A sexual crime is any form of sexual abuse or behavior that is legally considered inappropriate. Just because an act is consensual, does not mean that it is not a crime. For example, any sexual act with an individual under the age of consent is a crime. The age of consent is usually from 16 to 18, but varies by jurisdiction.
This information is provided as a reference only, for more details or information contact an experienced Dallas Sex Crimes Attorney.
Other examples of sexual crimes are: rape, sodomy, incest, human trafficking, voyeurism, bestiality, sexual harassment, prostitution, public urination, necrophilia, and indecent exposure. Any person that is found guilty of a sexual crime is considered a sex offended. Sex offenders are listed in the sex offender registry, which can be viewed by the public.
Who Are the Victims of Sexual Crimes?
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, 44% of all victims are under 18 years of age. 80% of sex crime victims are under 30 years of age. 80% of rape victims are also Caucasian.
Unsurprisingly, most victims are also female. In the United States, one out of six women have been the victim of rape or attempted rape. However, men are sometimes victimized. One out of every 33 men have been the victim of rape or attempted rape.
Statistically speaking, the average rape victim is a young, Caucasian female. While minorities and older individuals are also attacked, young females are most commonly victimized.
The Facts About the Offenders
In two out of every three instances of rape, the victim knew the offender. 38% of the time, the rapist was a personal friend of the victim; 28% of the time, the victim was in an intimate relationship with the rapist; and 7% of the time, the rapist was a family member.
According to the National Alert Registry, there are over 400,000 sex offenders registered in the United States. Unfortunately, this number should be much higher. 60% of all sexual assaults are unreported. Only 6% of all rapists are ever sent to jail.
How Common Are Sexual Crimes?
RAINN estimates that a sexual assault happens every two minutes in the United States. According to a survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, over 248,300 sexual assaults were reported in 2007 alone.
While these statistics are highly alarming, there is a bright side. Since 1993, the number of rapes have decreased by 60%. Yet, even with this improvement, sex crimes are all too common. Children and adults, both male and female, need to learn how to protect themselves against dangerous and traumatizing sexual crimes.
Disclaimer: The statistics included in this article are informative in nature. No portion of this information is to be used as a substitute for legal advice.
