A new study led by Levin College’s Dr. Rachel Lovell and colleagues offers groundbreaking insights into the characteristics of offenders in male sexual assault cases—an area of research that has long been underexplored. 

Published as a two-part series in the Journal of Criminal Psychology, the research draws on over 2,250 previously untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) collected over a 25-year span in two urban U.S. jurisdictions, offering rare insight into a population that is too often left out of the conversation.

Dr. Lovell, a faculty member in the Department of Criminology and Sociology and director of Levin’s Criminology Research Center, says the findings are both eye-opening and deeply important for improving policy and practice.

“This research challenges long-held assumptions about who commits sexual violence and how the justice system responds,” said Dr. Lovell. “By analyzing previously untested rape kits, we’re uncovering patterns that were invisible for decades—patterns that can inform better prevention, investigation, and support strategies.”
 

Key Findings

• 4% of the victims were male, with the majority under the age of 12.
• Child victims were more likely to be assaulted by relatives, authority figures, or while in detention.
• Adult male victims often had cognitive or mental impairments and were frequently assaulted in institutional settings like group homes or shelters.
• Male victim cases were less likely to result in a DNA match.
• Nearly 29% of suspects were themselves minors—some younger than 13.
• Offenders were more likely to be of the same race as the victim, pointing to strong intra-racial patterns.
• One-third of suspects in male victim cases were linked to known serial rapists, reinforcing the importance of testing all SAKs.
• These cases were more likely to result in adjudication, though the reasons may reflect systemic disparities rather than improved justice.
   

A Call for Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Approaches

The study challenges longstanding assumptions—not just about offenders, but also about how male victims experience sexual violence and how the justice system responds.

Notably, no male victims reported being assaulted by an intimate partner, though case narratives hinted at possible underreporting among queer individuals. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approaches to investigation and support services.
 

A Collaborative, Justice-Focused Effort

This research was made possible through funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Akron Police Department.

The work is part of a broader initiative led by CSU’s Criminology Research Center, housed in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. The Center provides research and evaluation across the criminal justice system, engages students in hands-on work, and produces data that drives reform.