National Statistics

Adult Statistics

How often does this happen?

1.3 Adult women are raped every minute. That translates to 78 per hour, or 1,871 per day. (National Victim Center and Crime Victim Research and Treatment Center, 1992)
In the United States, a rape is reported about once every five minutes. (FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2000)
Sexual Assault continues to represent the most rapidly growing violent crime in America. (American Medical Association 2000)
The U.S. has the highest rate of sexual assault per capita of any industrialized country. (1990 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee)
There were an average of 51,000 rapes and sexual assaults occurring in the workplace each year from 1992 through 1996 (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Workplace Violence Victimization Survey)

How often is rape reported?

It is estimated that as few as 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported to the police. (American Medical Association 2000)
Non-stranger rapists are rarely convicted of their crimes (Spohn, C, and D. Holleran, "Prosecuting Sexual Assault: A Comparison of Charging Decisions in Sexual Assault Cases Involving Strangers, Acquaintances, and Intimate Partners," Justice Quarterly 18(3)(2001):651-688).
Of every 20 rapes, only one will result in the rapist spending a day in prison (RAINN.org)

Who sexually assaults?

Almost two-thirds of all rapes were committed by someone who is known to the victim:
67% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger,
47% of perpetrators were a friend or acquaintance of the victim,
17% were an intimate partner, and
3% were another relative. (National Crime Victimization Survey, 2004)

What is the impact of rape?

Victims of rape are 13.4 times more likely to develop two or more alcohol related problems and 26 times more likely to have two or more serious drug abuse-related problems (Kilpatrick, Dean and Aciemo. Mental Health Needs of Crime Victims: Epidemiology and Outcomes." Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2003,:1612)

Which populations are the most vulnerable to sexual crimes?

81% of female inpatients diagnosed with mental illness have been victims of sexual abuse and/or physical abuse at some point in their lives (Jacobson, physical and Sexual Assault Histories Among Psychiatric Outpatients, 1989)
Women with disabilities are at greater risk of abuse, particularly those in institutional settings, than women in the general population (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Women, Abuse, and Mental Health: Shaping a National Agenda, 1993)
As many as 76% of adults diagnosed with cognitive impairment are also victims/survivors of sexual violence (Centers for Disease Control, National Center for injury Prevention and Control, 1996).