Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Waiting To Tell: Factors Associated With Delays In Reporting Sexual Violence, Lahiz P. Tavarez

Student Theses

In the United States (U.S.), 20% of women have experienced completed or attempted rape and 43.6% of women have experienced some form of contact sexual violence. Many instances of sexual violence go unreported to law enforcement – only 34% are reported to the police. Reporting can lead to more favorable outcomes for survivors since it is likely to increase access to medical care and mental health services and is an important step in order to hold perpetrators accountable, prevent future victims, and reduce the likelihood of longer psychological distress for the survivor. Delays in reporting are more prevalent in cases …