- 58% rape victims report being raped between ages of 12-24.
- Nearly one-half of adult sexual offender committed their first sexual offense before the age of 18.
- 9 out of 10 rapes, the victim is under the age of 18 and so is the perpetrator.
- 70% of the incidences occur in someone’s home. Only 31% of teen sexual abuse is reported.
- Of the teen sexual abuse that gets reported only 50.8% of the time will an arrest be made.
- The average sentence for a sexual teen perpetrator is 128 days.
- Of the men incarcerated for rape or some form of it, 80% say their victim was under the age of 18.
One in four girls is abused sexually by the age of 18. One in six boys is abused sexually by the age of 18.
It’s not your fault
Being a victim of rape or sexual assault is not your fault, not by how you are dressed, where you are or who you are with. Babies, toddlers, teens, women, handicapped and even elderly women are assaulted and raped. Even if you have had sex with the person in the past it does not give them the right to force or coerce you into any sexual act.
Get Help
If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault or rape, go immediately to the hospital and have a rape kit exam, or call the police or the National Sexual Assault Hotline, tell a trusted friend or adult. Call 911. If you need help deciding who to call, then call the National Sexual Assault Hotline or local assist crisis group or center.
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE.
Help yourself
Make a plan to live in a safe place. Avoid being alone with your attacker, and be alert to your surroundings. Tell an adult you can trust.
If you are a victim you might feel:
- Angry, ashamed, sad, lonely, betrayed or depressed.
- Feel guilty or upset if you knew the attacker or once had a relationship with the attacker, even though the assault was not your fault.
- Feel like you have no friends or that no one will believe you.
- Want to hurt someone or yourself.
- Feel like taking steps to defend yourself.
- Feel helpless to stop the assault.
- Feel hopeless about whether anything can be done or not.
- Feel hopeless to stop the assault(s).
- Be afraid to go anywhere the attacker might be.
- Feel anxious all the time.
- Feel bad about yourself or your body.
Help someone else:
If someone you know, friend or family member, tells you they have been sexually assaulted remember it’s not their fault. Listen patiently and without judgment. Offer help and encouragement to get help. Talk your friend into getting medical attention or 911 assistance. Encourage your friend to have a rape kit exam. You can make the decision to report the crime or not later. Report the assault to an adult you trust.
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