Reporting Rates of Sexual Assault

March 7, 2011

Reporting Rates

Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60% still being left unreported.1 Males are the least likely to report a sexual assault, though they make up about 10% of all victims.1

What happens to Rapists when they are Caught and Prosecuted?

60% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police, according to a statistical average of the past 5 years.2 Those rapists, of course, never spend a day in prison. Factoring in unreported rapes, only about 6% of rapists ever serve a day in jail.

If a rape is reported, there is a 50.8% chance of an arrest. If an arrest is made, there is an 80% chance of prosecution. If there is a prosecution, there is a 58% chance of a conviction. If there is a felony conviction, there is a 69% chance the convict will spend time in jail. So even in the 39% of attacks that are reported to the police, there is only a 16.#% chance the rapist will end up in prison. Factoring in unreported rapes, about 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail. 15 of 16 walk free.

References
1.        U.S. Department of Justice.2005 National Crime Victimization Study. 2005.
2.        Bureau of Justice Statistics. Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention. 1992-2000.
3.        National Center for Policy Analysis. Crime and Punishment in America. 1999.
http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/reporting-rates

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