Select Committee to Investigate the Situations and Circumstances of Victims of Rape (HR 207), 1973-1974

On July 11, 1974, the PA House of Representatives voted to adopt HR 207 which created the Select Committee to Study the Situations and Circumstances of Victims of Rape as a result of the alarming increase in the incidence of rape (FBI statistics showed that the number of rapes had increased 62% between 1968 and 1973) as well as a number of other concerns regarding the attitude towards rape victims. As a result of the Select Committee's work, a series of Rape Reform Bills were created. In addition, the Select Committee requested a "Rape Education Seminar Team" to prepare and conduct a series of public education seminars throughout the Commonwealth for the handlings of rape cases, rape prevention measures, and the enlightenment of traditional attitudes as they relate to victims of rape. This collection consists of public hearing testimony, research on rape laws in Michigan, California and the United States Senate, a preliminary report entitled, "The Problem of Rape in Pennsylvania," and the final report of the Select Committee.