What is Sexual Assault?

It is rape, same sex assault, child abuse, and any other sex act not consented to by each party.

In the time it will take you to browse this site, someone will feel the pain of sexual violence: rape, child abuse, or incestuous abuse. This violence most often affects those who are the most vulnerable: women, children, and the elderly.

The Statistics are Staggering

  • In acquaintance rape, 75% of men and 55% of women had been drinking or taking drugs prior to the attack.
  • Nearly 1.2 million women are forcibly raped by their current or former male partners 1 or more times each year.
  • 1 in 4 female college students has been the victim of rape or attempted rape.
  • In the United States a women is raped every 6 minutes.
  • Every year, approximately 132,000 women report that they have been the victims of rape or attempted rape, and more than 50% of these victims knew their attackers. It is estimated that 2 to 6 times as many women are raped, but do not report it.
  • The actual number of rapes may be as high as 792,000 per year in the United States.
  • 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 7 boys will be victimized before their 18th birthday.

Who? When? Where? and Why?

Who is the victim?

The victim can be anyone, but females between the ages of 15-24 are most likely to be the target of sexual assault. Boys and young men can be the victims of sex offenders who manipulate or force them into unwanted sexual relationships.

Who is the offender?

75-80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. The offender in sexual assault cases is typically male. Most offenders in child sexual assaults occur between people of the same race.

When does it happen?

Stranger rape occurs at all times of the day. Date Rape or acquaintance rape occurs most frequently on Weekends between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Where does it happen?

More than 1/2 of all sexual assaults are committed in the victim's or offender's home. Date Rape is more likely to occur in the rapist's home.

Why does it happen?

No one asks to be a victim of a violent act. No one is responsible for someone else's violent behavior. The motive for rape is the need for the offender to feel powerful and in control. Rapists are not driven by uncontrollable sexual urges. Studies of convicted rapists have found that the majority have consenting sexual partners. Many offenders were abused as children and have not learned how to function in normal relationship patterns.

If You are a Victim

You may be experiencing:

Depression, uncontrollable crying, anger, anxiety, mood swings, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, other physical & emotional symptoms.

Everyone is a potential victim of sexual abuse anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

Remember:

Your feelings and experiences are normal - you are not ALONE. It is not your fault; you did not deserve to be raped Talking about your feelings may not take them away, but it may help you. Find someone to talk to. Someone you can trust, someone who will listen, someone who believes you. There are people who care and understand. There are people who can and want to help you.

If you are the victim of sexual assault you may feel alone, afraid, and confused.

There is help available to you:

Someone you can talk with. Someone who will listen. Someone who understands.