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TEEN
VICTIMS
In 2002, close to 1.7 million teenagers (ages 12 to 19)
were victims of violent crime. More than 1.4 million of those were physically
assaulted, almost 124,000 were raped/sexually assaulted, and nearly 115,000 were
robbed.93
Persons ages 12 to 19 experienced all violent crimes at
rates higher than other age groups in 2002.94
Persons ages 12 to 19 were raped/sexually assaulted at
rates higher than any other age group.95
In a study of lifetime prevalence of four types of
violence, researchers found that almost 40 percent of American adolescents
witnessed violence, 17 percent were victims of physical assault, 9 percent were
victims of physically abusive punishment, and 8 percent were victims of sexual
assault.96
Three in four American adolescents who were sexually
assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well. Thirteen percent of sexual
assaults were reported to police, 6 percent to child protective services, 5
percent to school authorities, and 1.3 percent to other authorities. Eighty-six
percent of sexual assaults went unreported.97
Six in ten American adolescents who were physically
assaulted were assaulted by someone they knew well. Sixty-five percent of
physical assaults were never reported. Most of those reported were reported to
police (17 percent) or school authorities (16 percent).98
The lifetime prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) among American adolescents ages 12-17 who have experienced
sexual assault is 28.2 percent for boys and 29.8 percent for girls (compared to
5.4 percent for boys and 7.1 percent for girls who have not been sexually
assaulted). Among physically abused adolescents, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD
is 15.2 percent for boys and 27.4 percent for girls (compared to 3.1 percent and
6 percent, respectively, for adolescents with no history of physical abuse).99
93 See 1.
94 See 1.
95 See 1.
96 National Institute of
Justice. (2003). Youth Victimization: Prevalence and Implications. Washington,
DC: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.
97 See
96.
98 See 96.
99 See 96.
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