The Evolution of the Measurement of Rape and Sexual Assault Over 50 Years: Milestones, Definitions, Operationalizations, and Classifications

For the past 50 years, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has been committed to improving crime victimization estimates through three crime surveys: the National Crime Survey (1972–1991), National Crime Victimization Survey (1992–2023), and the redesigned National Crime Victimization Survey (2024–present). This article explores the progression of how rape and sexual assault (RSA) have been measured across these surveys, highlighting key milestones, legislative impacts, and measurement changes. The key aspects include the transformation of sexual victimization definitions, the focus on behaviors and tactics in the type of crime classification, and the expansion from solely measuring rape to a broader spectrum of RSA. The dedication to refining RSA screening and classification methods through extensive testing and evaluation is evident. This evolution demonstrates BJS’s ongoing efforts to produce accurate RSA estimates and adapt to changing societal and legislative contexts.