NCJ Number
239669
Date Published
August 2011
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings on the nature and context of sexual assaults committed on youth victims in Massachusetts, with a specific focus on domestic violence.
Abstract
This study provides a general overview of victim and assailant characteristics before discussing youth sexual assaults in the context of domestic violence. Findings show that there were 3,623 cases of sexual assault perpetrated on youth victims who sought medical treatment between January 1, 2001 and December, 31 2010; over the ten-year time period, the number of PSCR youth sexual assault cases have remained relatively stable. The majority of victims were female, between the ages of 12 and 17. The majority of victims were White, followed by Hispanic, and Black victims. Most assaults involved only one assailant, and nearly all assailants were male. The most common assailant involved in a youth sexual assault was an acquaintance, followed by stranger, other assailant, and friend. The most common assailant types were extrafamilial assailants, followed by domestic violence assailants. The majority of victims under the age of 10 were the victims of domestic violence assailants and intrafamilial assailants. The proportion of extrafamilial assailants rose as the age of the victims increased and were the most common assailants for victims ages 10 to 12, 13 to 15, and 16 to 19 respectively. Male relatives were the most common domestic violence assailant for victims between ages 4 to 6, ages 7 to 9, and ages 10 to 12. Current and former boyfriends accounted for the majority of domestic violence assailants for victims ages 13 to 15 and ages 16 to 19. Approximately 79.9 percent of victims reported the assault to the police. Figures and references