| |
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
In 1999, there were 3.3 million violent crimes committed
against females aged 12 and older. Violent crimes include
rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple
assault.
Violent crimes are perpetrated by strangers, friends,
acquaintances, other relatives, or intimate partners.
However, women are
more likely to be the victims of violent acts committed
by intimate partners. In 1999, there were 791,210 violent
crimes
committed by intimate partners, 84.8 percent of which
were committed against women. Women were also more likely
to
be victims of homicide by intimate partners than were
men. The
overall rate of intimate partner violence against women
was 5.8 per 1,000 in 1999, but rates were higher among
women
aged 16-19 and 20-24 (15.4 and 15.7 per 1,000, respectively).
Age patterns for intimate partner violence were similar
among various racial and ethnic groups, peaking between
the ages
of 20-24 years.
The majority of sexual assaults and rapes
also occur among women. In 1999, there were 343,830 sexual
assaults
and
attempted and completed rapes reported, of which 87.3
percent were
reported by women. Thirty-eight percent of female survivors
of completed rape also sustained additional injuries,
while 39 percent of attempted rape survivors and 17
percent of
sexual assault survivors reported additional injuries.
Reported non-fatal injuries ranged from bruises and
chipped teeth
to broken bones and gunshot wounds.1
 [d]
 [d]
1Rennison
CM. Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical
Attention, 1992-2000. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau
of Justice Statistics Special Report, August 2002. [Back] |
