Rape
and other crimes of sexual violence have a devastating
impact on the lives of victims and their communities.
The crimes of sexual battery, child sexual abuse, stalking,
marital rape and sexual harassment inflict trauma to survivors'
physical and mental health and robs them of their sense
of safety and well-being. The prevalence of rape also
has wide-reaching impact on other cultural problems: rape
is responsible for 11-20% of teenage pregnancies and for
increased substance abuse and mental health problems including
major depression, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rape is the most under-reported crime in America, so it
is difficult to know how many lives are affected by sexual
violence. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that
only 30.7% of victims report the crime to law enforcement.
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- One
out of every eight adult women has been the
victim of forcible rape, which is more than
12 million women in America.
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In Florida, a sexual offense is reported to
law enforcement every 42 minutes.
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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports
that 12,388 sex offenses were reported in Florida
in 2000.
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Florida
responds to the needs of sexual assault survivors in
many ways. Community-based sexual assault programs and
victim advocacy programs provide community education,
counseling, hotlines and crisis intervention services
for sexual assault victims. The Florida Council Against
Sexual Violence (FCASV) operates toll-free hotline to
help callers in Florida find the services and information
they need. Callers can be immediately transferred to
the nearest rape crisis center or can obtain information
from FCASV.
Several statewide public awareness campaigns work to
raise Florida's understanding about sexual assault.
For more information, follow these links:
One
In Nine; Rape in Florida: A Report to the State
Sexual
Violence Statistics. A glimpse into reality:
Sexual Violence Statistics
Rape
Prevention and Education. How to protect yourself
and get help:
Prevention
and Education Fact Sheet
Why
Should Men Care About Sexual Violence?
Men's
Info
Rape Drugs. Get the facts:
Rape
Drug Fact Sheet
Advertising Campaigns To Raise Awareness.
DOH Campaign
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