Rape statistics

In the year 2000, the crime of rape remains the least reported, least indicted, and least convicted of any major felony. Only 16 out of 100 victims report the crime to police, and only 1 in 100 convicted rapists serve a prison term of more than one year. Shockingly, the figures grow worse instead of better. According to the most recent findings of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, rape reporting rates are on the decline.

Rape is a recidivist crime, with an average of 7 assaults committed by each perpetrator.

There were 200,000 rapes or attempted rapes and 133,000 sexual assaults in the US committed against people 12 and older in 1998. \
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, July 1999)

Given the above number and that Massachusetts represents 2.3% of the nation's population, the rate of adolescent and adult sexual assault in Massachusetts alone is approximately 7,645 per year, 637 per month, 21 per day and 1 per hour.
(U.S. Bureau of the Census, MA population projections, 1995 & National Crime Victimization Survey, 1999)

Black women had higher rape and sexual assault rates than white women and women with lower household income levels had higher rape and sexual assault rates than women with higher income levels in 1998.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, July 1999

88% of sexual assault survivors knew the perpetrator.
(MA Department of Public Health, Sexual Assault in MA 1988-1997: Findings from the Publicly-Funded Rape Crisis Centers and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, November 1999)

The number of reports of assaults on women by an intimate partner (current/former spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or date) rose from 11% of reports to 20% between 1988 and 1997.
(ibid)

There were 9,636 sexual assault hotline calls reported from rape crisis centers in fiscal year 1999.
(MA Department of Public Health)

10% of MA residents surveyed believe that "It might be OK" to make a spouse have sex without his or her consent.
(MA Department of Public Health, Sexual Assault in MA 1988-1997, November 1999)

The number one reason survivors did not report to police from 1994 to 1996 was because of embarrassment, shame, and the desire to keep the assault a secret.
(MA Department of Public Health, Sexual Assault in Massachusetts 1988-1999

Studies say that one of four women will be raped in their lifetime. 84% will know their attacker.
(1985 Ms. Study)

Battering is the greatest cause of injury to women in the USA-more than car accidents and muggings combined.
(National Coalition of Battered Women.)

One in four females, and one in seven male children will be sexually abused before age eighteen.
(Community Programs Against Assault)

Every two minutes in America, someone is sexually assaulted or raped (RAINN calculation based on 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey [NCVS] conducted by the Bureau of Justice Services, U. S. Department of Justice [DOJ]).

It is estimated that 20-25% of college women will be victims of an attempted of completed rape during their college careers. In 90% of cases, the offender is known to the victim, usually a classmate, friend or acquaintance.
(Fisher B, Cullen F, Turner M. The Sexual Victimization of College Women. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics, DOJ, 2000).

Harvard University Police Department reports that 52 sexual offenses occurred on the Cambridge campus and were reported to the police in 2004 (Note: rape is a significantly underreported offense).

In the 2004-2005 school year, 61 Harvard students sought assistance from the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (OSAPR) last ear after experience a rape of sexual assault.

50% of the assaults reported to OSAPR in the 2004-2005 school involved alcohol, either on the part of the victim or perpetrator.

**Many of the above statistics are provided by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center ( http://barcc.org