Latest child sexual abuse statistics
Here’s the latest stats on CSA. Warning: This is going to piss you off. Note the change in the first one (from 1 in 4 girls to 1 in 3 girls).
1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. (1)
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. (2)(3)
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. (4)
30-40% of victims are abused by a family member. (4)(6)(7) Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. (5)(6)
Only 10% are abused by strangers.
The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old. (8)
More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8. (7)
Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are children under 12. (7)(9)
Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. (10)
An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.
Most children don't tell even if they have been asked
Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time. (11)
References:
1 Briere, J., Eliot, D.M. Prevalence and Psychological Sequence of Self-Reported Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse in General Population……: Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003, 27 10
2 Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K., & Wolak, J. (2001, March). Highlights of the youth internet safety survey. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
3 U.S. Department of Justice (2001). Internet crimes against children. OVC Bulletin. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.
4 Snyder, H N. (2000). Sexual assault of young children as reported to law enforcement: Victim, incident, and offender characteristics. National Center for Juvenile Justice, U.S. Depar tment of Justice
5 Abel, G., Becker, J., Mittelman , M., Cunningham- Rathner, J., Rouleau, J., & Murphy, W. (1987). Self reported sex crimes on non-incarcerated paraphiliacs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 3-25.
6 Abel, G. & Harlow, N. (2001). Stop child molestation book. Abel and Harlow.
7 Kilpatrick, D., Saunders, B., & Smith, D. (2003). Youth victimization: Prevalence and implications. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice report.
8 Putnam, F. (2003). Ten-year research update review: Child sexual abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42 , 269-278.
9 Simpson, C., Odor, R., & Masho, S. (2004 August). Childhood Sexual Assault Victimization in Virginia. Center for Injury & Violence Prevention. Virginia Department of Health.
10 Elliott, M., Browne, K., & Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us.Child Abuse & Neglect, 5, 579-594.
11 Darkness to Light Statistics
1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. (1)
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. (2)(3)
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. (4)
30-40% of victims are abused by a family member. (4)(6)(7) Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. (5)(6)
Only 10% are abused by strangers.
The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old. (8)
More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8. (7)
Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are children under 12. (7)(9)
Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. (10)
An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.
Most children don't tell even if they have been asked
Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time. (11)
References:
1 Briere, J., Eliot, D.M. Prevalence and Psychological Sequence of Self-Reported Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse in General Population……: Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003, 27 10
2 Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K., & Wolak, J. (2001, March). Highlights of the youth internet safety survey. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
3 U.S. Department of Justice (2001). Internet crimes against children. OVC Bulletin. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.
4 Snyder, H N. (2000). Sexual assault of young children as reported to law enforcement: Victim, incident, and offender characteristics. National Center for Juvenile Justice, U.S. Depar tment of Justice
5 Abel, G., Becker, J., Mittelman , M., Cunningham- Rathner, J., Rouleau, J., & Murphy, W. (1987). Self reported sex crimes on non-incarcerated paraphiliacs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 3-25.
6 Abel, G. & Harlow, N. (2001). Stop child molestation book. Abel and Harlow.
7 Kilpatrick, D., Saunders, B., & Smith, D. (2003). Youth victimization: Prevalence and implications. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice report.
8 Putnam, F. (2003). Ten-year research update review: Child sexual abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42 , 269-278.
9 Simpson, C., Odor, R., & Masho, S. (2004 August). Childhood Sexual Assault Victimization in Virginia. Center for Injury & Violence Prevention. Virginia Department of Health.
10 Elliott, M., Browne, K., & Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us.Child Abuse & Neglect, 5, 579-594.
11 Darkness to Light Statistics
Labels: CSA, Statistics
