Zmiana trybu ścigania sprawcy przestępstwa zgwałcenia w świetle wyników badań aktowych

The paper presents detailed results of a case law study conducted as part of a research project entitled: ‘Evaluation of Change of the Mode of Prosecuting Perpetrators of Rape. Theoretical and Empirical Analysis’, implemented in 2018 in the Section of Criminal Law and Process of the Institute of Justice in Warsaw. The study aimed to determine what influence the change of the mode of prosecuting the offence of rape, introduced by the Act of 13 June 2013 on Amendments to the Act – Criminal Code and the Act – Code of Criminal Procedure had on the length of preparatory proceedings, the severity of punishments administered to perpetrators, the entities notifying that an offence was committed, etc. The article draws attention to such criminological aspects as the perpetrators’ sex, age, or education level. It also includes a description of victims’ characteristics.