Facts About Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a violation of one's personal integrity. In legal terms, sexual assault is any forced sexual contact, from unwanted touching to penetration. Sexual assault is a crime.

Sexual assault could happen to anyone, female or male, adult or child. It occurs across all races, ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic classes.

Information about sexual assault can help you reduce your vulnerability and enable you to be a resource for others. It is "first aid" to the survivor.

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 to 10 boys are sexually assaulted by age 18

(Finkelhor, 1984).

1 in 4 women college students was found to be a victim of rape or attempted

rape in a national study involving 32 college campuses (Koss, 1988).

In Virginia, 77% of rape victims last year knew their attacker (Virginians

Aligned Against Sexual Assault, 1990).

Up to 10 times more than the number of rapes reported actually occur; the

figure is estimated as much higher for acquaintance rapes (FBI Uniform

Crime Report, 1990).

Physical force does not necessarily accompany an assault. Coercion by

authority, fear, or threat can be a factor.

It is likely that you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault. Knowing how to get help for yourself, a friend, or a client is crucial to a healthy recovery and minimized long-term effects.