Sexual Violence

DEFINITIONS

SEXUAL BATTERY

If a person has been penetrated vaginally, orally or anally by the sexual organ of another or penetrated either anally or vaginally by any other object without their consent, it is a crime of sexual battery under Florida laws. If you did not consent or were unable to give your consent because you were unconscious or mentally or physically incapacitated and the above act or acts were carried out, it is sexual battery. The crime of sexual battery is a felony. Sexual Battery can occur even if you previously had a sexual relationship with a person or are married to that person.

TYPES OF RAPE

Stranger Rape involves a victim and offender who have no relationship before the assault and do not even recognize each other.

Acquaintance Rape involves a victim and an offender who know each other, including coworkers, fellow students, relatives, neighbors, or family friends. These relationships are not ones in which the expression of sexual behavior is appropriate.

Date Rape is reserved for sexual contact that occurs within a relationship that might be appropriate for sexual intimacy, but that is achieved instead through coercion or violence.

Marital Rape involves a victim and an offender who are spouses.

Individual Rape involves a single offender.

Gang Rape involves two or more offenders who act together to rape the same victim.

NATIONWIDE STATISTICS

Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In 2003, one in every ten rape victims were male. [2003 NCVS]
In 2003, nine out of every ten rape victims were female. [2003 NCVS]
Approximately 70% of female rape victims and 74% of male rape victims know their assailant. [2003 NCVS]
In 2003, only 39% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials, about one in every three. [2003 NCVS]
61% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Those rapists, of course, never serve a day in prison. [2003 NCVS]

FLORIDA STATISTICS