Sexual Assault is a Serious Public Safety Problem in Florida

Sexual assault is a very serious crime. A person who commits sexual assault can and should be arrested and charged with a serious felony offense in Florida. Unfortunately, sexual assault still happens far too often. Here, our Miami sexual assault lawyer highlights the extent of this serious public safety problem in Florida.

An Overview of Sexual Assault Statistics in Florida

Sexual assault is common, underreported, and often misunderstood when people only look at criminal filings or convictions. Florida data captures what gets reported to law enforcement. National research helps explain what never makes it into a police report. For civil cases, that gap matters. There are more sexual assaults that happen than ever actually get officially reported. A victim can still have a viable civil claim even when there is no arrest, no prosecution, or no conviction. Here is an overview of what we know about the data on sexual violence:

More Than 7,500 Rapes Officially Reported Each Year in Florida: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement publishes official statewide crime data. As an example, Florida recorded 7,655 reported rapes in 2021. For reference, that is a statewide estimate based on agency submissions and FDLE’s methodology for producing a statewide aggregate.
Research Shows that Sexual Assault is Systemically Underreported: Sexual violence remains one of the most underreported violent crimes. If you only track police reports, you miss a large share of survivors and a large share of offenders. The best estimates suggest that only about one in three survivors report to law enforcement.
One in Three Women Will Be Victims of Sexual Assault During their Life: Alarmingly, the American College of Obstetricans and Gynecologists (ACOG) reports that approximately 1 in 5 women in the United States has been raped (completed or attempted) at some point in her life. The estimate comes from national survey data and reflects lifetime prevalence of rape and attempted rape. Many men are victims of sexual violence as well. These estimates come from nationally representative surveys and public health studies. They illustrate that sexual assault is far more common than official crime reports suggest because many survivors never report their experiences to police or prosecutors.

Were you the victim of a sexual assault in Florida? You do not have to take on the legal process alone. Beyond any criminal case against the person who committed the assault, you can also bring a civil lawsuit against them and any negligent third parties whose failure to take due care contributed to the attack. Our Florida civil sexual assault lawyers are prepared to help you fight for justice.

We Fight for Justice for Victims in South Florida

At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our West Palm Beach sexual assault attorney is a compassionate advocate for justice. If you or your loved one was the victim of sexual violence, our firm is here to help you navigate the civil legal claims process. Call us now for a free, confidential case evaluation. With an office in West Palm Beach, we serve communities throughout Southeastern Florida.

Source:

acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/04/sexual-assault?utm_source=chatgpt.com