: 1) Mere physical presence; 2)verbal threats; 3) display of aweapon; and 4) the use of physicalforce. 4

The men in this studypredominantly used a threateningphysical presence (82-92%) and/orverbal threats (65-80%) to controltheir victims. Substantially lessoften they displayed a weapon (44-49%) or physically assaulted thevictim (27-32%). When a weaponwas displayed, it was most often asharp instrument, such as a knife(27-42%).One rapist explained that hechose a knife because he perceivedit to be the most intimidatingweapon to use against women inview of their fear of disfigurement.Firearms were used less frequently.(14-20%). Surprisingly, all but afew of the rapists used binding located at the scene of the rape. Oneexception was an individual whobrought pre-cut lengths of rope, adhesive tape and handcuffs alongwith him.THE USE OF FORCE

The amount of force usedduring a rape provides valuable insight into the motivations of therapist and, h e n c e ~ must be analyzedby those investigating the offense or

evaluating the offender.s Themajority of these men (75-84%)used minimal or no physical forceacross all three rapes.6 This degreeof minimal force is defined as noninjurious force employed more tointimidate than to punish.?

Case Number 4John began raping at.24years of age and estimated thathe had illegally entered over5,000 homes to steal female undergannents. On 18 of those occasions, he also raped. He advised that he had no desire toharm the victims. He stated,"Raping them is one thing.

Beating on them is entirelysomething else. None of my victims were harmed and for a person to kill somebody afterraping them, it just makes memad."

"

mother to death when sheawoke as he was attempting toremove her undergannents inpreparation for sexual intercourse. He had been drinkingand smoking marihuana withher for a period of time prior tothe attempted sexual act, andafter she fell asleep, he beganfantasizing about having sexwith her.

Most of the rapists in thisstudy did not increase the amount offorce they used across their first,middle and last rapes.8 However, 10of the rapists, tenned "increasers,"did use progressively greater forceover successive rapes and rapedtwice as many women on theaverage (40 victims as opposed to22 victims) in half the amount oftime (Le., raping every 19 days asopposed to 55 days). By the time of

The amount of force used during a rapeprovides valuable insight into the motivationsof the rapist ...

Force resulting in bruises andlacerations or extensive physicaltrauma requiring hospitalizati,:m orresulting in death increased from5% of the first rapes, 8% of the middIe rapes, to 10% of the last rapes.Two victims (5%) were murderedduring the middle rapes and an additiona12 (5%) were killed during thelast rapes.

Case Number 5Phil, an attractive 30-yearold male, described stabbing his

"he last assault, they were inflictingmoderate to fatal injuries. Thesefactors, coupled with progressiveinterest in anal intercourse amongthe increasers, suggest that for theseindividuals, sexual sadism may be amotive for their assaultive behavior.VICTIM RESISTANCE

Victim resistance may bedefined as any action or inaction onthe part of the victim whichprecludes or delays the offender'sattack. These behaviors may be

February 1990 / 13


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M HE m , Fdescribed as passive, verbal, or vaginal intercourse (54-67%), oral murder of two young boys as beingphysical in nature.9 sex (29-44%), kissing (8-13%) and "off the scale."The rapists reported that their fondling (10-18%). Anal inter- Case Number 6victims verbally resisted them in course (5-10%) and foreign object53% of the first assaults, 54% of the penetration (3-8%) were reported Paul had raped adult women,middle attacks, and 43% of the last less often. In assessing changes in adolescent and preadolescentattacks. Physical resistance oc- behavior over the first, middle and girls and brought his criminalcurred in only 19%, 32% and 28% last rapes, there appears to be a trend career to an end with the rapeof the first, middle, and last rapes wherein the rapists' interest in oral and murder of two 10-year-oldrespectively. The relatively low in- sex increases while his interest in boys. When asked to rate thecidence of passive resistance (i.e., vaginal contact decreases. sexual experiences, he advised28% in the first rape, 17% of the The amount of pleasure that that he would rate the adult andmiddle rape, and 9% of the last the rapist experienced during the adolescent females as "0" andrape) most likely reflects the rapists ' three assaults was measured with the preadolescent girls as "3."inability to discern this type of the statement: "Think back to the He then stated, "When you 'reresistance. penetration during the rape. Assum- talking about sex with lO-year-In previous research, it was ing '0 ' equals your worst sexual ex- old boys, your scale doesn't gofound that there was no relationship perience and '10' your absolutely high enough. "between both verbal and physical best sexual experience, rate the VERBAL ACTIVITYresistance and the amount of injurysustained by the victim.lO Interest- " Across the first, middle andingly, however, the degree of the last rapes, the majority of serialrapists' pleasure and the duration of ... serial rapists use rapists (78-85%) usually only con-the rape did increase when the vic- verbal threats to versed with the victims to threatentim resisted. subdue the victim, and them. Much less frequently, theirIn this study, the offenders' conversations were polite or friend-most common reaction to resistance only after they believe ly (30-34%), manipulative (23-for the first, middle and last rapes they have gained 37%), or personal (23-37%). In awas to verbally threaten the victim controL.do they move minority of instances throughout the(50-41 %). Compromise or negotia- assaults, the rapist reported beingtion took place in 11-12% across the on to various other inquisitive (15-20%), abusive/modes of conversingrapes, and physical force was used degrading (5-13%), or silent (8-in 22% of the first rapes, 38% of the or interacting. 13%). It appears that serial rapistssecond rapes and 18% of the third " use verbal threats to subdue the vic-rapes. The rapists also reported 6 tim, and only after they believe theyincidents in which they left when amount of pleasure you ex- have gained control over the victimthe victim resisted; however, it is perienced. " The majority of rapists do they move on to various othernot clear at what point in the attack reported surprisingly low levels of modes of conversing or interacting.the resistance occurred. pleasure (3.7). However, the type of SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONSEXUAL DYNAMICS OF THE contact that resulted in higher scores In a study of 170 rapists, it wasRAPE differed widely.ll One rapist determined that 34% experienced

The sexual acts that the victim reported appreciation for his some type of sexual dysfunctionwas forced to engage in remained

victims' passivity and acquies- during the rape. 12 In fact, it has beenrelatively constant across all three cence, while another referred to the noted that "the occurrence of of-pleasure experienced in the rape-rapes. The most common acts were fender sexual dysfunction and an in-

141 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin


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vestigatory understanding of thedysfunction may provide valuableinformation about the unidentifiedrapist. "13The data on these serial rapistsare strikingly similar. In the firstrape, 38% of the subjects reported asexual dysfunction, 39% in the middle rape, and 35% during the last"

ALCOHOL AND OTHERDRUGSAlcohol is commonly associated with rape, but other drugs,to a lesser degree, are also used at

the time of the rape. IS The data onthese rapists suggest a somewhatdifferent relationship between alcohol/drugs and serial rape. Ap-

The most frequent changes after each of thecrimes included feeling remorseful andguilty .. fol lowing the case in the media ..and anincrease in alcohol/drug consumption ...assault. This type of information canprove helpful to the investigator inassociating different offenses with asingle offender, because the natureof the dysfunction and the means theoffender uses to overcome it arelikely to remain constant over anumber of rapes.EVADING DETECTION

Considering the rapists' aptitude for avoiding detection, it issurprising to note that very few ofthe serial rapists employed specificbehaviors designed to precludeidentification. In fact, offenderstend to rape their victims in thevictim's own home, thereby contributing to their ability to avoiddetection.14In addition, the majority ofrapists (61-68%) did not reportdressing in any special way for theoffenses. Surprisingly, disguiseswere reported in only 7-12% of theoffenses, suggesting that othermeans of evading detection wereused by these particular offenders.

"roximately one-third of the rapistswere drinking alcoholic beveragesat the time of the first, middle andlast offenses, and 17-24% of therespondents reported using drugs.In a majority of these cases, thesefigures reflect the offender's typicalconsumption pattern and not an unusual increase in substance abuse.POST- OFFENSE BEHAVIOR

The serial rapists were alsoasked about changes in their behavior following their assaults. Themost frequent changes after eachof the crimes included feelingremorseful and guilty (44-51%),following the case in the media(28 %) an d an increase in alcohol/drug consumption (20-27%).Investigators should also partiCUlarly note that 12-15% of rapistsreported revisiting the crime sceneand 8-13% communicated with thevictim after the crime.CONCLUSION

The research concerning serialrapists' behavior during and follow-

aing the commission of the crimeshas determined that:

The majority of the rapeswere premeditated The" con" approach wasused most often in initiatingcontact with the victim A threatening presence andverbal threats were used tomaintain control over thevictim Minimal or no force wasused in the majority ofinstances The victims physically, passively or verbally resisted therapists in slightly over 50%

of the offenses The most common offenderreaction to resistance was toverbally threaten the victim Slightly over one-third of theoffenders experienced asexual dysfunction, and thepreferred sexual acts were

vaginal rape and forced fellatio Low levels of pleasure werereported by the rapists fromthe sexual acts The rapists tended not to beconcerned with precautionary measures to protect theiridentities Approximately one-third ofthe rapists had consumedalcohol prior to the crime andslightly less reported usingsome other' drug.

February 1990 / 15


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The most common post-offense behavior reported by therapists were feelings of remorse andguilt, following the case in the mediaand an increase in alcohol and drugconsumption.

These characteristics, althoughnot generally applicable to everyrapist, can be helpful in learningmore about offenders, their behaviors and the heinous crime ofrape. IJM:'Footnotes

I RobertR. Hazelwood & Ann W. Burgess, "A n Introduction to the Serial Rapist ,"FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, vol. 56, No.9,September 1987, pp.16-24.2 Robert R. Hazelwood & Janet Warren,

"The Serial Rapist: His Characteristics and Victims," FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, vol. 58,Nos. 1 and 2, January and February 1989, pp. 10-17 and 11-18.

3 Supra note 1.4 Supra note I.5 Supra note l.6 Robert R. Hazelwood, R. Reboussin &

J. Warren, "Serial Rape: Correlates ofIn-creased Aggression and the Relationship of Offender Pleasure to Victim Resistance," Journalof Interpersonal Violence, March 1989, pp. 65-78.7 Supra note 1.8 Supra note 5.9 Supra note 1.10 Supra note 5.II Supra note 5.12 N. A. Groth & A. W. Burgess,

"Sexual Dysfunction During Rape," NewEngland Journal ofMedicine, October 6, 1977,pp.764-766.13 Robert R. Hazelwood, "Analyzing theRape and Profiling the Offender," PracticalAspects ofRape Investigation: A Multidiscipli-nary Approach, R. R. Hazelwood & A. W. Burgess (Eds.) (New York: Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., 1987), pp. 169-199.14 Robert R. Hazelwood & J. Warren,

"The Serial Rapist: His Characteristics and Victims," Part II, FBI Law Ellforcemellf Bulletill,February 1989, pp. 11-18.15 R. Rada, "Psychological Factors inRapist Behavior," Americall Journal ofPsychiatry, vol. 132, pp. 444-446, 1975 and R.Rada, "Psychological Factors in Rapist Behavior," Clillical Aspects of he Rapist. R. Rada(Ed.) (New York: Grune and Stratton PUblishing Co., Inc., 1978), pp. 21-85.

16/ FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

Book Reviews

POLICE MANAGEMENTFO R THE 1990sA Practiti01ler's Road Map

JOHN BIZZACK

Police Management for the1990's: A Pract itioner's RoadMap, by John Bizzack, Charles C.Thomas, Springfield, IL, 1989.This book reflects a greatdeal of research into managementliterature of the past 30 years.While the first several chaptersdigress slightly into a bashing ofthe experience and performance ofcurrent police leadership, PoliceManagement/or the 1990s: APractitioner'sRoadMap providesa good paradigm for police leadership to consider during the 1990s.The book offers salient, cogentideas designed to improve modempolice leadership and enhance themanagement of police agencies.An important element of thebook is the author's attention tothe external environment withinwhich police agencies interact.These social, economic, legal, technological, and political concernsthat exist outside the agency, buthave a great impact on it, are discussed in detail. This information

provides the framework for executives to plan strategically andenable their agencies to change"in sync" with the externalchange agents in their communities. The book stresses thatthese forces should be viewed inrelation to an agency's own community, not from a global perspective. The book also addresses theserious problem of drug investigations. Particular attention is givento the ability of the small- tomedium-sized agency to implement a successful plan that addresses the drug problem.Other chapters offer goodsuggestions for improving thephysical conditions of police executives and agency personnel.The section on budgeting and fiscal planning is especially helpfuland illustrates the necessity of thisplanning during an era of fiscalcontraints.Additionally, the author outlines a step-by-step process to helpthe police executive establish orenhance an ethical climate in theorganization.Police Management for the1990s is good reading for the contemporary police executive. I tprovides concrete suggestions forthe improvement of police agencies and provides a useful, wellrounded framework for themodem police manager.

Reviewed bySA Robert F. McCarthy, MPAManagement Science UniFBI AcademyQuantico, VA

the criminal behavior of the serial rapist

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