Thursday 22 March 2012

Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP) SEXUAL ASSAULT: MYTHS AND FACTS

MYTH: ONLY ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMEN ARE VICTIMS OF RAPE.

FACT: Women of all ages are equally vulnerable to rape though the victimization rate increases

through the teenage years, crests around age 20 and steadily decreases through the

remaining years1

MYTH: PROFESSIONAL WOMEN AGES 25 TO 29 ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE

ASSAULTED THAN WOMEN AGES 18 TO 21.

FACT: Numbers of rapes and sexual assaults for individuals ages 18 to 21 were 2.5 times higher

than for individuals ages 25 to 29.1

MYTH: SEXUAL ASSAULT IS COMMITTED BY A STRANGER.

FACT: 80% of victims know the person who sexually assaults them. Females are more likely to be

raped in a private home (their own, that of a neighbor, friend or relative) than any other

place.2

MYTH: WOMEN WHO DRESS PROVOCATIVELY AND FREQUENTS BARS ARE MORE

TOBLAME FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAN WOMEN WHO DRESS

CONSERVATIVELY.

FACT: Rape is a crime committed against a victim. The rapist is responsible for the assault not the

victim.2

MYTH: CHILDREN WHO ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ARE GENERALLY ATTACKED

BY A STRANGER.

FACT: More than half of all children who are sexually assaulted under the age of 12 are assaulted

by a relative.2

MYTH: SEXUAL ASSAULTS ONLY HAPPEN AT NIGHT.

FACT: Though sexual assaults occur at all hours of the day and night, they tend to occur most often

between noon and 6 p.m. in a private home.2

MYTH: MOST RAPES ARE REPORTED.

FACT: More than two-thirds of all rapes and sexual assaults measured by the National Crime

Victimization Survey (NCVS) remained unreported to law enforcement.2

MYTH: SEXUAL ASSAULT OCCURS ONLY IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS.

FACT: While sexual assault does occur in upper middle and lower socioeconomic areas it is more

prevalent on lower socioeconomic areas.3

MYTH: THE MAJORITY OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF RAPE ARE MEMBERS OF

MINORITY GROUPS.

FACT: Federal statistics show the characteristics of convicted persons categorized as rapists to be: 99

in 100 are males, 6 in 10 are Caucasian and the average age is the early 30s.4

MYTH: RAPISTS ARE RARELY CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO PRISON.

FACT: Over two thirds of convicted rape defendants received a prison sentence.4

MYTH: MOST CONVICTED RAPISTS RECEIVE ONLY A JUDICIAL SLAP ON THE

WRISTS.

FACT: For rape defendants sentenced to prison the average term imposed was just under 14 years.

2% of convicted rapists received life sentences.4

MYTH: A WOMAN IS RARELY RAPED AND VICTIMIZED MORE THAN ONCE.

FACT: 36% of the women raped reported being raped more than once.8

MYTH: WOMAN BELIEVE THAT PREVENTING RAPE IS COMPLETELY IN THEIR

CONTROL.

FACT: One out of every eight adult woman has been a victim of forcible rape sometime her lifetime.8

MYTH: SINCE WOMAN’S LIBERATION WOMAN HAVE BEGUN TO REPORT SEXUAL

ASSAULT MORE FREQUENTLY.

FACT: Rape remains the most under-reported violent crime in America. Approximately 84% of rape victims do not report to the police.8

SEXUAL ASSAULT FACTS

FACT: Rape and sexual assault offenders account for just under 5% of the total correctional

population in the US.4

FACT: Sexual assault offenders were substantially more likely than any other category of

offender to report having experienced physical or sexual abuse while growing up.4

FACT: In a 5 year average Montgomery County rates 4th in the state for reported rapes coming

in after Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Prince George’s County.5

FACT: Arrests of juveniles accounted for 13% of all violent crimes cleared by arrest more

specifically 12% of forcible rapes.5

FACT: The State of Maryland Crime Index trends report that forcible rapes decreased by 9%

between January-September 1996 to January-September 1997. 6

FACT: The Washington Metropolitan Region Crime Index trends which include Montgomery

County - forcible rape increase 1.5% from January-September 1996 to January-

September 1997. 6

FACT: In 1996, males experienced significantly higher victimization rates than females for all

violent crimes except rape/sexual assault.7

FACT: 50% of rape victims surveyed stated they would be more likely to report rape to the

police if there was a law prohibiting the news media from disclosing their names and

addresses.8

FACT: 69% of women raped feel that it is somehow their fault. 8

FACT: 49% of all rape victims reported being fearful of serious injury or death during the

rape.8

FACT: 42% of all agencies interviewed said that more than half of all their sexual assault

clients are unwilling to report rape to the police.8

FACT: 31% of all rape victims develop PTSD at sometime during their lifetime. Rape victims

are 6.2 times more likely to develop PTSD than women who have not been victims of

crime. (31% vs. 5%).8

FACT: Rape victims are 4.1 times more likely than non-crime victims to have contemplated

suicide. 13% of all rape victims actually attempt suicide.8

FACT: Rape victims are 5.3 times more likely to have 2 or more major alcohol related problems

(20.1% vs. 3.8%) and 3.7 times more likely to have 2 or more serious drug related

problems (7.8% vs. 2.1%).8

FACT: For most rape victims the age at which the first rape occurred was younger than the age

which they first became intoxicated or began using marijuana or cocaine.8

1 Perking, C.A., (1997). Age Patterns of Victims of Serious Violent Crime.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. Pg. 3. NCJ-162031

2 Craven, D., (1997). Sex Differences in Violent Victimization.1994.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. Pg. 2. NCJ-164508

3 Taylor, B.M. (1997). Changes in Criminal Victimization, 1994-95.

Bureau of justice Statistics – National Crime Victimization Survey. NCJ-162031

4 January 1997. Sex offenses and Offenders.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. NCJ-163931

5 Snyder 9, 1998. Uniform Crime Report. Preliminary Report: Juvenile Arrest.

6 January 9, 1998. Uniform Crime Report. Preliminary Report: January to September 1997.

7 November 19978. NCJ 165812.

8 Edmunds. C.N., Kilpatieck, D.G., & Seymour, A.K. (1992). Rape in America – A Report to the Nation.

Prepared by: National Victim Center & Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.

Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program

1301 Piccard Drive, Suite 4100

Rockville, MD 20850

(240)777-1355 TTY (240) 777-1357

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/vasap