Silent Victims

Some people go for years not reporting being raped. These are called Silent Victims. One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by victims for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant.

FACTS

· In 2001, only 39% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials - about one in every three.
· Of sexually abused children in grades five through twelve, 48% of the boys and 29% of the girls had told no one about the abuse-not even a friend or sibling.

FACTS

The rapist isn't a masked man…
· Approximately 66% of rape victims know their assailant.
· Approximately 48% of victims are raped by a friend or acquaintance; 30% by a stranger; 16% by an intimate; 2% by another relative; and in 4% of cases the relationship is unknown.

FACTS

And he's not hiding in the bushes…
Statistics in this section are from: Sex Offenses and Offenders. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, February 1997:

· About four out of ten sexual assaults take place at the victim's own home. Two in ten take place in the home of a friend, neighbor or relative. One in ten take place outside, away from home. And about one in 12 take place in a parking garage.
· More than half of all rape/sexual assault incidents were reported by victims to have occurred within one mile of their home or at their home.
· 43% of rapes occur between 6 pm and midnight. 24% occur between midnight and 6am. The other 33% take place between 6am and 6pm.

Source from www.rainn.org

What to do if you are Raped