Sexual Violence - A DefinitionSexual violence is an umbrella term for many different types of victimizations, including:
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Sexual Violence Statistics - A Quick Look
A recent study found that one in five adult Maine residents reports that they have been the victim of rape or attempted rape during their lifetime.[1] Almost 36% of female respondents and 10% of male respondents have experienced this devastating crime at some point in their lives. That means that there are about 14,000 Maine victims of sexual assault per year.[2]
14,000 Mainers may seem high compared to how little we hear about sexual violence, especially when we consider that in 2015 only 373 rapes or attempted rapes were reported to law enforcement in Maine.[3] Rape and sexual assault are the most underreported crimes in the United States.[4]
Nationally, one in five women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Nearly 1 in 2 women have experienced sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime.[5] 1 in 5 men have experienced a form of sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime.[6]
Only 2-8% of all sexual assault reports to law enforcement turn out to be false. This is the same rate as other types of violent crimes.[7]
Rape has the highest annual victim costs compared to all other crimes except child sexual assault; this cost has been estimated at $127 billion per year.[8]
14,000 Mainers may seem high compared to how little we hear about sexual violence, especially when we consider that in 2015 only 373 rapes or attempted rapes were reported to law enforcement in Maine.[3] Rape and sexual assault are the most underreported crimes in the United States.[4]
Nationally, one in five women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Nearly 1 in 2 women have experienced sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime.[5] 1 in 5 men have experienced a form of sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime.[6]
Only 2-8% of all sexual assault reports to law enforcement turn out to be false. This is the same rate as other types of violent crimes.[7]
Rape has the highest annual victim costs compared to all other crimes except child sexual assault; this cost has been estimated at $127 billion per year.[8]
Additional Maine Statistics
Children & Adolescents
Approximately 50% of calls to Maine’s sexual assault helpline relate to child sexual abuse.[9]
According to the Children’s Safety Network and Data Analysis Resource Center, the comprehensive costs of sexual abuse of children in Maine in 2004 were $138,057,000. This estimate takes into consideration future earnings, medical and mental health expenses, and public programs, among other things.[10]
Approximately 7.1% of Maine high school students (10.0% of girls and 4.1% of boys) report that they have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse. 14.8% of girls and 5.% of boys report having been forced to have sexual contact in any way in their lifetime.[11]
17.2% of Maine high school students (23.4% of girls and 11.1% of boys) report having been the target of offensive sexual comments at school or on the way to or from school in their lifetime.[12]
In FY 2015, Maine’s sexual assault crisis and support centers provided prevention education sessions to over 60,000 Maine K-12 students.[13]
Mental Health & Substance Use
48.6% of adult Maine sexual assault survivors report that they have ever been diagnosed as depressed, as opposed to 17.5% individuals who have never been sexually assaulted.[14]
38.3% of adult Maine sexual assault survivors report that they have ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, as opposed to 14.2% of individuals who have never been sexually assaulted.[15]
28.7% of women sexual assault survivors in Maine report they drank heavily in the past month (compared to 4.4% of individuals who have never been sexually assaulted).[16]
Of Maine youth who experience forced sexual contact OR forced sex, 35-37% consider suicide, as compared with only 9-10% of their peers who have not experienced sexual violence.[17]
Approximately 50% of calls to Maine’s sexual assault helpline relate to child sexual abuse.[9]
According to the Children’s Safety Network and Data Analysis Resource Center, the comprehensive costs of sexual abuse of children in Maine in 2004 were $138,057,000. This estimate takes into consideration future earnings, medical and mental health expenses, and public programs, among other things.[10]
Approximately 7.1% of Maine high school students (10.0% of girls and 4.1% of boys) report that they have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse. 14.8% of girls and 5.% of boys report having been forced to have sexual contact in any way in their lifetime.[11]
17.2% of Maine high school students (23.4% of girls and 11.1% of boys) report having been the target of offensive sexual comments at school or on the way to or from school in their lifetime.[12]
In FY 2015, Maine’s sexual assault crisis and support centers provided prevention education sessions to over 60,000 Maine K-12 students.[13]
Mental Health & Substance Use
48.6% of adult Maine sexual assault survivors report that they have ever been diagnosed as depressed, as opposed to 17.5% individuals who have never been sexually assaulted.[14]
38.3% of adult Maine sexual assault survivors report that they have ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, as opposed to 14.2% of individuals who have never been sexually assaulted.[15]
28.7% of women sexual assault survivors in Maine report they drank heavily in the past month (compared to 4.4% of individuals who have never been sexually assaulted).[16]
Of Maine youth who experience forced sexual contact OR forced sex, 35-37% consider suicide, as compared with only 9-10% of their peers who have not experienced sexual violence.[17]
Citations
[1] Dumont, R & Shaler, G. (2015). Maine Crime Victimization Report: Informing public policy for safer communities. Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine
[2] Ibid.
[3] Maine Department of Public Safety. (2016). Crime in Maine - 2015. Augusta, ME.
[4] Truman, J. & Morgan. (2016). Criminal victimization, 2015. US Dept of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv15.pdf
[5] Black, M.C., et al. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Lonsway, K., Archambault, J., & Lisak, D. (2009). False reports: Moving beyond the issue to successfully investigate and prosecute non-stranger sexual assault. American Prosecutors Research Institute, 3(1).
[8] American College of Emergency Physicians. (1999). Evaluation and management of the sexually assaulted or sexually abused patient. Retrieved from acep.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=8984
[9] Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. (2016). MECASA Center Service Statistics.
[10] Children’s Safety Network Economic and Data Analysis Resource Center at Pacific Institute. for Research and Evaluation. (2005). Cost of child abuse and neglect in Maine. Calverton, MD.
[11] Maine Centers for Disease Control. (2014). 2015 Maine integrated youth health survey. Retrieved from https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/report_fact_sheets
[12] Ibid.
[13] Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. (2016). MECASA Center Service Statistics.
[14] Maine Centers for Disease Control (2006). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Maine Centers for Disease Control. (2014). Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/data/miyhs/
[1] Dumont, R & Shaler, G. (2015). Maine Crime Victimization Report: Informing public policy for safer communities. Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine
[2] Ibid.
[3] Maine Department of Public Safety. (2016). Crime in Maine - 2015. Augusta, ME.
[4] Truman, J. & Morgan. (2016). Criminal victimization, 2015. US Dept of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv15.pdf
[5] Black, M.C., et al. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Lonsway, K., Archambault, J., & Lisak, D. (2009). False reports: Moving beyond the issue to successfully investigate and prosecute non-stranger sexual assault. American Prosecutors Research Institute, 3(1).
[8] American College of Emergency Physicians. (1999). Evaluation and management of the sexually assaulted or sexually abused patient. Retrieved from acep.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=8984
[9] Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. (2016). MECASA Center Service Statistics.
[10] Children’s Safety Network Economic and Data Analysis Resource Center at Pacific Institute. for Research and Evaluation. (2005). Cost of child abuse and neglect in Maine. Calverton, MD.
[11] Maine Centers for Disease Control. (2014). 2015 Maine integrated youth health survey. Retrieved from https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/report_fact_sheets
[12] Ibid.
[13] Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. (2016). MECASA Center Service Statistics.
[14] Maine Centers for Disease Control (2006). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Maine Centers for Disease Control. (2014). Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/data/miyhs/
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