Sexual Assault Statistics

Remember

Sexual Assault is an act of violence where sex is used as the weapon. Victims/survivors of sexual violence are forced, coerced, and/or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity and feel violated. Assaults are motivated out of a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating, or humiliating the victim. It is NEVER the survivor victims fault.

National Sexual Assault/Rape Statistics

Statistics show that sexual violence is still all too common in the United States.

Somewhere in the U.S, a woman is sexually assaulted approximately every two minutes
In 2007, 248,300 women were the victim of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.

Rapes Nationally

According to the U.S. Department of Justice

1 in 3 offenders were under the influence of alcohol or drugs
In 11% of rapes, the offender used a weapon
41% of rape victims who present to the Emergency Room require medical care after the attack

60% of Sexual Assaults are not reported to the police

One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is somehow their fault, a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant. Men have similar reasons, but also report concerns with sexuality and masculinity, telling someone about the assault or seeking medical care.

Only 60% of rapes and sexual assaults are reported to the police.
Approximately 73% of victims of sexual assault know their attacker

Age and Gender of Sexual Assaults

According to the Justice Department, 44% of rape victims are under age 18; 15% are under age 12
17.7 million American women have been the victims of rape
Girls ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault

Wisconsin Sexual Assault Statistics

There were 5,628 sexual assaults reported to law enforcement agencies in 2004. This is an increase of 3.7 percent from 2003
88.9 percent of victims knew their attackers
The victims were predominantly female (84.7 percent) and white (80.2 percent) in reported sexual assaults.
The attackers were male (93.4 percent) and white (70.2) percent in reported sexual assaults
70.1 percent of victims were under the age of 15

[U.S. Department of Justice (2007).]

[National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2008.]

[National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2003]

[National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2005.]

[U.S. Department of Justice National Victimization Survey 2004.]

[Source for Wisconsin Statistics: 2004 Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Report on Sexual Assaults in Wisconsin.]