Every 98 seconds, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Every 8 minutes, that victim is a child. 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Among all victims, 9 out of 10 are female. 1 out of every 33 American men have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in his lifetime.
Relationships Between Offender and Victim
- 55% of all sexual assaults take place at or near the victim’s home.
- 7 of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim. 93% of juvenile victims knew their perpetrator.
- 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported to the police.
- The closer the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, the greater the likelihood that the incident will go unreported.
- Survivors give various reasons for not reporting including fear of retaliation, fear of not being believed, and a belief that nothing could be done.
- When the offender was a current or former husband or boyfriend, about 75% of all victimizations were not reported to the police.
- When the offender was a friend or acquaintance, an average 71% were not reported.
- When the offender was a stranger, an average 44% were not reported.
- The rape kit backlog is currently one of the biggest obstacles to prosecuting perpetrators of sexual violence.
- Annually, rape costs the U.S. more than any other crime ($127 billion).
- 325,000 children are at risk of becoming victims of sexual exploitation each year.
- Among undergraduate students, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
Mental Health – Victims of Sexual Assault are:
- 3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
- 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
- 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
- 26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
- 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.
