Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
MARCH 2013
Special Report
NCJ 240655
Figure 1
Rape and sexual assault victimization rates among females, 19952010
Rate per 1,000 females age 12 or older
5
Total
Completed
Attempted
Threatened
4
3
2
1
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year.
See appendix table 2 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010
HIGHLIGHTS
BJS
Table 1
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
victim characteristics, 19941998, 19992004, and 2005
2010
Victim characteristic
Total
Age
1217
1834
3564
65 or older
Race/Hispanic origin
Whitea
Blacka
Hispanic/Latina
American Indian/Alaska Nativea
Asian/Pacific Islandera
Two or more racesa
Marital statusb
Never married
Married
Widowed
Divorced or separated
Household income
Less than $25,000
$25,000$49,999
$50,000 or more
Unknown
Location of residence
Urban
Suburban
Rural
7.6
5.3
1.8
0.2 !
4.1
3.7
1.5
0.2 !
4.3
4.2
4.3
6.4 !
2.5
~
3.1
4.1
1.8
4.8 !
1.2
6.6 !
2.2
2.8
1.4
4.5 !
0.7 !
5.1 !
8.6
1.3
0.8
9.0
6.6
0.7
0.2 !
6.3
4.1
0.6
0.8
4.4
6.1
3.3
2.9
3.5
5.6
2.7
2.0
2.1
3.5
1.9
1.8
1.8
5.1
3.9
3.9
4.0
2.7
2.5
2.2
1.8
3.0
Figure 2
Rape and sexual assault victimizations, by sex of victim, 19952010
Rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or older
5
4
3
Female
2
1
0
Male
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year.
See appendix table 4 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010.
Table 2
Activity and location of female victims when rape or sexual
assault victimization occurred, 19941998, 19992004, and
20052010
Table 3
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females,
by number of offenders and victim-offender relationship,
19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Offender characteristic
19941998 19992004 20052010
Number of offenders
100%
100%
100%
One
93
91
90
Two or more
7
9
10
Victim-offender relationshipa
100%
100%
100%
Stranger
21
25
22
Nonstranger
79
75
78
Intimate partnerb
28
30
34
Relative
9
3
6
Well-known/casual acquaintance
42
42
38
18
12
16
5
15
12
10
8
14
100%
12
4
46
14
100%
9
9
41
15
100%
12
7
48
30
8
35
6
29
5
Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 7 for
standard errors.
aDoes not include a small percentage of victimizations in which the victimoffender relationship was unknown.
bIncludes former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 6 for
standard errors.
*Includes locations such as an apartment yard; a park, field, or playground not on
school property; a location on the street other than that immediately adjacent to
home of the victim, a relative, or a friend; on public transportation; in a station or
depot for bus or train; on a plane; or in an airport.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Table 4
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
perceived offender characteristics, 19941998, 19992004,
and 20052010
Offender characteristics
Age
17 or younger
1820
2129
30 or older
Othera
Raceb
White
Black
Other
Mixed group
Unknown
Alcohol/drug use at time of incident
Yes
No
Unknown
Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 8 for
standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
aIncludes multiple offenders of varying ages and offenders of unknown age.
bThe NCVS did not collect information on the ethnicity of the offender. Therefore,
Hispanic offenders make up some portion of the white, black, and other race of
offender categories.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Table 5
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
offender weapon possession, 19941998, 19992004, and
20052010
Weapon present
Total
No weapon
Weapon
Firearm
Knife
Other/unknown type
Dont know
Table 7
Female victims of rape and sexual assault who received
assistance from a victim service agency, 19941998,
19992004, and 20052010
Total
Received assistance
Did not receive assistance
Figure 3
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females
reported to police, 19952010
Percent
100
80
60
40
20
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent
year. See appendix table 12 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Table 8
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females
reported and not reported to police, 19941998, 19992004,
and 20052010
Reporting to police
Total
Not reported
Reported
Source of report
Victim
Other household member
An official other than police
Someone else
Police were at crime scene
Other
Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 13 for
standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Table 9
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females reported and not reported to police, by most important reason for
reporting or not reporting, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Total
Reported
Reason reported
To stop incident or prevent recurrence or escalation
To get help or recover loss
To protect respondent and household from further crimes by the offender
To catch/punish/prevent offender from reoffending
To improve police surveillance/duty to tell police/because it was a crime
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
Not reported
Reason not reported
Reported to different official
Personal matter
Not important enough to respondent
Police could not do anything to help
Police would not do anything to help
Did not want to get offender in trouble with law
Advised not to report
Fear of reprisal
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
19941998
100%
29%
100%
17
2!
18
14
27
21
71%
100%
10
23
7
2
6
5
1!
17
29
19992004
100%
41%
100%
15
2!
18
20
22
22
59%
100%
10
19
7
2!
8
4
-- !
16
34
20052010
100%
36%
100%
25
3!
28
17
21
6!
64%
100%
8
13
8
2!
13
7
-- !
20
30
Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. Reason for reporting or not reporting represents the reason the victim stated was most important. See appendix
table 14 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
--Less than 0.5%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010.
Table 10
Rape or sexual assault victimizations against females with
police response, by type of response, 19941998, 1999
2004, and 20052010
Total
Not reported
Reported
Police came when notified*
Yes
No
Unknown/other
Table 11
Initial police response to rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, 19941998, 19992004, and
20052010
Initial police response
19941998 19992004 20052010
Made arrest at scene
20%
12%
19%
Promised to investigate and/
or promised surveillance
20
38
13
Questioned witnesses and/or searched
44
47
48
Took evidence
8
10
19
Took report
82
72
86
Other
21
17
19
Note: Includes reported rape or sexual assault victimizations to which police
responded or the victim went to the police. See appendix table 16 for standard
errors. Each period, a small percentage (between 0.5% and 5.1%) of victims
stated that they did not know if police performed any activity during the initial
response. An additional 2.7% to 4.2% of victims did not provide a valid response
regarding the initial police response.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Methodology
Survey coverage
10
Appendix table 1
Female rape and sexual assault victimization rates, 19952010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Total
Average
annual count
555,600
443,300
450,100
436,400
458,900
452,100
390,700
366,200
304,300
277,600
221,100
276,300
298,400
273,500
297,900
269,700
Rate*
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.1
2.5
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.3
2.1
Completed
Average
annual count
Rate*
402,000
3.6
304,300
2.7
301,400
2.7
322,100
2.8
346,000
3.0
352,200
3.0
286,400
2.4
244,100
2.1
212,200
1.7
204,500
1.7
158,700
1.3
183,500
1.5
194,200
1.5
168,500
1.3
168,800
1.3
143,300
1.1
Attempted
Average
annual count
Rate*
83,900
0.8
56,400
0.5
55,200
0.5
62,600
0.5
82,300
0.7
71,300
0.6
67,400
0.6
70,700
0.6
57,900
0.5
55,000
0.4
42,900
0.3
60,200
0.5
68,500
0.5
76,200
0.6
86,300
0.7
89,300
0.7
Threatened
Average
annual count
Rate*
69,800
0.6
82,600
0.7
93,500
0.8
51,700
0.5
30,600
0.3
28,600
0.2
36,800
0.3
51,400
0.4
34,200
0.3
18,000
0.1
19,500
0.2
32,600
0.3
35,700
0.3
28,900
0.2
42,900
0.3
37,000
0.3
Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year. See appendix table 2 for standard errors.
*Per 1,000 females age 12 or older.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010.
Appendix table 2
Standard errors for figure 1 and appendix table 1: Female rape and sexual assault victimization rates, 19952010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Total
Average
annual count
43,100
38,300
41,000
43,000
42,600
40,600
40,400
38,500
32,700
33,600
34,500
37,000
40,800
37,200
38,900
37,000
Rate*
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Completed
Average
annual count
Rate*
35,800
0.2
31,000
0.2
32,800
0.2
36,100
0.2
36,100
0.2
35,200
0.2
33,800
0.2
30,600
0.2
26,700
0.2
28,400
0.2
28,800
0.2
29,600
0.2
32,200
0.2
28,400
0.2
28,500
0.2
26,000
0.1
Attempted
Average
annual count
15,200
12,400
13,100
14,600
16,100
14,500
15,200
15,500
13,200
14,000
14,400
16,300
18,300
18,500
19,800
20,100
Rate*
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Threatened
Average
annual count
Rate*
13,800
0.1
15,200
0.1
17,300
0.1
13,200
0.1
9,400
0.1
8,900
0.1
11,000
0.1
13,000
0.1
10,000
0.1
7,800
-9,600
0.1
11,800
0.1
12,900
0.1
11,100
0.1
13,700
0.1
12,500
0.1
11
Appendix table 3
Rape and sexual assault victimization rates, by sex of victim, 19952010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
All persons
Average
annual count
Rate*
618,800
2.9
500,200
2.3
495,400
2.3
472,300
2.1
491,300
2.2
479,100
2.1
421,700
1.8
413,200
1.8
337,600
1.4
290,500
1.2
231,800
1.0
335,700
1.4
355,900
1.4
299,000
1.2
327,600
1.3
287,100
1.1
Female
Average
annual count
555,600
443,300
450,100
436,400
458,900
452,100
390,700
366,200
304,300
277,600
221,100
276,300
298,400
273,500
297,900
269,700
Male
Rate*
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.1
2.5
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.3
2.1
Average
annual count
63,100
56,900
45,200
35,900
32,400
27,100
31,000
47,000
33,300
12,900 !
10,600 !
59,400
57,500
25,400
29,700
17,400
Rate*
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.1 !
0.1 !
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.1
Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year. See appendix table 4 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
*Per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010.
Appendix table 4
Standard errors for figure 2 and appendix table 3: Rape and sexual assault victimization rates, by sex of victim, 19952010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
All persons
Average annual count
45,800
41,000
43,300
45,100
44,300
42,000
42,200
41,300
34,700
34,500
35,400
41,200
45,100
39,100
41,100
38,400
Rate*
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Female
Average annual count
43,100
38,300
41,000
43,000
42,600
40,600
40,400
38,500
32,700
33,600
34,500
37,000
40,800
37,200
38,900
37,000
Rate*
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Male
Average annual count
13,100
12,500
11,800
10,900
9,700
8,600
10,000
12,400
9,800
6,600
7,000
16,200
16,700
10,400
11,300
8,400
Rate*
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
--
12
Appendix table 5
Standard errors for table 1: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by victim characteristics,
19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Victim characteristic
Total
Age
1217
1834
3564
65 or older
Race/Hispanic origin
White
Black
Hispanic/Latina
American Indian/Alaska native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Two or more races
Marital status
Never married
Married
Widowed
Divorced or separated
Household income
Less than $25,000
$25,000$49,999
$50,000 or more
Unknown
Location of residence
Urban
Suburban
Rural
0.6
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.5
2.6
0.6
~
0.2
0.4
0.3
2.1
0.4
3.1
0.2
0.4
0.3
2.3
0.3
1.8
0.5
0.1
0.2
0.7
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.4
Appendix table 6
Standard errors for table 2: Activity and location of female
victims when rape and sexual assault occurred, 19941998,
19992004, and 20052010
Location and activity
Location when crime occurred
At or near victims home
At or near home of friend/relative/
acquaintance
Commercial place/parking lot
or garage
School
Open areas/public transportation/
other
Activity when crime occurred
Working
Attending school
Sleeping/other activities at home
Traveling to or from work, school,
other place/shopping or errands/
leisure activity away from home
Other/unknown
1.4
1.8
1.3
0.8
1.4
1.2
1.7
1.5
1.3
~
1.2%
0.7
1.9
1.3
~
1.1%
1.1
1.9
2.0
~
1.8%
1.4
2.8
1.7
1.0
1.8
0.9
2.5
1.2
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
13
Appendix table 7
Standard errors for table 3: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by number of offenders and
victim-offender relationship, 19941998, 19992004, and
20052010
Offender characteristic
Number of offenders
One
Two or more
Victim-offender relationship
Stranger
Nonstranger
Intimate partner
Relative
Well-known/casual aquaintance
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Appendix table 8
Standard errors for table 4: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by perceived offender
characteristics, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Offender characteristics
Age
17 or younger
1820
2129
30 or older
Other
Race
White
Black
Other
Mixed group
Unknown
Alcohol/drug use at time of incident
Yes
No
Unknown
Appendix table 9
Standard errors for table 5: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by offender weapon
possession, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Weapon present
Total
No weapon
Weapon
Firearm
Knife
Other/unknown type
Dont know
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Appendix table 10
Standard errors for table 6: Injured female victims of rape
and sexual assault who received treatment, 19941998,
19992004, and 20052010
Injury
19941998 19992004 20052010
No injury
1.9%
1.9%
2.8%
Any injury
1.9%
2.0%
2.8%
Treatment for injury
~
~
~
No treatment
2.2%
2.6%
3.5%
Any treatment
2.2
2.5
3.5
Treatment setting
~
~
~
At scene or home of victim/
neighbor/friend
4.5%
3.8%
4.7%
In doctors office/hospital/
emergency room/overnight hospital
4.6
3.9
4.8
In other location/unknown
1.4
1.3
1.1
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
14
Appendix table 11
Standard errors for table 7: Female victims of rape and
sexual assault who received assistance from a victim service
agency, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
19941998 19992004 20052010
~
~
~
1.6%
1.7%
2.4%
1.6
1.8
2.4
Total
Received assistance
Did not receive assistance
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
Appendix table 12
Standard errors for figure 3: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females reported to police, 1995
2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Percent
29%
27
28
27
28
32
40
46
56
45
32
32
34
40
32
35
Standard error
2.2%
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.6
2.6
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.0
4.8
3.8
4.0
4.3
3.9
4.2
Appendix table 13
Standard errors for table 8: Rape and sexual victimizations
against females reported and not reported to police,
19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Reporting to police
Total
Not reported
Reported
Source of report
Victim
Other household member
An official other than police
Someone else
Police were at crime scene
Other
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
15
Appendix table 14
Standard errors for table 9: Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females reported and not reported to police,
by most important reason for reporting or not reporting, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Total
Reported
Reason reported
To stop incident or prevent recurrance or escalation
To get help or recover loss
To protect respondent and household from further crimes by this offender
To catch/punish/prevent offender from reoffending
To improve police surveillance/duty to tell police/because it was a crime
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
Not reported
Reason not reported
Reported to different official
Personal matter
Not important enough to respondent
Police could not do anything to help
Police would not do anything to help
Did not want to get offender in trouble with law
Advised not to report
Fear of reprisal
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
19941998
~
1.7%
~
3.5%
1.4
3.6
3.3
4.2
3.8
1.7%
~
1.3%
1.8
1.1
0.6
1.0
0.9
0.3
1.6
2.0
19992004
~
1.9%
~
2.8%
1.2
2.9
3.1
3.2
3.2
1.9%
~
1.5%
1.9
1.3
0.6
1.3
0.9
-1.8
2.3
20052010
~
2.7%
~
4.9%
2.0
5.1
4.2
4.6
2.6
2.7%
~
1.8%
2.3
1.8
0.9
2.3
1.8
-2.8
3.2
~Not applicable.
--Less than 0.05%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 19942010.
Appendix table 15
Standard errors for table 10: Rape or sexual assault
victimization against females, with police response, by type
of response, 19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Appendix table 16
Standard errors for table 11: Initial police response to rape
and sexual assault victimizations against females,
19941998, 19992004, and 20052010
Responses
Total
Not reported
Reported
Police came when notified
Yes
No
Unknown/other
2.4%
2.1
1.2
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
19942010.
3.5%
3.2
1.3
16
The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of
Justice. William J. Sabol is the acting director.
This report was written by Michael Planty and Lynn Langton of BJS and
Christopher Krebs, Marcus Berzofsky, and Hope Smiley-McDonald from RTI
International. RTI International and Jennifer Truman verified the report.
Catherine Bird and Jill Thomas edited the report, and Barbara Quinn and Tina
Dorsey produced the report under the supervision of Doris J. James.
March 2013, NCJ 240655
NCJ240655
Office of Justice Programs
Innovation Partnerships Safer Neighborhoods
www.ojp.usdoj.gov