Texas Sexual Assault Statistics

Unfortunately, sexual assault statistics show rape and sexual violence as a serious problem across the country, including in Texas. Tens of thousands of children and adults are victimized each year, and these individuals must deal with the long-lasting physical and psychological effects of the crime, which can hinder their education, career, and personal relationships. For some, sexual assault is a trauma that is never entirely overcome. That is why educational institutions, legislators, and law enforcement agencies must take all issues related to sexual assault seriously, including prevention, reporting offenses, investigating allegations, identifying false claims, and charging offenders. Valid allegations should be thoroughly investigated by the police and tried by prosecutors, while false allegations must be identified and victims of these dangerous lies protected.

If you have been falsely accused of sexual assault, do not let yourself become a statistic. Seek help from an experienced Houston sexual assault lawyer with The Law Offices of Ned Barnett at (713) 222-6767.

Basic Texas Sexual Assault Statistics

The sheer volume of sexual assaults and sex-related offenses that occur within Texas makes it clear sexual violence is a problem that needs to be addressed at local, state, and federal levels.

In 2015, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported there were 18,636 sexual assault incidents, involving 19,537 individual victims and 19,648 offenders. All of these figures were slightly lower than those from 2014 when there were 18,756 incidents reported, including 19,834 victims and 19,821 perpetrators. While a drop in the number of perpetrators and victims is welcome, it was a small decline that shows there is still work to be done.

Sexual Assault Offenses Included in the Report

There are a number of sexual assault laws offenders may be charged with based on the specific circumstances surrounding the offense, including if the victim was a child or whether a dangerous weapon was involved. The DPS gathers information regarding six offenses:

• Continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children
• Indecency with a child by contact
• Indecency with a child by exposure
• Sexual assault
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Sexual performance by a child

Sexual Assault Effects Men and Women

Sexual assault disproportionately affects women, with 87 percent of victims in 2015 consisting of females. However, 13 percent of victims were male, equaling about 2,539 boys and men. This is no small number and it cannot be ignored. While women are most at risk, sexual assault education, research, and advocacy must address all genders.

Victims Know the Offenders

The old and still pervasive myth regarding sexual assault is that it is caused by strangers. The disturbing truth is that most sexual assaults are perpetrated by people the victims know, such as romantic interests, family members, friends, and acquaintances. According to DPS, 83.4 percent of victims knew the person who attacked them. More specifically, of the victims of sexual assault in 2015:

• 11.1 percent were romantically linked to the offender
• 16.1 percent were related to the offender as a child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, or grandparent
• 19.6 were related in some other way, such as siblings, stepsiblings, or in-laws
• 36.6 had another type of relationship with the offender such as a friend, acquaintance, neighbor, coworker, or employer
• 16.6 percent were strangers or unknown to the offenders

Sexual Assaults Mostly Take Place at Home

Slightly more than 73 percent of sexual assaults take place at a home or residence. The next most commonly reported location is unknown or other at nearly 10 percent. However, assaults can also take place in roads and alleys (3.9 percent), hotels (3.6 percent), schools and colleges (2.4 percent), parking lots and garages (2.1 percent), fields and woods (1.7 percent), offices (.7 percent), medical facilities (.6 percent), bars and night clubs (.5 percent), religious facilities (.3 percent), and other places. The truth is, a sexual assault can take place anywhere, at any time.

Teenagers Are Most at Risk of Sexual Assault

The DPS found individuals between the ages of 10 and 14 were most at risk for sexual assault, followed by:

• 15 to 19-year-olds
• 20 to 24-year-olds
• 25 to 29-year-olds
• 5 to 9-year-olds
• 4 and under

While these age groups were most at risk, including from 1000 victims to more than 5000 victims, other age groups were still victims of sexual assault. There is no age at which someone has a zero level of risk for assault.

Alcohol Not as Relevant as You May Think

According to DPS data, the offender was reported to have been under the influence of alcohol only 10.2 percent and drugs 4.9 percent of the time. For all other 84.9 percent of incidents, the offender was not using drugs or alcohol.

Are You Facing Sexual Assault Charges?

If you are being investigated for sexual assault or have been charged with a sex crime, contact a skilled Houston sex crimes lawyer at The Law Offices of Ned Barnett right away at (713) 222-6767.

Sexual violence must be taken seriously, which includes preventing and defending against false accusations. Attorney Ned Barnett understands how terrifying this experience is. Call him today to schedule a free initial consultation. You deserve the strongest defense available to you under the law.