Research reveals that most perpetrators are not scary strangers lurking in the shadows; they are people their victims knew—and often trusted.
Perpetrators may be family members, intimate partners, friends, classmates, coworkers, authority figures, or caregivers. While anyone can commit sexual violence, the majority of offenders are male, and many have histories of previous abusive behavior.
Learn what the data reveals about who commits sexual violence. Knowing the facts can help you challenge misinformation, better support survivors, and improve protections for everyone.
Perpetrators Often Victimize Someone They Know
Perpetrators of Rape
60% of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
31% are committed by strangers; 28.3% are committed by well-known or casual acquaintances; 21.4% are committed by intimate partners; 13.1% are committed by other relatives; 3.7% are committed by an unknown number of perpetrators; 2.5% are committed by someone with an unknown relationship to the victim. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2010-2016 (2017). Criminal Victimization, 2023.
See More Facts & StatisticsPerpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse
Scope of the Problem
93% of victims under 18 know their abuser.
Of sexual abuse cases reported to law enforcement, 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator: 59% were acquaintances, 34% were family members, and only 7% were strangers to the victim. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement (2000).
See More Facts & StatisticsPerpetrators of Custodial Sexual Abuse
60% of sexual violence against inmates
In jail or prison, the institution’s staff perpetrates 60% of all sexual violence against incarcerated people. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012 (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsIf you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Demographics of Perpetrators
Perpetrator’s Age
50% of perpetrators are 30 or older.
25% are 21-29
9% are 18-20
15% are 17 or younger 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2023.
Perpetrator’s Race
57% of perpetrators are white.
27% – black
8% – unknown ethnicity
6% – other
1% – mixed group 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2023.
Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Often Have Criminal Histories
37% of perpetrators have prior convictions.
Perpetrators of rape are often serial criminals. 370 out of every 1,000 suspected rape perpetrators referred to prosecutors have at least one prior felony conviction, including 100 who have 5 or more. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2009 (2013).
10% of perpetrators have 5+ prior felony convictions.
Out of every 1,000 suspected rape perpetrators referred to prosecutors, 10% of perpetrators have 5+ prior felony convictions. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2009 (2013).
See More Facts & Statistics52% of perpetrators will be released while awaiting trial.
Out of every 1,000 suspected rape perpetrators referred to prosecutors, 520 will be released—either because they posted bail or for other reasons—while awaiting trial. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2009 (2013).
See More Facts & Statistics7% of perpetrators will be rearrested.
Out of every 1,000 suspected rape perpetrators referred to prosecutors, 70 of the released perpetrators will be arrested for committing another crime before their case is decided. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2009 (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsRecidivism Among Perpetrators of Sexual Violence
51% of released prisoners are rearrested within 3 years.
A majority of released prisoners are rearrested for a new crime within 3 years. 60% will be rearrested within 5 years and 56% within 4. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States in 2005: Patterns from 2005-2010 (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsState Incarcerations for Sexual Violence Crimes
161,000 people were incarcerated for sexual violence.
In 2013, there were 161,000 individuals incarcerated by a U.S. state as punishment for sexual violence crimes—that’s about 12% of all state-incarcerated people. 1Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2013 (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsAverage Time of Incarceration for Sexual Violence Crimes
The median time served for sexual violence increased 26%.
From 2002 to 2013, the median time served for sexual violence crimes increased by 10 months, growing from 38 to 48 months served. [/mfn]
See More Facts & StatisticsPerpetrators Use Different Forms of Violence to Commit Sexual Assault
11% of sexual assaults are committed with a weapon.
In 11% of rape and sexual assault incidents, the perpetrator used a weapon. 6% used a gun. 4% used a knife. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2023.
See More Facts & StatisticsMulti-Perpetrator Sexual Assaults
90% of rape & sexual assault is perpetrated by 1 offender.
10% of rapes and sexual assaults are perpetrated by 2 or more offenders. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2023.
See More Facts & StatisticsSee more statistics:
RAINN presents this data for educational purposes only and strongly recommends using the citations to review sources for more information and detail.