National Sexual Violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists Child sexual abuse is a crime and an abuse of trust, power, and authority that may contribute to serious short- and long-term problems for a child. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old (Finkelhor, Hotaling, Lewis, & Smith, 1990). Children who have been sexually abused may also experience verbal, emotional, or physical abuse (Finkelhor, Turner, Ormrod, Hamby, & Kracke, 2009). Forms of Child Sexual Abuse A person sexually abuses a child when he or she exposes the child to sexual acts or behavior. Forms include (Finkelhor, Hammer, & Sedlak, 2008): • Sex acts that involve penetration • Touching the child’s breasts or genitals • Making a child touch the perpetrator’s breasts or genitals • Voyeurism (when a perpetrator looks at a child’s naked body) • Exhibitionism (when a perpetrator shows a child his or her naked body) • Showing a child pornography or using a child in the production of pornography (Putnam, 2003). • Child sexual exploitation, such as sex trafficking • Internet-based child sexual abuse, such as creating, depicting, and/or distributing sexual images of children online; or stalking, grooming, and/or engaging in sexually explicit behaviors with children online. Warning Signs That a Child May Have Been Sexually Abused • Bodily signs (e.g., bed-wetting, stomachaches, headaches, sore genitals) • Emotional signs (e.g., fear, sadness, mood changes, acting out, refusing to be left alone with certain people) • Sexual signs (e.g., inappropriate sexual behavior with objects or other children) • Verbal signs (e.g., knowledge about sexuality that is not age- or developmentally appropriate) Evidence shows that child sexual abuse is not always obvious and many children do not report abuse (Finkelhor et al., 2008). Children often love and/or trust the people who sexually abuse them, creating further barriers in coming forward. Some fear the consequences of a disclosure and the ramifications it will have on their family. People who sexually abuse children may use force or, more commonly, manipulation to abuse a child and keep him or her from telling others. Victims of child sexual abuse Gender: Boys and girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse. Girls are abused three times more often than boys, whereas boys are more likely to die or be seriously injured by their abuse (Sedlak & Broadhurst, 1996). Age: Children of all ages, from birth to age 17, can be sexually abused. Adolescents ages 14 to 17 are the most likely to be abused; nearly one in six adolescents (16.3%) was sexually victimized in the past year and more than one in four (27.3%) had been sexually victimized during their lifetimes (Finkelhor et al., 2009). Warning Signs that a person may be sexually abusing a child • Person exhibits an unusual interest in a particular child or particular age or gender of children • Person socializes more with children than with adults and attempts to be alone with children • Person insists on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, wrestling with or holding a child even when the child does not want this affection • Person encourages a lack of privacy around the home and on the part of children and expresses voyeuristic behaviors such as watching them bathe • Person discusses inappropriate topics with a child • Person exhibits lack of interest in normal adult sexual relations but is overly interested in the sexuality of a particular child or teen People who sexually abuse Gender: Based on law enforcement reports, 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male (Snyder, 2000). Age: Most perpetrators are adults. Law enforcement reports show that 76.8% of those who perpetrate sexual assaults are adults; 23.2% are juveniles who sexually abuse children, and 19.5% of perpetrators are between the ages of 12-17 (Snyder, 2000). Relationship to the child: Children are most often sexually abused by people they know and trust. People who sexual abuse children can be in positions of authority and esteemed by the community. Family members are the perpetrators in 34% of reported cases against juveniles (Snyder, 2000). References Finkelhor, D., Hammer, H., & Sedlak, A. J. (2008). Sexually assaulted children: National estimates and characteristics (NCJ 214383). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/214383.pdf Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I. A., & Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics and risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect 14, 19-28. doi:10.1016/0145-2134(90)90077-7 Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., Hamby, S., & Kracke, K. (2009). Children’s exposure to violence: A comprehensive national survey (NCJ 227744). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227744.pdf Putnam, F. W. (2003). Ten-year research update review: Child sexual abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 269-278. doi:10.1097/00004583-200303000-00006 Sedlak, A. J., & Broadhurst, D. D. (1996). Executive summary of the third national incidence study of child abuse and neglect. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/statsinfo/nis3.cfm Snyder, H. N. (2000). Sexual assault of young children as reported to law enforcement: Victim, incident and offender characteristics (NCJ 182990). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/saycrle.pdf © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. National Sexual Violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists Crime Reports of Sexual Violence Understanding victim behavior and its social context is critical to understanding the obstacles victims face in reporting. Research shows that rates of false reporting are frequently inflated, in part because of inconsistent definitions and protocols or a weak understanding of sexual assault. Misconceptions about false reporting rates have direct, negative consequences and can contribute to why many victims don’t report sexual assaults (Lisak, Gardinier, Nicksa, & Cote, 2010). Reporting Sexual Violence The majority of sexual assaults, an estimated 63%, are never reported to the police (Rennison, 2002). The prevalence of false reporting cases of sexual violence is low (Lisak et al., 2010), yet when survivors come forward, many face scrutiny or encounter barriers. Victim Experience Sexual assault victims commonly struggle with a range of emotions that make it difficult for them to report or disclose abuse. Some reasons might include: • Often, victims who do report will delay doing so (Archambault & Lonsway, 2006) for a variety of reasons that are connected to neurobiological and psychological responses to their assault (D’Anniballe, 2010). • Victims may worry about how reporting will affect their family or friends (Campbell, 1998). Further, they may be fearful of family fracture if the person sexually assaulting them is a family member (Campbell & Raja, 1999). • Some victims distrust law enforcement. • Completing the forensic exam or “rape kit” can be difficult for victims. • Victims fear that they will not be believed or fear retaliation. Often, victims are pressured by others not to tell. Definitions Since 1929, crime data, such as reported rapes, has been submitted voluntarily by police departments regarding certain crimes. The data becomes a part of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR). From the 1920s until 2011, UCR defined rape as “carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” This definition covered only penetration of a woman’s vagina by a penis, and excluded other forms of sexual violence. In January 2012, revisions to the UCR’s definition were announced which broadened it to expand victims and forms of sexual violence. The new definition is “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” (FBI, 2012). Through the UCR, the FBI issues guidelines and definitions related to processing sexual assault cases. Although not all police departments follow these guidelines, they do seek to process and clear cases from their active case log. The UCR identifies three main ways to clear a case: cleared by arrest, cleared by exception, and unfounded (Archambault & Lonsway, 2007). Each category has subdivisions. The unfounded category has two subdivisions: false allegations and baseless. • Unfounded report: A case that is investigated and found to be false or baseless. The “unfounded” classification is often confused with false allegations, in part because the definitions may seem similar. For example, unfounded cases include those that law enforcement believes do not meet the legal criteria for rape. It does not mean that some form of sexual assault may not have occurred, but only that from the legal perspective, in that jurisdiction, the case does not meet the legal criteria or it is “baseless.” • False report: A reported crime to a law enforcement agency that an investigation factually proves never occurred. • Baseless report: A report in which it is determined that the incident does not meet the elements of the crime, but it is presumed truthful. Unsubstantiated reports The term ‘unsubstantiated report’ is not generally used for UCR purposes, but is often used in regular language and child abuse reporting. To be unsubstantiated, a report must “provide insufficient evidence to determine whether or not crime occurred” (Archambault, n.d.). Recanting Recanting doesn’t mean nothing happened. Recanting can occur for a variety of reasons such as a victim may worry about how the media scrutiny will impact their lives/families, some feel pressured to recant, or others may face retaliation or fear for their safety. References Archambault, J. (n.d.). Unfounded cases and false reports: A complex problem [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault: http://www.iowacasa.org/UserDocs/A3,_A4_Archambault_FALSE_REPORTS.pdf Archambault, J., & Lonsway, K. A., (2006). Dynamics of sexual assault: What does sexual assault really look like? (Rev. 2008 ed.). Available from End Violence Against Women International’s On-Line Training Institute: http://evawintl.org/onlinetraining.aspx Archambault, J., & Lonsway, K. A., (2007). Clearance methods for sexual assault cases (Rev. 2008 ed.). Available from End Violence Against Women International’s On-Line Training Institute: http://evawintl.org/onlinetraining.aspx Campbell, R. (1998). The community response to rape: Victims’ experiences with the legal, medical, and mental health systems. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26, 355-379. Retrieved from: http://vaw.msu.edu/core_faculty/ rebecca_campbell/Articles/Campbell_%281998%29.pdf Campbell, R., & Raja, S. (1999). Secondary victimization of rape victims: Insights from mental health professionals who treat survivors of violence. Violence and Victims, 14, 261-275. D’Anniballe, J. (2010, February). Understanding the neurobiology of trauma: The impact on children and adults. Presentation at the Deepening Our Roots: Growing Meaningful & Sustainable Sexual Assault Services in Rural Communities conference, San Diego, CA. Lisak, D., Gardinier, L., Nicksa, S. C., & Cote, A. M. (2010). False allegations of sexual assault: An analysis of ten years of reported cases. Violence Against Women, 16, 1318-1334. doi:10.1177/1077801210387747 Rennison, C. A. (2002). Rape and sexual assault: Reporting to police and medical attention, 1992-2000 [NCJ 194530]. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation(2012). Attorney General Eric Holder announces revisions to the Uniform Crime Report’s definition of rape [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/news/ pressrel/press-releases/attorney-general-eric-holder-announces-revisions-to- the-uniform-crime-reports-definition-of-rape © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. National Sexual violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists What is Sexual violence? Sexual violence occurs when someone is forced or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, disability, and/or influence of alcohol or other drugs. Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and elders. Those who sexually abuse can be acquaintances, family, trusted individuals or strangers, and of these, the first three categories are most common. Forms of sexual violence Sexual violence is a broad term and includes rape, incest, child sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, unwanted sexual contact, sexual harassment, exposure, and voyeurism. Sexual violence is a social justice issue that occurs because of abuse, misuse, and exploitation of vulnerabilities. It is a violation of human rights and can impact a person’s trust and feeling of safety. Acts of sexual violence are not only about control and/or sex, but the rape culture exists, in part, because of disparities in power that are often rooted in oppression. Sexual violence happens to people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, professions, incomes, and ethnicities. These violations are widespread and occur daily in our communities, schools, and workplaces. Impact on survivors Each survivor reacts to sexual violence in her/his own unique way. Some may tell others right away what happened, many will wait weeks, months, or even years before discussing the assault, if they ever choose to do so. It is important to respect each person’s choices and style of coping with this traumatic event. Whether an assault was completed or attempted, and regardless of whether it happened recently or many years ago, it may impact daily functioning. Impact of sexual violence Impact on individuals: Sexual violence can affect parents, friends, partners, children, spouses, and/ or coworkers of the survivor. In order to best assist the survivor, it is important for those close to them to get support. Local social service providers offer free, confidential services to those affected by sexual violence. Impact on communities: Schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, campuses, and cultural or religious communities may feel fear, anger, or disbelief when a sexual assault happens. Additionally, there are financial costs to communities. These costs include medical services, criminal justice expenses, crisis and mental health service fees, and the lost contributions of individuals affected by sexual violence. Victim reactions Victims may experience a wide range of reactions including: • Nightmares • Flashbacks • Depression • Difficulty concentrating • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Anxiety or phobias • Eating disorders • Substance use or abuse • Low self esteem • Guilt, embarrassment, self blame • Anger or sadness • Fear, distrust • Vulnerability Facts about sexual violence • People who sexually assault usually violate someone they know — a friend, date, classmate, neighbor, coworker, or relative. • Victims are never at fault for a sexual assault. Often, the media may unintentionally imply a victim is to blame by mentioning, for example, what the victim was wearing, whether the victim was drinking; these comments lead to victim-blaming. • People who sexually assault often use coercion, manipulation or “charm.” In some cases, they may use force, threats, or injury. An absence of physical injuries to the victim does not indicate the victim consented. • Societal conditions that allow sexual violence to continue include tolerance of sexual harassment and street harassment, restrictive ideas about masculinity, believing that women should be responsible for keeping themselves safe, comments that joke about rape, consumption of violent pornography, the belief that alcohol will make sexual encounters better or women more willing to have sex, viewing the use of commercial sex (stripping, pornography, prostitution/escort services) as normal male activities and beliefs that certain groups are better than others (sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, etc.) Ways to prevent sexual violence Primary prevention approaches acknowledge that sexual violence is preventable, and this approach seeks to change cultural norms by teaching people to not violate others. Risk-reduction approaches seek to decrease a particular person’s risk for victimization, such as a self- defense class. Some primary prevention approaches: • Be a role model for respectful relationships/behaviors • Speak up when hearing harmful comments or witnessing acts of disrespect or violence • Create policies at workplaces, agencies, and schools • Coordinate community prevention efforts • Talk with legislators and ask them to support prevention and victim services References National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2010). The impact of sexual violence: Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_ NSVRC_Factsheet_Impact-of-sexual-violence_0.pdf National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2010). What is sexual violence: Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_ NSVRC_Factsheet_What-is-sexual-violence_1.pdf © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012. All rights reserved. National Sexual Violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists Statistics About Sexual Violence Sexual assault in the U.S. • 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives (a) • 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance (a) • 52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger (a) • 91% of the victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and 9% are male (n) • In 8 out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator (k) • 8% of rapes occur while the victim is at work (d) Cost/Impact of sexual assault • Each rape costs approximately $151,423 (c) • Annually, rape costs the U.S. more than any other crime ($127 billion), followed by assault ($93 billion), murder ($71 billion), and drunk driving, including fatalities ($61 billion) (k) • 81% of women and 35% of men report significant short- or long-term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (a) • Health care is 16% higher for women who were sexually abused as children and 36% higher for women who were physically and sexually abused as children (l) Child sexual abuse • One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old (e) • 30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first completed rape (a) • 12.3% of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization (a) • 27.8% of men were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization (a) • More than one-third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult (a) • 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults (m) • 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child (m) • In 2009, about one-third of arrests for internet sexual offenses in which the victim was identified involved child sexual abuse (l) • It is estimated that 325,000 children per year are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation (l) • The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12-14 years old and the average age at which boys first become victims of prostitution is 11-13 years old (l) • Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities (g) Statistics about sexual violence • 20% - 25% of college women and 15% of college men are victims of forced sex during their time in college (b) • A 2002 study revealed that 63.3% of men at one university who self-reported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat rapes (i) • More than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault (b) • 27% of college women have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact (f) Crime reports • Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (n) • The prevalence of false reporting is low between 2% and 10%. For example, a study of eight U.S. communities, which included 2,059 cases of sexual assault, found a 7.1% rate of false reports (j). A study of 136 sexual assault cases in Boston found a 5.9% rate of false reports (i). Researchers studied 812 reports of sexual assault from 2000-2003 and found a 2.1% rate of false reports (h). References (a) Black, M. C., Basile, K. C., Breiding, M. J., Smith, S .G., Walters, M. L., Merrick, M. T., Stevens, M. R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 summary report. Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf (b) Cullen, F., Fisher, B., & Turner, M., The sexual victimization of college women (NCJ 182369). (2000). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf (c) Delisi, M. (2010). Murder by numbers: Monetary costs imposed by a sample of homicide offenders. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 21, 501-513. doi:10.1080/14789940903564388 (d) Duhart, D. (2001). Violence in the Workplace, 1993-99. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Available at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/vw99.pdf (e) Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I. A., & Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics and risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect 14, 19-28. doi:10.1016/0145-2134(90)90077-7 (f) Gross, A. M., Winslett, A., Roberts, M., & Gohm, C. L. (2006). An Examination of Sexual Violence Against College Women. Violence Against Women, 12, 288-300. doi: 10.1177/1077801205277358 (g) Hanson, R. F., Resnick, H. S., Saunders, B. E., Kilpatrick, D. G., & Best, C. (1999). Factors related to the reporting of childhood rape. Child Abuse and Neglect, 23(6), 559–569. (h) Heenan, M., & Murray, S. (2006). Study of reported rapes in Victoria 2000- 2003: Summary research report. Retrieved from the State of Victoria (Australia), Department of Human Services: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/ pdf_file/0004/644152/StudyofReportedRapes.pdf (i) Lisak, D., Gardinier, L., Nicksa, S. C., & Cote, A. M. (2010). False allegations of sexual assault: An analysis of ten years of reported cases. Violence Against Women, 16, 1318-1334. doi:10.1177/1077801210387747 (j) Lonsway, K. A., Archambault, J., & Lisak, D. (2009). False reports: Moving beyond the issue to successfully investigate and prosecute non-stranger sexual assault. The Voice, 3(1), 1-11. Retrieved from the National District Attorneys Association: http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/the_voice_vol_3_no_1_2009.pdf (k) Miller, T. R., Cohen, M. A., & Wiersema, B. (1996). Victim costs and consequences: A new look (NCJ 155282). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/victcost.pdf (l) National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. (2012). National Plan to Prevent the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children. Retrieved from http://www.preventtogether.org/Resources/Documents/ NationalPlan2012FINAL.pdf (m) National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2011). Child sexual abuse prevention: Overview. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/ Publications_NSVRC_Overview_Child-sexual-abuse-prevention_0.pdf (n) Rennison, C. A. (2002). Rape and sexual assault: Reporting to police and medical attention, 1992-2000 [NCJ 194530]. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. National sexual violence resource center - Info & Stats for Journalists The NSVRC at a Glance Who we are & what we do Founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) in 2000, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) identifies, develops and disseminates resources regarding all aspects of sexual violence prevention and intervention. Funded by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, NSVRC’s work includes training, technical assistance, referrals, advocacy, capacity-building, research, coordinating Sexual Assault Awareness Month, co-sponsoring national conferences, awards and events, and creating web-based and print resources. In addition, NSVRC has the world’s largest library collection related to sexual violence. PCAR is the oldest and largest state anti-sexual violence coalition in the U.S. and represents 51 sexual assault centers. Annually, these centers provide free, confidential services to thousands of adults and children. Did you know? • Teal is the color of sexual violence prevention. The symbol for sexual violence prevention is a teal ribbon. • April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). • Visionary Voice Awards, distributed annually in April, recognize individuals across the U.S. in various professions who are doing outstanding work to end sexual violence. Long-standing partners In addition to PCAR and other state anti-sexual assault coalitions across the country, NSVRC works with: • AEquitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women, www.aequitasresource.org • The Poynter Institute, www.poynter.org • Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), www.atsa.com • National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, www.preventtogether.org Working with Penn State In December 2011, a three-year partnership with Penn State University was announced. In the wake of the Jerry Sandusky case, Penn State pledged a $1.5 million grant — the University’s share of 2011’s Big Ten bowl revenues — to NSVRC and PCAR to support: • Professional development for employees through prevention, reporting and responsibility training • Educational outreach initiatives to communities • Public service media projects • Developing research priorities on child sexual abuse and violence • Educational opportunities for students Contact NSVRC • Address: 123 North Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025 • Director: Karen Baker, kbaker@nsvrc.org • Communications Director: Tracy Cox, tcox@nsvrc.org • Email requests to: resources@nsvrc.org • Call toll-free: (877) 739-3895 www.facebook.com/nsvrc www.twitter.com/nsvrc More information Scan the following QR codes with your mobile device or visit www.nsvrc.org to access NSVRC resources: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Information Packet Sexual Assault Awareness Month: English site Sexual violence in disasters NSVRC website NSVRC publications Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Spanish site Housing and Sexual Violence Information Packet Sexual Violence in Later Life Information Packet National Sexual Violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists Talking with Survivors Sexual violence is a complex topic, and journalists reporting on it should be aware that the process can be different from reporting on other crime-related stories. Some survivors may want to talk with the media, while others may not. Remember this is a social justice issue, so there are plenty of story angles and not all include interviewing survivors. Regardless of the angle, infusing stories with data and background information puts this issue into context. Privacy concerns Traditionally, victims’ names — regardless of age — are not revealed in order to protect their privacy. According to The Associated Press Stylebook, privacy means reporters, “do not identify juveniles (under 18) who are accused of crimes, even if other news media do so or police release names. Also, do not transmit images that would reveal their identity. Do not identify, in text or through images, juveniles (under 18) who are witnesses to crimes. Do not identify, in text or through images, persons who say they have been sexually assaulted, and use discretion in naming victims of other extremely severe abuse. Sometimes a person may be identified by AP in an abduction or manhunt situation, and it develops later that — because of a sexual assault or other reason – the name should not be used. AP may also consider identifying the victim of a sexual assault if the individual comes forward publicly and agrees to be identified.” News organizations should have a policy on this, and be sure the entire staff knows about the policy. In addition, be mindful of accidentally revealing a survivor’s identity through other details in your story such as photos, addresses or names of family/relatives. The effects of trauma Survivors of sexual violence have experienced trauma, and each person reacts differently to trauma. Many never talk about what happened to them, or they may wait months or years to talk about it. On the other hand, some survivors will disclose immediately. Be mindful of the resilience, strength, and uniqueness of each person’s response. The effects of sexual violence and trauma can also impact loved ones, communities, institutions, workplaces and schools. Also, be aware of the impact that the story might have on you. People working closely with this topic can experience secondary trauma. Take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need it. Potential triggers Certain situations, photos, words, sounds and smells can trigger memories from a survivor’s assault and this can be very traumatizing. For example, a survivor could see a photo of the place where they were assaulted, and the photo becomes associated with the events that occurred there. Be mindful not to intentionally trigger victims of sexual violence. Initial conversations Before you begin reporting, talk with victim advocates and staff at local rape crisis centers to gain information. Many trained sexual assault counselors/advocates want to talk with reporters, because they know this is so much more than a crime story. Be proactive and cultivate relationships with experts. Actively maintain these relationships for insight and story ideas throughout the year. Be adaptable. Talking routinely with advocates and service providers could reveal new story angles that are worth exploring. Some survivors may want to speak with a reporter, while others may not want to be interviewed by the media. If a survivor wants to tell their story allow them to do so in their own way, in their own words and in their own time. Be honest and don’t pressure them. Ask how the survivor would like to be identified. Sometimes people want to be fully identified. Sometimes they don’t want to be known as a victim, but as a survivor. It is important to have multiple conservations with survivors and get to know them. Listen and build a rapport with each other. Let the survivor share the amount of information that they are comfortable in sharing. It takes immense bravery to share these details. In some cases, trauma can be eased by talking about the positive impact they’ll have by sharing their stories. The interview process Talk with survivors to determine when and where the interview will take place. Be flexible if they change their minds. Be transparent and answer any questions that arise such as, When will the interview air/publish? Will photos/video be taken? How long will coverage last? During the interview, journalists can support survivors by having a therapist or a trained sexual assault counselor/advocate present. Reporters can help survivors feel more comfortable, by explaining the interview process. If the survivor wants to do an on-camera interview, introduce him/her to staff that will be assisting with the recording. Allow the survivor time to meet everyone and get comfortable. As you’re reporting, check in with survivors to update them of any changes and inform them when the interview will air/publish. After the interview publishes/airs, follow up with survivors to see how they’re doing since the media coverage. Questions & language choices While it is important to provide context for an incident, a reporter needs to be aware that the way a setting, or a person’s clothing are described can unintentionally assign guilt to the victim. Avoid questioning ‘why,’ because this can be viewed as victim-blaming and suggest that the victim somehow provoked the incident. Be mindful of this, because victims of sexual violence are never to blame for what happened to them. Instead ask open-ended, non- judgmental questions that allow survivors to share their stories. Often in news stories, the words are too vague, or they can imply things that didn’t actually happen. A victim of sexual violence doesn’t “perform oral sex.” A victim doesn’t “kiss” a perpetrator. These things suggest that the victim willingly participated. Also be careful how offenders are described. Labeling perpetrators as “monsters” set them apart from the rest of society, and it implies a “them versus us” dynamic. Such labels can hinder people from reporting suspicions they may have about someone, because it challenges their concept of how ‘good people’ do ‘bad things.’ Human beings are complex, and no one is 100% good or 100% bad. Reporters should always try to use the most accurate language possible. © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2013. All rights reserved. National Sexual Violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists People Who Commit Sexual Violence Often in efforts to prevent and eliminate sexual violence, the focus is on individuals who commit sexual violence and have been prosecuted. In those cases, the main focus shifts to their punishment. Not all offenders end up arrested; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (Rennison, 2002). There are many people who commit sexual violence but are never caught, and it will take a unified community strategy to prevent sexual crimes. With supervision and treatment, many sex offenders can live productive and offense-free lives (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). Who commits sexual violence? There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about people who sexually abuse, however we know these stereotypes do not tell the real story. In general, here are some facts about people who offend: • People who sexually abuse can be male or female, and span a variety of backgrounds and ages. Some individuals are married with stable relationships, employment and lack a criminal history. They can have strong social ties in the community. • The majority of sexual violence is committed by someone the victim knows — a family member, intimate partner, coworker, classmate or acquaintance. • Not all offenders are the same. Some are more likely to reoffend than others, and there are different motivations for offending. Some characteristics of sexually abusive behaviors in adults The presence of risk factors does not mean that abusive behaviors will happen. It is a balance of risk factors and protective factors that can impact the development of behaviors and affect the likelihood that an individual will sexually abuse. (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). • Some individual risk factors include: Poor coping skills, low self-esteem, and sexual attraction or sexual preoccupation. (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). • Some family-level risk factors include: Difficulty establishing and/or maintaining appropriate intimate relationships and a chaotic, unstable, or violent home environment (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). • Some community–level risk factors include: May have difficulty developing meaningful peer networks or a community presence (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). Statistics • About 12% to 24% of known or adjudicated sex offenders will reoffend. When sex offenders do commit another crime, it is often not sexual or violent. (Rates might be low because sex offenses are often not reported.) (Center for Sex Offender Management [CSOM], 2008). • The longer (known or adjudicated) offenders remain offense-free in the community, the less likely they are to reoffend sexually. The average 10-year recidivism rate from time of release is 20%, the 10-year recidivism declines to 12% after five years offense-free and to 9% after 10 years offense-free (Harris & Hanson, 2004). • Annually, there are nearly 2,200 juveniles arrested for rape and nearly 9,200 arrested for other types of sex offenses (U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], 2005). Treatment programs can effectively reduce sexual re-offense; adolescents and children are more likely than adults to stop their abusive behaviors (Finkelhor, Ormond, & Chaffin, 2009). • Approximately 150,000 adult sex offenders are currently in state and federal prisons throughout the United States. Between 10,000 and 20,000 are released to the community each year (CSOM, 2007). • More than 700,000 registered sex offenders live in communities throughout the U.S. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 2010). • Between 2007 and 2008, approximately 1,500 sex offender-related bills were introduced in state legislatures, and over 275 new laws were passed and enacted (Vandervort-Clark, 2009). Barriers & challenges • Often, people who sexually abuse are portrayed publicly as “monsters.” Because of this, people may be less likely to recognize the warning signs of a sexual behavior problem in loved ones or others to whom they are close, because they do not see them as “monsters” (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). Someone who suspects abuse within a family may be less likely to ask for help and subject family members, including victims, to public exposure (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). • Once a convicted abuser returns to the community, he/she is subjected to many of the current legislative policies. The resulting housing and job instability, loss of income, and isolation may increase the risk to re-offend. The instability may also reduce the system’s ability to monitor the offender and hold him/her accountable (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011). References Center for Sex Offender Management . (2007). Managing the challenges of sex offender reentry. Retrieved from http://www.csom.org/pubs/reentry_brief.pdf Center for Sex Offender Management. (2008). What you need to know about sex offenders [Fact sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.csom.org/pubs/needtoknow_fs.pdf Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R., & Chaffin, M. (2009, December). Juveniles who commit sex offenses against minors [NCJ 227763]. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Retrieved from National Criminal Justice Reference Service: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf Harris, A., & Hanson, R. (2004). Sex offender recidivism: A simple question 2004- 03. Retrieved from Static 99 Clearinghouse: http://www.static99.org/pdfdocs/harrisandhanson2004simpleq.pdf National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (2010). Map of registered sex offenders in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.ncmec.org/en_US/documents/sex-offender-map.pdf Rennison, C. A. (2002). Rape and sexual assault: Reporting to police and medical attention, 1992-2000 [NCJ 194530]. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf Tabachnick, J., & Klein A. (2011). A reasoned approach : Reshaping sex offender policy to prevent child sexual abuse. Retrieved from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers: http://www.atsa.com/pdfs/ppReasonedApproach. pdf The Council of State Governments. (2010). Legislating sex offender management: Trends in state legislation 2007 and 2008. Retrieved from http://www.csg.org/policy/documents/SOMLegislativeReport-FINAL.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2005). Crime in the United States, 2004: Uniform crime reports. Retrieved from http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04 Vandervort-Clark, A. (2009, September/October). Legislating sex offender management: Trends in state legislation 2007 and 2008. Presentation to the 28th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Dallas, TX. © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012, 2013. All rights reserved.