11 Facts about Sexual Assault
- Approximately, 1.8 million adolescents in the U.S. have been the victims of sexual assault.
- Females comprise 8 in 10 of all juvenile victims.
- 33% of sexual assaults occur when the victim is between the ages of 12 and 17.
- Teens 16 to 19 years of age are 3 ½ times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
- Each year, about 4,000 incidents of rape or other types of sexual assault occur in public schools across the country.
- 7 out of 10 rape or sexual assault victims know their attackers.
- The large majority of rapes and sexual assaults are not reported. In 1999, only 28.3% were reported to police.
- 42% of girls younger than 15 years report that their first intercourse was nonconsensual.
- A history of sexual abuse has been linked to high-risk behaviors including having unprotected sex, experimentation with drugs and alcohol, and high rates of eating disorders.
- 48% of surveyed teens believe that if a girl says yes to sex and then changes her mind and the guy has sex with her anyway, it is not sexual assault. According to the law, it is in fact rape.
- 41% of surveyed teens believe that if a girl had sex with a guy before, it is not sexual assault if he forces her to have sex later. According to the law, it is in fact sexual assault.
Sources:
Wisconsin Coalition against Sexual Assault
