The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

Massachusetts Sexual Assault Statistics

  • Approximately 1 in 5 female Massachusetts high school students reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner (Silverman et al., JAMA, 2001).
  • Physical and sexual dating violence among Massachusetts high school girls is associated with increased risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy, and suicidality (Silverman et al., JAMA, 2001).
  • One in nine Massachusetts high school students (16.3% of females and 6.4% of males) has had sexual contact against his/her will (Massachusetts DOE, 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey).
  • Among adolescents with any history of sexual activity, sexual minority youth (they have had same-sex sexual contact or describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual) were significantly more likely (37% vs. 16%) than their peers to report having experienced sexual contact against their will (Massachusetts DOE, 1999 YRBS).
  • A national landmark study found that only 16% of rapes were ever reported to the police (Kilpatrick et al, Rape in America, 1992). Rape and sexual assault are the violent crimes least often reported to the police (Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000).
  • In a 1999 report analyzing Massachusetts rape crisis center data over a 10-year period, lack of confidence in the criminal justice system was cited by 17% of the survivors as the primary reason they did not report to police (Massachusetts DPH, Sexual Assault in Massachusetts 1988-1997, 1999).
  • In 1999, 19% of Massachusetts adults aged 18-59 reported ever having experienced sexual assault, i.e., unwanted sexual contact (Massachusetts BRFSS, 1999).
  • Women with disabilities were much more likely to ever have experienced sexual assault, (34%) compared to women without disabilities (18%) (Massachusetts BRFSS, 1999-2000).
  • Massachusetts rape crisis centers received over 10,000 hotline calls in fiscal year 2001 (Massachusetts DPH, Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services, Incident Data, 2002).
  • Of the hotline calls to Massachusetts rape crisis centers, 37% of identified Spanish-speaking people used Llamanos, the statewide Spanish-speaking hotline (Massachusetts DPH, Incident Data, 2002).
  • In fiscal year 2001, rape crisis centers in Massachusetts served over 1,738 clients for sexual assault services, which include counseling, advocacy, and support group services (Massachusetts DPH, Incident Data, 2002).
  • In fiscal year 2001, Massachusetts rape crisis centers provided sexual assault prevention education to over 48,255 individuals (Massachusetts DPH, Incident Data, 2002).
  • According to the 1997 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 10% of Massachusetts residents surveyed believe "It might be OK" to make a spouse have sex without his or her consent (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 1999).
  • From 1988 to 1997, the number of reports of sexual assaults on women by an intimate partner rose from 11% to 20% (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 1999).
  • Eighty-eight (88%) of sexual assault survivors know their perpetrator (Massachusetts Department of Public Health,1999).