Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person. It may include inappropriate or forced touching, kissing, penetration or oral sex. Every year, an estimated 300,000 women are raped and 3.7 million are confronted with unwanted sexual activity. Although the action usually bears criminal consequences, in some instances there may also be civil remedies against the individual and his/her employer.
Sexual Assault in the United States
- One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.
- In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
- 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance.
- 52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger.
- Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
- 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male.
- In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator.
- Eight percent of rapes occur while the victim is at work.
Cost & Impact of Sexual Assault
- The lifetime cost of rape per victim is $122,461.
- Annually, rape costs the U.S. more than any other crime ($127 billion), followed by assault ($93 billion), murder ($71 billion), and drunk driving, including fatalities ($61 billion).
- 81% of women and 35% of men report significant short- or long-term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Health care is 16% higher for women who were sexually abused as children and 36% higher for women who were physically and sexually abused as children.
Campus Sexual Assault
- 20% – 25% of college women and 15% of college men are victims of forced sex during their time in college.
- A 2002 study revealed that 63.3% of men at one university who self-reported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat rapes.
- More than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault.
- 27% of college women have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact.
- Nearly two thirds of college students experience sexual harassment.
Crime Reports
- Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police.
- The prevalence of false reporting is low between 2% and 10%. For example, a study of eight U.S. communities, which included 2,059 cases of sexual assault, found a 7.1% rate of false reports. A study of 136 sexual assault cases in Boston found a 5.9% rate of false reports. Researchers studied 812 reports of sexual assault from 2000-2003 and found a 2.1% rate of false reports.
(Resource: https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics)
In contrast to claims filed under Title VII, there may be no limit to the amount of damages an employer may be forced to pay if they lose a case of sexual assault in a civil court.
If you were sexually assaulted, our attorneys have the knowledge and experience you need in both the criminal and civil courts. Contact us today for your free consultation.