The Bureau of Justice Statistics, a division within the Office of Justice Programs, released a study that found a 64 percent decline in sexual assault and violence against females between 1995 in 2010. Of course, this study needs to be reviewed with a skeptical eye. Sexual assaults are notoriously difficult to track because many of them are not reported to the police. This forces researchers to estimate the actual number of assaults and extrapolate based on the reported numbers. Regardless of the research technique, however, this study is good news.
The study examined cases involving females ages 12 and up between 1995 and 2010. It found that in 1995 there were 5.0 sexual assaults per every 1,000 females. That number drops to 1.8 assaults per 1,000 in 2010. The study noted that 28 percent of sexual assaults were reported to the police in 1995. This number increased to 59 percent in 2003 and then declined to 32 percent in 2010.
These inconsistent numbers are regrettably prophetic. The study also noted that police investigations and prosecutions dropped. For example, from 1994 to 1995 47 percent of investigations resulted in an arrest. Further, the study also found that arrests had declined to 31 percent between 2005 and 2010.
The study further confirms that most sexual assaults occur between people who know one another. 78 percent of female victims reported that their attacker was someone that they knew, a friend, intimate partner, or family member.
If you were arrested on sexual assault / violence charges then you should speak to a defense attorney as soon as possible. These charges carry a significant stigma with the police, prosecutors, and judges. It is important that you vigorously defend your rights because it is unlikely that anyone else will respect them. A defense attorney can ensure that you are treated fairly by the courts and the police.