10 Important Facts About Adult Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Abuse

Dec 7, 2023

Sexual violence – whether sexual assault, abuse, or harassment – occurs when there is no consent (or consent is not freely given). In the United States, sexual violence is deemed a major public health issue that often has a profound impact on victims, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sexual violence affects all communities and people of every gender, sexual orientation, and age. The vase majority of these types of crimes are perpetrated by someone that the victim knows (whether a coworker, a neighbor, a former or current intimate partner, a family member, someone the survivor met online, or a friend).

Dordulian Law Group’s Glendale, California, sexual assault attorneys have put together important facts on two of the most common types of sexual violence – adult sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse.

Top 10 Adult Sexual Assault Facts

1. One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.
2. In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
3. 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance.
4. 52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger.
5. Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
6. 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female.
7. In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator.
8. 8% of rapes occur while the victim is at work.
9. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a rape or attempted rape occurs every five minutes in the United States.
10. It is estimated that one in three girls and one six boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 18. Men, women and children of all ages, races, religions, and economic classes can be and have been victims of sexual assault (this type of crime occurs in rural areas, small towns, and major cities).

Top 10 Child Sexual Abuse Facts

1. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18
2. 30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first rape
3. 12.3% of women were age ten or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization
4. 27.8% of men were age ten or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization
5. More than one third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult
6. 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults
7. 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child
8. It is estimated that 325,000 children per year are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation
9. The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12-14 years old, and the average age at which boys first become victims of prostitution is 11-13 years old
10. Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities

What to Do if You’ve Been Victimized by Sexual Assault or Abuse

Contacting law enforcement to report sexual violence is strongly recommended. That said, many survivors may not feel comfortable coming forward to make a police report. Civil lawsuits with sexual assault lawyers such as the team at Dordulian Law Group (DLG) can be another means of ensuring that survivors secure the justice they deserve.

To speak with a Los Angeles-area sex crimes attorney from DLG, contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to arrange for a free and confidential consultation. There is never any upfront fee for our expert legal services – you pay nothing util after we’ve successfully obtained a maximum financial damages award against your perpetrator.

Why Choose Dordulian Law Group’s Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers

How a survivor chooses to proceed after an incident of sexual violence is a deeply personal decision. DLG’s founder and former sex crimes prosecutor, Sam Dordulian, has stated that coming forward to pursue a civil lawsuit can often be an empowering experience for survivors.

“What I’ve found over the years, assisting hundreds of survivors, is that those who have gone through the legal process typically find it very empowering. They were once terrified of this scary predator, but eventually come to realize he’s actually not that intimidating when sitting quietly and meek in a courtroom with deputies standing over him, and is eventually carted away in handcuffs. For the first time, it’s the survivors who are now in control, not the perpetrator. And when a survivor takes back that control from the abuser, it can be incredibly healing. I’ve represented victims on countless occasions who are terrified before taking the stand. However, when they decide to take that step, to walk up, get on the stand and testify before that now meek and incarcerated perpetrator, inevitably they come to magically realize that this awful person who had hurt them so severely no longer has any power,” Dordulian said.

Contact our top-rated team of expert sexual abuse attorneys online or by phone today to pursue justice and secure a financial award for damages.

To speak to a DLG sexual assault attorney, contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. We’re available 24/7 to answer any questions you have about the California sexual violence civil litigation process.