U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics

MARCH 2013	

Special Report

NCJ 240655

Female Victims of Sexual
Violence, 1994-2010
Michael Planty, Ph.D., and Lynn Langton, Ph.D., BJS Statisticians
Christopher Krebs, Ph.D., Marcus Berzofsky, Dr.P.H., and Hope Smiley-McDonald, Ph.D., RTI International

F

rom 1995 to 2005, the total rate of sexual
violence committed against U.S. female
residents age 12 or older declined 64%
from a peak of 5.0 per 1,000 females in 1995
to 1.8 per 1,000 females in 2005 (figure 1,
appendix table 1). It then remained unchanged
from 2005 to 2010. Sexual violence against
females includes completed, attempted, or
threatened rape or sexual assault. In 2010,
females nationwide experienced about 270,000
rape or sexual assault victimizations, compared
to about 556,000 in 1995.
Completed rape or sexual assault accounted
for more than 50% of the total rape or sexual
violent victimizations in 2010. Between 1995
and 2010, the rate of completed rape or sexual
assault declined from 3.6 per 1,000 females
to 1.1 per 1,000. Over the same period, the
rates of attempted rape or sexual assault and
victimizations involving the threat of rape
remained relatively stable.

Figure 1
Rape and sexual assault victimization rates among females, 1995–2010
Rate per 1,000 females age 12 or older
5
Total
Completed
Attempted
•••• Threatened

4
3
2
1
0

.,.....,........
•
.D C

...................•..........:ae~.....................

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year.
See appendix table 2 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010

HIGHLIGHTS
„„

From 1995 to 2010, the estimated annual rate of female
rape or sexual assault victimizations declined 58%, from
5.0 victimizations per 1,000 females age 12 or older to
2.1 per 1,000.

„„

In 2005-10, females who were age 34 or younger, who lived
in lower income households, and who lived in rural areas
experienced some of the highest rates of sexual violence.

„„

In 2005-10, 78% of sexual violence involved an offender
who was a family member, intimate partner, friend, or
acquaintance.

„„

In 2005-10, the offender was armed with a gun, knife,
or other weapon in 11% of rape or sexual assault
victimizations.

„„

The percentage of rape or sexual assault victimizations
reported to police increased to a high of 56% in 2003 before
declining to 35% in 2010, a level last seen in 1995.

„„

The percentage of females who were injured during a rape
or sexual assault and received some type of treatment for
their injuries increased from 26% in 1994-98 to 35% in
2005-10.

„„

In 2005-10, about 80% of female rape or sexual assault
victims treated for injuries received care in a hospital,
doctor’s office, or emergency room, compared to 65% in
1994-98.

„„

In 2005-10, about 1 in 4 (23%) rape or sexual assault victims
received help or advice from a victim service agency.

BJS

The data in this report were drawn from the Bureau of
Justice Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey
(NCVS). The NCVS collects information on nonfatal crimes
reported and not reported to the police from a nationally
representative sample of persons age 12 or older who live
in U.S. households. Persons are interviewed every 6 months
over 3 years with the first interview conducted in person
and follow-up interviews conducted either in person or by
phone.
The NCVS produces national rates and levels of violent
and property victimization, as well as information on the
characteristics of crimes and victims and the consequences
of victimization. Because the NCVS collects information
from victims, it does not measure homicide.

Unless noted, this report presents estimates for the aggregate
of rape or sexual assault victimizations. The term sexual
violence is used throughout to refer to rape or sexual assault
victimizations, including attempts and threats. Victimization
is the basic unit of analysis used throughout the report,
and the number of victimizations is equal to the number of
victims present during a criminal incident.
Trend estimates are based on 2-year rolling averages
centered on the most recent year. For example, estimates
reported for 2010 represent the average estimates for 2009
and 2010. For other tables in this report, the focus is on
aggregate data from 1994 through 1998, 1999 through 2004,
and 2005 through 2010. These methods of analysis improves
the reliability and stability of comparisons over time and
between subgroups. For additional estimates not included
in this report, see the NCVS Victimization Analysis Tool
(NVAT) on the BJS website.

Measuring sexual violence using the NCVS
This report focuses on sexual violence that includes
completed, attempted, and threatened rape or sexual
assault. NCVS survey respondents are asked to respond to
a series of questions about the nature and characteristics
of their victimization. The NCVS classifies victimizations as
rape or sexual assault even if other crimes, such as robbery
or assault occur at the same time. The NCVS then uses the
following rape and sexual assault definitions:
Rape is the unlawful penetration of a person against
the will of the victim, with use or threatened use
of force, or attempting such an act. Rape includes
psychological coercion and physical force, and
forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or
oral penetration by the offender. Rape also includes
incidents where penetration is from a foreign object
(e.g., a bottle), victimizations against male and female
victims, and both heterosexual and homosexual rape.
Attempted rape includes verbal threats of rape.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

Sexual assault is defined across a wide range of
victimizations, separate from rape or attempted rape.
These crimes include attacks or attempted attacks
generally involving unwanted sexual contact between
a victim and offender. Sexual assault may or may
not involve force and includes grabbing or fondling.
Sexual assault also includes verbal threats.
The measurement of rape and sexual assault presents
many challenges. Victims may not be willing to reveal
or share their experiences with an interviewer. The
level and type of sexual violence reported by victims is
sensitive to how items are worded, definitions used, data
collection mode, and a variety of other factors related to
the interview process. In addition, the legal definitions of
rape and sexual assault vary across jurisdictions. The NCVS
presents one approach to measuring and enumerating
these incidents as well as other forms of violence and
property crime. (For more information about the technical
aspects of the NCVS, see Methodology.)

2

In 2005-10, females who were age 34 or younger, who
lived in lower income households, and who lived in
rural areas had some of the highest rates of sexual
violence

Table 1
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
victim characteristics, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–
2010

The rate of sexual violence against females declined with age.
In 2005-10, sexual violence was committed against females
ages 12 to 34 at a rate of about 4 victimizations per 1,000,
compared to a rate of 1.5 victimization per 1,000 for females
ages 35 to 64 and 0.2 per 1,000 for age 65 or older (table 1).
This pattern was consistent across all three aggregate time
periods. Over time, the rate of sexual violence declined for
both the 12-to-17 and 18-to-24 age groups. Females ages 12
to 17 had the largest decline, from 11.3 per 1,000 in 1994-98
to 4.1 in 2005-10.

Victim characteristic
Total
Age
12–17
18–34
35–64
65 or older
Race/Hispanic origin
Whitea
Blacka
Hispanic/Latina
American Indian/Alaska Nativea
Asian/Pacific Islandera
Two or more racesa
Marital statusb
Never married
Married
Widowed
Divorced or separated
Household income
Less than $25,000
$25,000–$49,999
$50,000 or more
Unknown
Location of residence
Urban
Suburban
Rural

For all racial and ethnic groups, the rate of sexual violence
was lower in 2005-10 than it was in 1994-98. Within each
time period, few differences existed in the rates of sexual
violence across racial and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic
white females and black and Hispanic females had a similar
rate of sexual violence over time. However, Hispanic females
had lower rates of sexual violence than black females in
1999-04 and in 2005-10. Although American Indians and
Alaska Natives appeared to experience rape or sexual assault
victimization at rates higher than other racial and ethnic
groups, these rates were based on small sample sizes and are
not reliable.
Across all three time periods between 1994 and 2010,
females who had never been married or who were divorced
or separated at the time of the interview had higher rates of
rape or sexual assault victimization than females who were
married or widowed.1 From 1994 to 2010, females who had
never been married, those who were divorced or separated,
and those who were married experienced about a 50%
decline in the rate of sexual violence.

From 1995 to 2010, approximately 9% of all rape or sexual
assault victimizations recorded in the NCVS involved male
victims (figure 2). In 2010, the male rate of rape or sexual
assault was 0.1 per 1,000 males compared to a rate of 2.1
per 1,000 for females (appendix table 3). Due to the relatively
small number of sample cases, coupled with a low rate of
victimization, estimates of male sexual violence from the NCVS
cannot be used reliably for further disaggregation by victim
and incident characteristics. Therefore, this report focuses
exclusively on females.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

11.3
7.0
2.3
0.1 !

7.6
5.3
1.8
0.2 !

4.1
3.7
1.5
0.2 !

4.3
4.2
4.3
6.4 !
2.5
~

3.1
4.1
1.8
4.8 !
1.2
6.6 !

2.2
2.8
1.4
4.5 !
0.7 !
5.1 !

8.6
1.3
0.8
9.0

6.6
0.7
0.2 !
6.3

4.1
0.6
0.8
4.4

6.1
3.3
2.9
3.5

5.6
2.7
2.0
2.1

3.5
1.9
1.8
1.8

5.1
3.9
3.9

4.0
2.7
2.5

2.2
1.8
3.0

Note: See appendix table 5 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
~Not applicable.
aExcludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.
bThe NCVS collects information on respondent’s marital status at the time of
the interview, but it does not obtain marital status at the time of the incident or
whether a change in marital status occurred after the incident.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

1The NCVS collects information on respondent’s marital status at the time
of the interview, but it does not obtain marital status at the time of the
incident or whether a change in marital status occurred after the incident.

Males had lower rates of rape or
sexual assault than females from
1995 to 2010

Rate per 1,000 females age 12 or older
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
4.2
3.1
2.1

Figure 2
Rape and sexual assault victimizations, by sex of victim, 1995–2010
Rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or older
5
4
3
Female
2
1
0

-

-

-

Male

‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year.
See appendix table 4 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

3

Consistently across all three time periods, females living in
households in the lowest income bracket (less than $25,000
annually) experienced rape or sexual assault victimization
at higher rates than females in higher income brackets. In
2005-10, females in households earning less than $25,000
per year experienced 3.5 rape or sexual assault victimizations
per 1,000 females, compared to 1.9 per 1,000 in households
earning between $25,000 and $49,999 and 1.8 per 1,000 in
households earning $50,000 or more.
In 1994-98, the rate of rape or sexual assault victimization
for females living in urban areas (5.1 per 1,000) was higher
than the rate for females in suburban (3.9 per 1,000) and
rural (3.9 per 1,000) areas. In 2005-10 this pattern reversed,
and the rate of sexual violence for females in rural areas
(3.0 per 1,000) was higher than the rate of sexual violence
for females in urban (2.2 per 1,000) and suburban (1.8 per
1,000) areas.
The percentage of rape or sexual assault victimizations
that occurred at or near the victim’s home increased
over time

at or near the home of a friend or in a commercial place
or parking lot declined between 1994-98 and 2005-10. The
number of rape or sexual assault victimizations occurring at
or near the victim’s home declined at a slower rate over time
compared to the number of victimizations that occurred
outside the home (not shown in table).
Over all three periods, between 41% and 48% of victims
of sexual violence were undertaking activities at or around
their homes at the time of the incident. In 2005-10, 12%
of rape or sexual assault victimizations against females
occurred while the victim was working, and 7% occurred
while the victim was attending school. Another 29% of
sexual violence occurred while the victim went to or from
work or school, was out shopping, or was engaged in leisure
activities away from the home.
About 3 in 4 victims of sexual violence knew the
offender

In 2005-10, about 55% of rape or sexual assault
victimizations occurred at or near the victim’s home, and
another 12% occurred at or near the home of a friend,
relative, or acquaintance (table 2). The percentage of sexual
violence that occurred at or near the home of the victim
increased from 49% in 1994-98 to 55% in 2005-10. In
comparison, the percentage of sexual violence that occurred

About 90% of rape or sexual assault victimizations involved
one offender, a percentage that was stable across the three
periods (table 3). In 2005-10, most rape or sexual assault
victims (78%) knew the offender. About 34% of all rape or
sexual assault victimizations were committed by an intimate
partner (former or current spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend),
6% by a relative or family member, and 38% by a friend or
acquaintance. Strangers committed about 22% of sexual
violence, a percentage that was also unchanged from 1994 to
2010.

Table 2
Activity and location of female victims when rape or sexual
assault victimization occurred, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and
2005–2010

Table 3
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females,
by number of offenders and victim-offender relationship,
1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Location and activity
Location where crime occurred
At or near victim’s home
At or near home of friend/relative/
acquaintance
Commercial place/parking lot
or garage
School
Open areas/public transportation/
other*
Activity when crime occurred
Working
Attending school
Sleeping/other activities at home
Traveling to or from work, school,
other place/shopping or errands/
leisure activity away from home
Other/unknown

Offender characteristic
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
Number of offenders
100%
100%
100%
One
93
91
90
Two or more
7
9
10
100%
100%
100%
Victim-offender relationshipa
Stranger
21
25
22
Nonstranger
79
75
78
Intimate partnerb
28
30
34
Relative
9
3
6
Well-known/casual acquaintance
42
42
38

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
49
42
55
17

18

12

16
5

15
12

10
8

14
100%
12
4
46

14
100%
9
9
41

15
100%
12
7
48

30
8

35
6

29
5

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 7 for
standard errors.
aDoes not include a small percentage of victimizations in which the victimoffender relationship was unknown.
bIncludes former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 6 for
standard errors.
*Includes locations such as an apartment yard; a park, field, or playground not on
school property; a location on the street other than that immediately adjacent to
home of the victim, a relative, or a friend; on public transportation; in a station or
depot for bus or train; on a plane; or in an airport.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

4

In 2005-10, about half of rape or sexual assault
victimizations were committed by an offender age 30 or
older (table 4). Fifteen percent of offenders were age 17 or
younger and 34% were ages 18 to 29. These percentages were
stable across the three periods from 1994 to 2010.
Across all three periods, white males committed the majority
of sexual violence.2 Over time, the percentage of sexual
violence committed by white offenders declined from 70%
in 1994-98 to 57% in 2005-10. The percentage of black
offenders increased from 18% in 1994-98 to 27% in 200510. White males consistently accounted for more than 82%
of the total U.S. population and black males accounted for
11%. The NCVS did not collect information on the ethnicity
of the offender. Therefore, Hispanic offenders make up an
unknown portion of the white, black, and other race of
offender categories.
Consistent across all three periods, about 40% of victims
believed the offender had been drinking or using drugs prior
to the victimization. In 2005-10, in 30% of the victimizations
the victim did not believe the offender had been drinking or
using drugs, and in 30% the victim did not know whether
there had been substance use.
About 1 in 10 rape or sexual assault victimizations
involved a weapon
Across all three periods, the offender in the majority of
rape or sexual assault victimizations did not have a weapon
(table 5). In 2005-10, victims reported that the offender
possessed or used a weapon in 11% of all sexual violence.
The victim reported that the offender had a firearm in 6% of
victimizations and a knife in 4%. The percentage of offenders
armed with a weapon increased from 6% in 1994-98 to 11%
in the two later periods. The NCVS does not ask victims
if they were incapacitated in some manner, such as being
drugged or intoxicated.
2Males

committed about 95% of all sexual violence against females.

Table 4
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
perceived offender characteristics, 1994–1998, 1999–2004,
and 2005–2010
Offender characteristics
Age
17 or younger
18–20
21–29
30 or older
Othera
Raceb
White
Black
Other
Mixed group
Unknown
Alcohol/drug use at time of incident
Yes
No
Unknown

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
12
14
15
9
11
9
24
28
25
51
43
48
3
2
2
100%
100%
100%
70
60
57
18
26
27
8
10
6
1
1!
1!
2
3
8
100%
100%
100%
40
37
39
38
31
30
22
32
30

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 8 for
standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
aIncludes multiple offenders of varying ages and offenders of unknown age.
bThe NCVS did not collect information on the ethnicity of the offender. Therefore,
Hispanic offenders make up some portion of the white, black, and other race of
offender categories.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Table 5
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females, by
offender weapon possession, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and
2005–2010
Weapon present
Total
No weapon
Weapon
Firearm
Knife
Other/unknown type
Don’t know

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
88%
83%
83%
6%
11%
11%
3
2
6
2
5
4
1!
4!
1!
5%
6%
6%

Note: See appendix table 9 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

5

The percentage of female victims of sexual violence
who received medical treatment increased between
1994-98 and 2005-10

The percentage of sexual violence reported to police
increased to a high of 56% in 2003 before dropping to
35% in 2010, a level last seen in 1995

In 2005-10, 58% of female victims of sexual violence suffered
a physical injury during the victimization, such as cuts,
bruises, internal injuries, broken bones, gunshot wounds,
or rape injuries (table 6). Of the females who suffered an
injury in 2005-10, 35% said that they received some type of
treatment for their injuries, an increase from 26% in 199498. About 80% of victims who received treatment for their
injuries in 2005-10 received this care in a hospital, doctor’s
office, or emergency room. The other 20% were treated at
the scene, in their home, at a neighbor or friend’s house, or
in some other location. In comparison, in 1994-98, 65% of
treated victims received care in a hospital, doctor’s office, or
emergency room, while 35% received first aid or treatment
at the scene, at home, at a neighbor or friend’s house, or in
some other location.

In 1995, 29% of rape or sexual assault victimizations against
females were reported to police (figure 3). This percentage
increased to 56% in 2003 before declining to 35% in 2010.

In 2005-10, about 1 in 4 victims of sexual violence received
help or advice from a private or public victim service agency
(table 7). This percentage remained stable over the three
periods.
Table 6
Injured female victims of rape and sexual assault who
received treatment, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Injury
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
No injury
47%
46%
42%
Injury
53
54
58
Treatment for injurya
100%
100%
100%
No treatment
74
59
65
Any treatment
26
41
35
Treatment settingb
100%
100%
100%
At scene or home of victim/
neighbor/friend
33
35
19
In doctor’s office/hospital
emergency room/overnight hospital
65
62
80
In other location/unknown
2!
3!
1!
Note: See appendix table 10 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
aIncludes only victims who were injured.
bIncludes only victims who were injured and received treatment.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

Table 7
Female victims of rape and sexual assault who received
assistance from a victim service agency, 1994–1998,
1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Total
Received assistance
Did not receive assistance

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
24%
28%
23%
76
72
77

Note: Victim service agencies include publicly or privately funded organizations
that provide victims with support and services to aid their recovery, offer
protection, guide them through the criminal justice system process, and assist
with obtaining restitution. See appendix table 11 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Figure 3
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females
reported to police, 1995–2010
Percent
100

80

60

40

20

0

-~
‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent
year. See appendix table 12 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

6

Of the 36% of rape or sexual assault victimizations reported
to police in 2005-10, about 64% were reported directly by
the victims, an increase from 50% in 1994-98 (table 8). The
percentage of victimizations known to police because they
were reported by another household member declined from
26% in 1994-98 to 10% in 2005-10, while the percentage
reported by an official other than the police increased from
4% to 14%.
Of the rape or sexual assault victimizations that were
reported to police in 2005-10, 28% were reported in an
attempt to protect the victim from future victimizations, and
25% were reported to try to stop or prevent escalation of the
victimization as it was occurring (table 9). Among rape or
sexual assault victimizations that went unreported, the most
common reason victims gave for not reporting the crime
during 2005-10 was fear of reprisal (20%). The percentage
of victimizations that went unreported because the victim
considered the incident a personal matter declined from
23% in 1994-98 to 13% in 2005-10.

Table 8
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females
reported and not reported to police, 1994–1998, 1999–2004,
and 2005–2010
Reporting to police
Total
Not reported
Reported
Source of report
Victim
Other household member
An official other than police
Someone else
Police were at crime scene
Other

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
71%
59%
64%
29%
41%
36%
100
100
100
50
57
64
26
14
10
4
10
14
11
10
10
1!
4!
1!
7
5!
1!

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 13 for
standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Table 9
Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females reported and not reported to police, by most important reason for
reporting or not reporting, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Total
Reported
Reason reported
To stop incident or prevent recurrence or escalation
To get help or recover loss
To protect respondent and household from further crimes by the offender
To catch/punish/prevent offender from reoffending
To improve police surveillance/duty to tell police/because it was a crime
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
Not reported
Reason not reported
Reported to different official
Personal matter
Not important enough to respondent
Police could not do anything to help
Police would not do anything to help
Did not want to get offender in trouble with law
Advised not to report
Fear of reprisal
Other/unknown/not one most important reason

1994–1998
100%
29%
100%
17
2!
18
14
27
21
71%
100%
10
23
7
2
6
5
1!
17
29

1999–2004
100%
41%
100%
15
2!
18
20
22
22
59%
100%
10
19
7
2!
8
4
-- !
16
34

2005–2010
100%
36%
100%
25
3!
28
17
21
6!
64%
100%
8
13
8
2!
13
7
-- !
20
30

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. Reason for reporting or not reporting represents the reason the victim stated was most important. See appendix
table 14 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
--Less than 0.5%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

7

A lower percentage of sexual violence reported to
police resulted in arrests in 2005-10 (31%) than in
1994-98 (47%)
The police may take a variety of actions in response to
reported rape or sexual assault victimizations. During
2005-10, about 84% of victims stated that police came to the
victim after being called, up from 75% during 1994-98 (table
10). About 1 in 10 victims who reported went directly to the
police to report the incident, a percentage that has remained
stable over time (not shown in table).
Across all three periods, when police responded after being
notified, the most common police activity was to
take a report from the victim, followed by questioning
witnesses or conducting a search for the offender
(table 11). In 2005-10, police took the victim’s report in
86% of victimizations reported to police, and the police
questioned witnesses or conducted a search in 48% of cases.
During the same period, about 19% of victims reported that
the police collected evidence, up from 8% in 1994-98.
The percentage of reported rape or sexual assault
victimizations against females that resulted in an arrest
either at the scene or during a follow-up investigation
decreased, from 47% in 1994-98 to 31% in 2005-10 (not
shown in table). Out of the 283,200 annual average rape or
sexual assault victimizations in 2005-10 both reported and
not reported to the police, approximately 12% resulted in an
arrest at the scene or during a follow-up investigation.

Table 10
Rape or sexual assault victimizations against females with
police response, by type of response, 1994–1998, 1999–
2004, and 2005–2010
Total
Not reported
Reported
Police came when notified*
Yes
No
Unknown/other

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
100%
100%
100%
71%
59%
64%
29%
41%
36%
100%
100%
100%
75
84
84
19
13
14
6!
4!
2!

Note: See appendix table 15 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
*Excludes about 10% of victimizations in which the victim went directly to
police and between 1% and 4% in which the police were already on the scene or
learned about the victimization in some other way.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Table 11
Initial police response to rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and
2005–2010
Initial police response
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
Made arrest at scene
20%
12%
19%
Promised to investigate and/
or promised surveillance
20
38
13
Questioned witnesses and/or searched
44
47
48
Took evidence
8
10
19
Took report
82
72
86
Other
21
17
19
Note: Includes reported rape or sexual assault victimizations to which police
responded or the victim went to the police. See appendix table 16 for standard
errors. Each period, a small percentage (between 0.5% and 5.1%) of victims
stated that they did not know if police performed any activity during the initial
response. An additional 2.7% to 4.2% of victims did not provide a valid response
regarding the initial police response.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

8

Methodology

Weighting adjustments for estimating household
victimization

Survey coverage

Estimates in this report use data from the 1994 to 2010
NCVS data files. These files can be weighted to produce
annual estimates of victimization for persons age 12 or older
living in U.S. households. Because the NCVS relies on a
sample rather than a census of the entire U.S. population,
weights are designed to inflate sample point estimates to
known population totals and to compensate for survey
nonresponse and other aspects of the sample design.

The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is an
annual data collection conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau
for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The NCVS is a selfreport survey in which interviewed persons are asked about
the number and characteristics of victimizations experienced
during the prior 6 months. The NCVS collects information
on nonfatal personal crimes (rape or sexual assault, robbery,
aggravated and simple assault, and personal larceny) and
household property crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft,
and other theft) both reported and not reported to police.
In addition to providing annual level and change estimates
on criminal victimization, the NCVS is the primary source
of information on the nature of criminal victimization
incidents. Survey respondents provide information about
themselves (such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, marital
status, education level, and income) and whether they
experienced victimization. The survey collects information
for each victimization incident, including data about the
offender (such as age, race and ethnicity, sex, and victimoffender relationship), characteristics of the crime (including
time and place of occurrence, use of weapons, nature of
injury, and economic consequences), whether the crime was
reported to police, reasons why the crime was or was not
reported, and experiences with the criminal justice system.
Trained interviewers administer the NCVS to persons
age 12 or older from a nationally representative sample
of households in the United States. The NCVS defines
a household as a group of members who all reside at a
sampled address that is their usual place of residence at the
time of the interview and when they have no other usual
place of residence. Once selected, households remain in the
sample for 3 years, and eligible persons in the households are
interviewed every 6 months for a total of seven interviews.
New households rotate into the sample on an ongoing basis
to replace outgoing households that have been in the sample
for the 3-year period. The sample includes persons living in
group quarters, such as dormitories, rooming houses, and
religious group dwellings. Persons living in military barracks
and institutional settings, such as correctional or hospital
facilities, and the homeless are excluded from the sample.
(For more detail, see the Survey Methodology in Criminal
Victimization in the United States, 2008, NCJ 231173, BJS
website, May 2011.)
In 2010, about 81,950 households and 146,570 individuals
age 12 or older were interviewed for the NCVS. The
response rate was 92.3% of households and 87.5% of eligible
individuals. Victimizations that occurred outside of the
United States were excluded from this report.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

The NCVS data files include both person and household
weights. Person weights provide an estimate of the
population represented by each person in the sample.
Household weights provide an estimate of the total U.S.
household population. Both household and person weights,
after proper adjustment, are also typically used to form the
denominator in calculations of crime rates.
Victimization weights used in this analysis account for the
number of persons present during an incident and for repeat
victims of series incidents. The weight counts series incidents
as the actual number of incidents reported by the victim,
up to a maximum of 10 incidents. Series victimizations are
similar in type but occur with such frequency that a victim
is unable to recall each individual event or describe each
event in detail. Survey procedures allow NCVS interviewers
to identify and classify these similar victimizations as series
victimizations and to collect detailed information on only
the most recent incident in the series. In 2010, about 3%
of all victimizations were series incidents. Weighting series
incidents as the number of incidents up to a maximum
of 10 incidents produces more reliable estimates of crime
levels, while the cap at 10 minimizes the effect of extreme
outliers on the rates. Additional information on the series
enumeration is detailed in the report Methods for Counting
High Frequency Repeat Victimizations in the National Crime
Victimization Survey, NCJ 237308, BJS website, April 2012.
Trend estimates are based on 2-year rolling averages
centered on the most recent year or three 6-year periods. For
example, estimates reported for 2010 represent the average
estimates for 2009 and 2010. For other tables in this report,
aggregate data for the time from 1994 through 1998, 1999
through 2004, and 2005 through 2010 are the focus. These
methods of analysis improves the reliability and stability of
estimate comparisons over time.
Standard error computations
When national estimates are derived from a sample, as
is the case with the NCVS, caution must be taken when
comparing one estimate to another estimate or when
comparing estimates over time. Although one estimate may
be larger than another, estimates based on a sample have
some degree of sampling error. The sampling error of an
estimate depends on several factors, including the amount
9

of variation in the responses, the size of the sample, and the
size of the subgroup for which the estimate is computed.
When the sampling error around the estimates is taken into
consideration, the estimates that appear different may not
actually be statistically different.
One measure of the sampling error associated with an
estimate is the standard error. The standard error can vary
from one estimate to the next. In general, for a given metric,
an estimate with a smaller standard error provides a more
reliable approximation of the true value than an estimate
with a larger standard error. Estimates with relatively large
standard errors are associated with less precision and
reliability and should be interpreted with caution.
In order to generate standard errors around numbers and
estimates from the NCVS, the Census Bureau produces
generalized variance function (GVF) parameters for BJS.
The GVFs take into account aspects of the NCVS complex
sample design and represent the curve fitted to a selection of
individual standard errors based on the Jackknife Repeated
Replication technique. The GVF parameters were used to
generate standard errors for each point estimate (such as
counts, percentages, and rates) in the report.
BJS conducted tests to determine whether differences in
estimated numbers and percentages in this report were
statistically significant once sampling error was taken into
account. Using statistical programs developed specifically
for the NCVS, all comparisons in the text were tested for
significance. The primary test procedure used was Student’s
t-statistic, which tests the difference between two sample
estimates. To ensure that the observed differences between
estimates were larger than might be expected due to
sampling variation, the significance level was set at the 95%
confidence level.
Data users can use the estimates and the standard errors of
the estimates provided in this report to generate a confidence
interval around each estimate as a measure of the margin of
error. The following example illustrates how standard errors
can be used to generate confidence intervals:
According to the NCVS, from 2005 to 2010, 36.4% of
rape or sexual assault victimizations were reported to the
police (see table 8). Using the GVFs, BJS determined that
the estimate has a standard error of 2.7% (see appendix
table 14). A confidence interval around the estimate was
generated by multiplying the standard errors by ±1.96 (the

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

t-score of a normal, two-tailed distribution that excludes
2.5% at either end of the distribution). Therefore, the
confidence interval around the 36.4% estimate is equal to
36.4% ± 2.7% X 1.96 (or 31.1% to 41.7%). In other words,
if different samples using the same procedures were taken
from the U.S. population during the period from 2005
to 2010, 95% of the time the percentage of rape or sexual
assault victimizations that were reported to police would
fall between 31.1% and 41.7%.
In this report, BJS also calculated a coefficient of variation
(CV) for all estimates, representing the ratio of the standard
error to the estimate. CVs provide a measure of reliability
and a means to compare the precision of estimates across
measures with differing levels or metrics. In cases where the
CV was greater than 50%, or the unweighted sample had
10 or fewer cases, the estimate was noted with a “!” symbol
(interpret data with caution; estimate is based on 10 or fewer
sample cases, or the coefficient of variation exceeds 50%).
Many of the variables examined in this report may be related
to one another and to other variables not included in the
analyses. Complex relationships among variables in this
report were not fully explored and warrant more extensive
analysis. Readers are cautioned not to draw causal inferences
based on the results presented.
Methodological changes to the NCVS in 2006
Methodological changes implemented in 2006 may have
affected the crime estimates for that year to such an extent
that they are not comparable to estimates from other years.
Evaluation of 2007 and later data from the NCVS conducted
by BJS and the Census Bureau found a high degree of
confidence that estimates for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 are
consistent with and comparable to estimates for 2005 and
previous years. The reports, Criminal Victimization, 2006,
NCJ 219413, December 2007; Criminal Victimization, 2007,
NCJ 224390, December 2008; Criminal Victimization, 2008,
NCJ 227777, September 2009; Criminal Victimization, 2009,
NCJ 231327, October 2010; and Criminal Victimization,
2010, NCJ 235508, September 2011, are available on the BJS
website. Although caution is warranted when comparing
data from 2006 to other years, the aggregation of multiple
years of data in this report diminishes the potential variation
between 2006 and other years. In general, findings do not
change significantly if the year 2006 is excluded from the
analyses.

10

Appendix table 1
Female rape and sexual assault victimization rates, 1995–2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

Total
Average
annual count
555,600
443,300
450,100
436,400
458,900
452,100
390,700
366,200
304,300
277,600
221,100
276,300
298,400
273,500
297,900
269,700

Rate*
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.1
2.5
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.3
2.1

Completed
Average
annual count
Rate*
402,000
3.6
304,300
2.7
301,400
2.7
322,100
2.8
346,000
3.0
352,200
3.0
286,400
2.4
244,100
2.1
212,200
1.7
204,500
1.7
158,700
1.3
183,500
1.5
194,200
1.5
168,500
1.3
168,800
1.3
143,300
1.1

Attempted
Average
annual count
Rate*
83,900
0.8
56,400
0.5
55,200
0.5
62,600
0.5
82,300
0.7
71,300
0.6
67,400
0.6
70,700
0.6
57,900
0.5
55,000
0.4
42,900
0.3
60,200
0.5
68,500
0.5
76,200
0.6
86,300
0.7
89,300
0.7

Threatened
Average
annual count
Rate*
69,800
0.6
82,600
0.7
93,500
0.8
51,700
0.5
30,600
0.3
28,600
0.2
36,800
0.3
51,400
0.4
34,200
0.3
18,000
0.1
19,500
0.2
32,600
0.3
35,700
0.3
28,900
0.2
42,900
0.3
37,000
0.3

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year. See appendix table 2 for standard errors.
*Per 1,000 females age 12 or older.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

Appendix table 2
Standard errors for figure 1 and appendix table 1: Female rape and sexual assault victimization rates, 1995–2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

Total
Average
annual count
43,100
38,300
41,000
43,000
42,600
40,600
40,400
38,500
32,700
33,600
34,500
37,000
40,800
37,200
38,900
37,000

Rate*
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

Completed
Average
annual count
Rate*
35,800
0.2
31,000
0.2
32,800
0.2
36,100
0.2
36,100
0.2
35,200
0.2
33,800
0.2
30,600
0.2
26,700
0.2
28,400
0.2
28,800
0.2
29,600
0.2
32,200
0.2
28,400
0.2
28,500
0.2
26,000
0.1

Attempted
Average
annual count
15,200
12,400
13,100
14,600
16,100
14,500
15,200
15,500
13,200
14,000
14,400
16,300
18,300
18,500
19,800
20,100

Rate*
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

Threatened
Average
annual count
Rate*
13,800
0.1
15,200
0.1
17,300
0.1
13,200
0.1
9,400
0.1
8,900
0.1
11,000
0.1
13,000
0.1
10,000
0.1
7,800
-9,600
0.1
11,800
0.1
12,900
0.1
11,100
0.1
13,700
0.1
12,500
0.1

*Per 1,000 females age 12 or older.
--Less then 0.05.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

11

Appendix table 3
Rape and sexual assault victimization rates, by sex of victim, 1995–2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

All persons
Average
annual count
Rate*
618,800
2.9
500,200
2.3
495,400
2.3
472,300
2.1
491,300
2.2
479,100
2.1
421,700
1.8
413,200
1.8
337,600
1.4
290,500
1.2
231,800
1.0
335,700
1.4
355,900
1.4
299,000
1.2
327,600
1.3
287,100
1.1

Female
Average
annual count
555,600
443,300
450,100
436,400
458,900
452,100
390,700
366,200
304,300
277,600
221,100
276,300
298,400
273,500
297,900
269,700

Male
Rate*
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.1
2.5
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.3
2.1

Average
annual count
63,100
56,900
45,200
35,900
32,400
27,100
31,000
47,000
33,300
12,900 !
10,600 !
59,400
57,500
25,400
29,700
17,400

Rate*
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.1 !
0.1 !
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.1

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages centered on the most recent year. See appendix table 4 for standard errors.
! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
*Per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

Appendix table 4
Standard errors for figure 2 and appendix table 3: Rape and sexual assault victimization rates, by sex of victim, 1995–2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

All persons
Average annual count
45,800
41,000
43,300
45,100
44,300
42,000
42,200
41,300
34,700
34,500
35,400
41,200
45,100
39,100
41,100
38,400

Rate*
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

Female
Average annual count
43,100
38,300
41,000
43,000
42,600
40,600
40,400
38,500
32,700
33,600
34,500
37,000
40,800
37,200
38,900
37,000

Rate*
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

Male
Average annual count
13,100
12,500
11,800
10,900
9,700
8,600
10,000
12,400
9,800
6,600
7,000
16,200
16,700
10,400
11,300
8,400

Rate*
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
--

*Per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
--Less than 0.05.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

12

Appendix table 5
Standard errors for table 1: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by victim characteristics,
1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Victim characteristic
Total
Age
12–17
18–34
35–64
65 or older
Race/Hispanic origin
White
Black
Hispanic/Latina
American Indian/Alaska native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Two or more races
Marital status
Never married
Married
Widowed
Divorced or separated
Household income
Less than $25,000
$25,000–$49,999
$50,000 or more
Unknown
Location of residence
Urban
Suburban
Rural

Rate per 1,000 females
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.8
0.4
0.2
0.1

0.6
0.3
0.1
0.1

0.5
0.3
0.1
0.1

0.2
0.4
0.5
2.6
0.6
~

0.2
0.4
0.3
2.1
0.4
3.1

0.2
0.4
0.3
2.3
0.3
1.8

0.5
0.1
0.2
0.7

0.3
0.1
0.1
0.5

0.3
0.1
0.2
0.5

0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4

0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2

0.3
0.2
0.3

0.3
0.2
0.2

0.2
0.2
0.4

Appendix table 6
Standard errors for table 2: Activity and location of female
victims when rape and sexual assault occurred, 1994–1998,
1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Location and activity
Location when crime occurred
At or near victim’s home
At or near home of friend/relative/
acquaintance
Commercial place/parking lot
or garage
School
Open areas/public transportation/
other
Activity when crime occurred
Working
Attending school
Sleeping/other activities at home
Traveling to or from work, school,
other place/shopping or errands/
leisure activity away from home
Other/unknown

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.9%
1.9%
2.8%
1.4

1.4

1.8

1.3
0.8

1.4
1.2

1.7
1.5

1.3
~
1.2%
0.7
1.9

1.3
~
1.1%
1.1
1.9

2.0
~
1.8%
1.4
2.8

1.7
1.0

1.8
0.9

2.5
1.2

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

13

Appendix table 7
Standard errors for table 3: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by number of offenders and
victim-offender relationship, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and
2005–2010
Offender characteristic
Number of offenders
One
Two or more
Victim-offender relationship
Stranger
Nonstranger
Intimate partner
Relative
Well-known/casual aquaintance

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.0%
1.1%
1.8%
0.9
1.1
1.7
~
~
~
1.5%
1.7%
2.4%
1.6
1.8
2.4
1.7
1.8
2.8
1.1
0.6
1.4
1.9
2.0
2.8

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Appendix table 8
Standard errors for table 4: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by perceived offender
characteristics, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Offender characteristics
Age
17 or younger
18–20
21–29
30 or older
Other
Race
White
Black
Other
Mixed group
Unknown
Alcohol/drug use at time of incident
Yes
No
Unknown

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.2%
1.2%
1.8%
1.1
1.2
1.8
1.7
1.9
2.7
2.0
2.1
3.1
0.5
0.6
1.1
~
~
~
1.8%
1.9%
2.8%
1.4
1.7
2.5
1.0
1.1
1.3
0.4
0.3
0.5
0.5
0.7
1.5
~
~
~
1.9%
1.9%
2.8%
1.8
1.8
2.7
1.5
1.8
2.6

Appendix table 9
Standard errors for table 5: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females, by offender weapon
possession, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Weapon present
Total
No weapon
Weapon
Firearm
Knife
Other/unknown type
Don’t know

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.2%
1.5%
2.2%
0.9 %
1.2 %
1.7%
0.6
0.5
1.3
0.5
0.8
1.1
0.3
0.8
0.5
0.8%
0.9%
1.3%

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Appendix table 10
Standard errors for table 6: Injured female victims of rape
and sexual assault who received treatment, 1994–1998,
1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Injury
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
No injury
1.9%
1.9%
2.8%
Any injury
1.9%
2.0%
2.8%
Treatment for injury
~
~
~
No treatment
2.2%
2.6%
3.5%
Any treatment
2.2
2.5
3.5
Treatment setting
~
~
~
At scene or home of victim/
neighbor/friend
4.5%
3.8%
4.7%
In doctor’s office/hospital/
emergency room/overnight hospital
4.6
3.9
4.8
In other location/unknown
1.4
1.3
1.1
~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

14

Appendix table 11
Standard errors for table 7: Female victims of rape and
sexual assault who received assistance from a victim service
agency, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.6%
1.7%
2.4%
1.6
1.8
2.4

Total
Received assistance
Did not receive assistance

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Appendix table 12
Standard errors for figure 3: Rape and sexual assault
victimizations against females reported to police, 1995–
2010
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

Percent
29%
27
28
27
28
32
40
46
56
45
32
32
34
40
32
35

Standard error
2.2%
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.6
2.6
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.0
4.8
3.8
4.0
4.3
3.9
4.2

Appendix table 13
Standard errors for table 8: Rape and sexual victimizations
against females reported and not reported to police,
1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Reporting to police
Total
Not reported
Reported
Source of report
Victim
Other household member
An official other than police
Someone else
Police were at crime scene
Other

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.7%
1.9%
2.7%
1.7%
1.9%
2.7%
~
~
~
3.4
3.0
4.4
2.9
2.0
2.7
1.3
1.7
3.1
2.1
1.8
2.7
0.6
1.1
1.0
1.7
1.3
0.7

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

15

Appendix table 14
Standard errors for table 9: Rape and sexual assault victimizations against females reported and not reported to police,
by most important reason for reporting or not reporting, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010
Total
Reported
Reason reported
To stop incident or prevent recurrance or escalation
To get help or recover loss
To protect respondent and household from further crimes by this offender
To catch/punish/prevent offender from reoffending
To improve police surveillance/duty to tell police/because it was a crime
Other/unknown/not one most important reason
Not reported
Reason not reported
Reported to different official
Personal matter
Not important enough to respondent
Police could not do anything to help
Police would not do anything to help
Did not want to get offender in trouble with law
Advised not to report
Fear of reprisal
Other/unknown/not one most important reason

1994–1998
~
1.7%
~
3.5%
1.4
3.6
3.3
4.2
3.8
1.7%
~
1.3%
1.8
1.1
0.6
1.0
0.9
0.3
1.6
2.0

1999–2004
~
1.9%
~
2.8%
1.2
2.9
3.1
3.2
3.2
1.9%
~
1.5%
1.9
1.3
0.6
1.3
0.9
-1.8
2.3

2005–2010
~
2.7%
~
4.9%
2.0
5.1
4.2
4.6
2.6
2.7%
~
1.8%
2.3
1.8
0.9
2.3
1.8
-2.8
3.2

~Not applicable.
--Less than 0.05%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1994–2010.

Appendix table 15
Standard errors for table 10: Rape or sexual assault
victimization against females, with police response, by type
of response, 1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Appendix table 16
Standard errors for table 11: Initial police response to rape
and sexual assault victimizations against females,
1994–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Responses
Total
Not reported
Reported
Police came when notified
Yes
No
Unknown/other

Initial police response
1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
Made arrest at scene
3.1%
2.1%
3.8%
Promised to investigate and/
or promised surveillance
3.1
3.2
3.2
Questioned witnesses and/or searched
3.9
3.3
4.9
Took evidence
2.1
1.9
3.8
Took report
3.0
3.0
3.4
Other
3.2
2.4
3.8

1994–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010
~
~
~
1.7%
1.9%
2.7%
1.7
1.9
2.7
3.2%
2.8
1.7

2.4%
2.1
1.2

~Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, 1994–2010 | MARCH 2013

3.5%
3.2
1.3

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
1994–2010.

16

The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of
Justice. William J. Sabol is the acting director.
This report was written by Michael Planty and Lynn Langton of BJS and
Christopher Krebs, Marcus Berzofsky, and Hope Smiley-McDonald from RTI
International. RTI International and Jennifer Truman verified the report.
Catherine Bird and Jill Thomas edited the report, and Barbara Quinn and Tina
Dorsey produced the report under the supervision of Doris J. James.
March 2013, NCJ 240655

NCJ240655
Office of Justice Programs
Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods
www.ojp.usdoj.gov