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National Statistics

2023-2024 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (CDC)

Nearly half of women (45.1%) and 1 in 6 men (16.9%) in the United States experienced contact sexual violence during their lifetime. Contact sexual violence includes rape, coercion, or other forms of unwanted sexual contact.

1 in 5 women (22.5%) and 1 in 10 men (9.7%) in the U.S. experienced stalking at some point during their lifetime.

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Statistics

60% of survivors were assaulted by someone they knew.

93% of juvenile victims knew their perpetrator, with a 34% of abusers being family members.

Incarcerated survivors are most likely to be assaulted by jail or prison staff, with 60% of all sexual violence reported in jails perpetrated by the institution’s staff.

Only 1 in 3 sexual assaults are reported to police, and around 98% of perpetrators walk free.

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Medical

Following a sexual assault, a survivor has the right to seek medical care for injuries sustained in the assault, concern for exposure of STIs, pregnancy, and/or evidence collection (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam).

A survivor can choose which elements of post-assault care they would and would not like to receive, if they choose to receive any care at all.

The SAFE kit is done for evidence collection and documentation purposes only, and it is not necessary to receive a SAFE exam in order to receive post-assault care. Survivors can also choose whether or not to have evidence collected. Evidence can be collected without filing a police report, and hospitals are required to hold completed kits for at least one year. The SAFE kit is free to the survivor through Kentucky Crime Victims Compensation Board.

In our service area, emergency rooms at hospitals are the only location an adult survivor could have an evidence collection kit performed. Children can also receive care at the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC).

In accordance with Kentucky state law, hospitals in the Barren River Area Development District must contact Hope Harbor immediately after a patient presents to the emergency department seeking care following a sexual assault. For more information about working with survivors in the medical setting, check out the KASAP Professionals Guide. 

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Law Enforcement

Most survivors have the choice to report to law enforcement after a sexual assault.

Reporting is only mandatory when the assault aligns with Kentucky Mandatory Reporting laws. For more information on Mandatory reporting, see Kentucky Mandatory Reporting Laws.

There are many reasons why survivors would not report their assault. For example, a survivor may have a close relationship with perpetrator, or they may fear retaliation from their perpetrator. They may also fear a loss of housing or income. Whatever reason a survivor has for reporting or not reporting, Hope Harbor affirms their right to choose. While a crime has been committed, we recognize reporting is not right for everyone.

Survivors may also choose to file for a protective order against their perpetrator. Hope Harbor’s legal advocates can assist with filing for a protective order. For more information on getting support, visit our Legal Advocacy page.

If you work with a law enforcement agency interested in learning more information or hosting a training for staff, please visit our Professionals page. We would love to help your agency in working with survivors.

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Corrections

Hope Harbor affirms the position that no matter where you lay your head at night, no one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Incarcerated community members have the right to be free from sexual violence in confinement in accordance with federal law and the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution.

Incarcerated survivors deserve protections and access to resources. Hope Harbor provides crisis counseling to jails within the BRADD. Inmates are able to call our 24/7 hotline for support. Incarcerated survivors can also write to Hope Harbor if talking on the phone is not safe for the survivor. After an assault happens, a Hope Harbor advocate will respond to the hospital to provide support and information to the survivor.

Hope Harbor advocates also work with corrections professionals to ensure equal access to services for incarcerated survivors. Our goal is to help uphold safety for all inside our area confinement facilities. Contact us for more information and collaboration.

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Mental Health

Hope Harbor works closely with the mental health providers in our community and often exchange referrals to meet clients/survivors’ needs. Our referral form can be found here.

National statistics show that 41.49% to 74.58% of survivors meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the first year after being sexually assaulted.

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Teachers

The CDC reports that about 1 in 12 students experience physical dating violence, and about 1 in 10 experience sexual dating violence.

Teachers and educators play an important role in young people’s lives and development. Hope Harbor is here to support and provide additional information and resources to educators in the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD). If you are interested in having Hope Harbor staff speak to your students, check out the Community Programs we have available. We also provide professional training to school staff.

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Universities

In a 2018 paper on college party culture, law enforcement agencies documented one reported rape every 20 days for victims aged 17-24 (RAINN).

These college-age survivors accounted for about 1/3 of all rapes reported to law enforcement.

The first year of college, especially from mid-August to late-November, is a particularly high-risk time, often referred to as the Red Zone. More than 50% of campus sexual assaults occur during this time. Adjusting to a new environment and social pressures can increase vulnerability, especially if students are unaware of available support systems.

Hope Harbor’s main office is located in Bowling Green, only minutes from Western Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College. Our staff works closely with staff, faculty, and students from both and recognize the importance of our collaboration.

Our colleges and universities provide different options for survivors on campus. Hope Harbor staff can provide trainings to staff and faculty as well as education programs for students. You can learn more by visiting the Education tab.

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Commonwealth Attorneys

  • KY Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Exam (SAFE) Act of 2016 Resources and Information 16 RS SB 63/GA
    • All sexual assault examination kits collected pursuant to KRS
      216B.400 prior to the effective date of this Act which have not been subjected to serological or deoxyribonucleic acid testing shall be submitted to the Department of Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory by January 1, 2017. The Department of Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory shall collaborate with every Kentucky law enforcement and prosecutorial agency responsible for the collection, storage, and maintenance of sexual assault examination kits to develop a plan for the submission and testing of all such kits.
  • Safe Act PDF
  • IPO Information Sheet
  • KRS 209A Referral Information for Prosecutors & Victim Advocates
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