Sexual Assault Statistics - Nicole Holmes, PhD

Sexual Assault Statistics

6.3 million Texans have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime¹
2 in 5 women in Texas have been sexually assaulted¹
1 in 5 men in Texas have been sexually assaulted¹
The Majority of sexual assaults occur near or within the victims Home⁴
55% were at home
15% were in an open public area
12% were at a relative’s home
10% were at an enclosed public area
8% were at school or work

What was the survivor doing when the crime occurred?⁴

48% were sleeping, or performing another activity at home
29% were traveling to and from work or school, or traveling to shop or run errands
12% were working
7% were attending school
5% were doing an unknown or other activity
In 9 out of 10 sexual assaults, the victim knew their offender.
93% of child victims of sexual assault knew their offender.⁴
- 59% were acquaintances
- 34% were family members
- 7% were strangers to the victim

Most perpetrators of sexual assault are never held accountable for their crime!

91% of sexual assault victims did not report to law enforcement¹
Over 94% of rapists roam free with only 3% ever spending a day in jail⁴

Of the sexual violence crimes reported to police from 2005-2010, the survivor reporting gave the following reasons for doing so:⁴

28% to protect the household or victim from further crimes by the offender
25% to stop the incident or prevent recurrence or escalation
21% to improve police surveillance or they believed they had a duty to do so
17% to catch/punish/prevent offender from reoffending
6% gave a different answer, or declined to cite one reason
3% did so to get help or recover loss

Of the sexual violence crimes not reported to police from 2005-2010, the victim gave the following reasons for not reporting:⁴

20% feared retaliation
13% believed the police would not do anything to help
13% believed it was a personal matter
8% reported to a different official
8% believed it was not important enough to report
7% did not want to get the perpetrator in trouble
2% believed the police could not do anything to help
30% gave another reason, or did not cite one reason

Statistic References:

^{1. Busch-Armendariz, N.B., Olaya, D., Kerwick, M., Wachter, K. & Sulley, C. (2015). Health and well-being: Texas statewide sexual assault prevalence. The University of Texas at Austin, Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault: Austin, Texas}

^{2.Retrieved from: http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/cac-statistics}

^{3. Madigan, T. (2012). The serial rapists is not who you think. Star Telegram Online Retrieved from: www.star-telegram.com/2012/08/19/4191666/the-serial-rapist-is-not-who-you.html}

^{4. Retrieved from: http://www.rainn.org}