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Sexual Violence Statistics

LaFASA has complied statistics that demonstrate the prevalence of sexual violence in Louisiana and the United States as well as its affects on our society at a state and national level. If you would like more information about sexual assault please consult our Resource Library.

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General Statistics

There are 433,000 rape victims in the US every year.​

Someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds in the United States.

For female rape survivors, 98.1% of the time a man was the perpetrator.

For male rape survivors, 93% of the time, a man was the perpetrator.

Out of every 100 rapes

  • 40 are reported

  • 10 lead to an arrest

  • 8 are prosecuted

  • 4 lead to a conviction

  • 3 rapists will spend a day in prison

  • 97 rapists will walk away free


By their 18th birthday, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in six boys will be sexually victimized.

Every rape costs the US $151,423
This cost includes: Initial police response, medical care, property loss, time lost from work, loss of work, productivity, pain and suffering
This cost does not include: Investigation, prosecution, incarceration

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Louisiana Statistics

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Sexual Violence Incidence (7):

  • Two in five (41%) Louisiana adults have experienced sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime.

    • One in ten (10%) have experienced these things in the last year of their life

  • One in nine (11%) Louisiana adults have experienced sexual assault

  • The age range in which sexual violence most impacts Louisianans is ages 18-24; 33% of women and 14% of men report sexual violence victimization during this age range.

 

Impact:

  • The most common consequence of sexual violence reported by those who experienced it in the past year was feelings of anxiety or depression (40% total; 42% of women and 37% of men)

  • Almost half of Louisianans who experienced sexual violence in the past year told no one (47% of women and 39% of men.) National studies show that when survivors have someone to turn to, including supportive loved ones, advocates, and those who can help seek justice and healing, the harm can be mitigated.

 

Risk:

It's essential that sexual violence prevention include addressing root risk factors, such as food insecurity, homelessness, over-incarceration, and insecure housing.

  • Those evicted in the past year, compared to those not evicted, were 3x more likely to report past year sexual violence (31% vs 10%).

  • Those who lacked money for food or other basic needs in the past year compared to those who did not report this deprivation, were 2x more likely to report past year sexual violence (15% vs 8%)

  • Those with a history of homelessness compared to those without this history were 3x more likely to report past year sexual violence (23% vs 8%).

  • Those with a history of incarceration compared to those without this history were 2.5x more to report past year sexual violence (20% vs 8%).

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Survivors with a Disability in Louisiana as of 2013: 839

  • Physical/Mobility: 99

  • Cognitive: 190

  • Sensory: 46

  • Psychiatric/Severe Mental Illness: 328

  • Unknown Disability: 176

One badge = 25 primary victims served in 2013

In 2012 only 28% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement

LaFASA's member center provided criminal justice advocacy to 1,457 victims in 2013

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The rate of forcible rapes in 2009 in Louisiana was estimated at 30.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Crime in the United States, 2009.

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2024 LaFASA Coalition Crisis Center Stats

11 centers serving 59 parishes:

  • Responded to 5,310 calls to 24-hour sexual assault hotlines operated by each center

  • Accompanied 759 survivors who received forensic medical examinations 

  • Provided legal advocacy to survivors and their loved ones, including assistance with sexual assault protective orders (105 people), accompaniment for officer interviews (292), and court accompaniment (66)

  • Provided long-term support to 2,987 people through individual sessions (including 2,318 who received counseling or therapy from a licensed mental healthcare provider and 669 who received peer support or other care) and to 880 people through group sessions (including 375 who received this group support from a licensed mental healthcare provider and 505 who received it through peer support)

  • Served as essential and trusted resources in their community to meet survivors’ other needs. Sexual assault centers describe providing financial assistance to survivors whose employment, education, or housing has been disrupted as a result of the sexual assault. This includes assistance with car repairs so a survivor would not lose their job, providing housing assistance, assisting with transportation costs, and helping to secure holiday presents for their children.

  •  Conducted at least one prevention activity and at least one outreach activity in every parish of their service area. Though five centers do not receive any funding for prevention services, this is an essential service which they conduct as part of the mission to end sexual violence.

 

 

References

1. LaFASA's Louisiana Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Plan 
2. U.S. Department of Justice — Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 2009.

3. U.S. Department of Justice — Office of Justice Programs, Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. October 2021
4. RAINN - Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network. August 2014
5. LaFASA Economic Cost of Sexual Assault 
6. Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L.,Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R (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

7. Tulane University Newcomb Institute 2023 Louisiana Violence Experience Survey. 

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