Helping victims of crime reclaim their lives

Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse

Sexual assault is emotionally and physically painful. It is important to have the best information, research, and legal representation if you or someone you care about has been sexually assaulted. In addition to taking advantage of local and national resources, you will want to have an experienced sexual assault attorney.

What is Sexual Assault?

Every state has its own definitions of rape and sexual assault, so the precise definition depends on where you live. That said, here's a general definition of the terms:

Rape is forced sexual intercourse, including both psychological coercion and physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal or oral penetration by the offender(s). This category includes incidents where the penetration is from a foreign object such as a bottle. This definition includes attempted rapes, male and female victims, and heterosexual and homosexual rape.

Sexual Assault includes a wide range of victimizations, distinct from rape or attempted rape. These crimes include completed or attempted attacks generally involving unwanted sexual contact between the victim and offender. Sexual assaults may or may not involve force and include such things as grabbing or fondling. Sexual assault also includes verbal threats.

These definitions are the same ones used by the US Department of Justice's annual National Crime Victimization Survey, the most comprehensive study of the incidence of rape.

-- The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

How Prevalent is Sexual Assault?

The National Picture
One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (14.8% completed rape;2.8% attempted rape). A total of 17.7 million women have been victims of these crimes.(Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey, National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998.)

In 2002, seven out of every eight rape victims were female. (NCVS 2002)
While about 80% of all victims are white, minorities are somewhat more likely to be attacked.

About three percent of American men —- a total of 2.78 million men—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. (Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women 1998.) In 2002, one in every eight rape victims were male. (NCVS 2002)

-- The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

The Arizona Picture

Incidents of rape and attempted rape in Arizona fell from 1355 to 1192, or 14.1%, from 1999 to 2000, the latest data on file. This was a smaller decrease than the prior year. Keep in mind that these data tend to show much lower than actual occurrences because of the reluctance of victims to report.

Sexual assault and rape affect hundreds of people annually in Arizona. Sara Powell listens and helps sexual assault and rape victims. Sara has served more than 20 years as a sexual assault lawyer and sexual abuse attorney. She has the knowledge and experience to help you reclaim your life, or the life of your loved one.



	If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a crime, please contact us.


	Law Office of Sara J. Powell 550 West Portland Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 USA Telephone: 602-996-4447 \| Fax: 602-258-4103 \| Email Providing Legal Services to Victims of Crime in Arizona. If you are seeking a sexual assault lawyer, child abuse lawyer or personal injury lawyer, contact the Law Office of Sara J Powell.

	Victim's Bill of Rights \| FAQ \| Battery/Homicide \| Child Abuse \| Sexual Assault Resources \| About \| Contact \| Disclaimer \| Privacy Policy \| Site Map