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Teenage Sexual Assault and Exploitation
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Presenters: |
Dr. Suzanne
Lindsay
Melissa Hill, MPH
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Date/Time:
March 14, 2002, 3:15-4:45 pm |
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Abstract: |
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The vast majority of sexual assault victims are female, and they are predominantly young females. Over two-thirds of all sexual assaults reported to law enforcement agencies involve female victims under the age of 18 at the time of the crime (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000). Despite this fact, teenage girls and teenage victims often go unnoticed in the development of sexual assault prevention, education, and response programs. The magnitude of the risk of sexual victimization to adolescent girls (especially very young adolescents) is often not seen by adults and policy makers. Research describing the epidemiology of adolescent sexual assault is rare. A few studies have compared adolescent sexual assault victims (<18) to adult victims, but have not described how very young adolescents might compare to older adolescents, despite the very significant developmental differences between these two age groups. In addition, most of the sexual assault education and awareness programs have been focused on college-aged women, rather than younger girls in high school.
Why do we not recognize that female adolescents have the greatest risk for sexual victimization and devote more efforts toward prevention in this age group? In part it can be explained by how we as adults categorize and interpret the sexual victimization of young girls. Depending on the jurisdiction, young women who have been exploited by men and have reported the crime to a law enforcement agency, may find their cases being investigated in child abuse units, in sex crimes unit, or being investigated as unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor (statutory rape). Despite legal and technical differences between these crimes (and how we as adults understand them), the circumstances and the effects of these crimes can be quite similar to the young female victim. A count of the number of crimes reported in any one category significantly dilutes our understanding of the overall magnitude of the risk to adolescent girls.
This presentation will describe the results of two epidemiologic studies of sexual assault reported to the San Diego Police Department Sex Crimes Unit. The first compares the context and character of sexual assaults reported by adolescents to those reported by adults. The second compares assaults reported by young adolescent girls to those reported by older adolescents. Cases investigated as “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” are also compared with those investigated as sexual assault/rape. Factors that were investigated include the age of the victim and the suspect, the relationship of the victim to the suspect, location of the assault, the influence of alcohol/drugs, and the length of time from assault to police report. Sexual assault prevention and education programs must specifically be designed for the adolescent population recognizing the magnitude of victimization in this population and their unique developmental risks.
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Go To:
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> Suzanne
Lindsay's Bio Page
> Melissa Hill's
Bio Page
> Main
Conference Page
> Registration Form
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