Assault

Trends

Consistent with crimes trends as a whole, assault victimization rates have decreased substantively over the past two decades. 

In 2015, rates for both aggravated and simple assault were 70% lower than in 1995.B

Did You Know?

While population size is not the only 

factor contributing to aggravated 

assault victimization rates, cities 

with populations over 1 million

have, on average, lower rates of 

aggravated assault compared to 

cities with populations between 

500,000 and 999,999.B

2017 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheets

Aggravated and Simple AssaultB

rate per 1,000 people

Aggravated and Simple Assault Reported to PoliceB

Aggravated Assault by Population SizeB

rate per 1,000 people

Assault may be broken into two categories—aggravated or simple. Aggravated assault is defined as an attack with a 

weapon, an attack that causes serious bodily harm, or threatened assault with a weapon. Simple assault is defined as an 

unlawful attack or threat of attack that does not cause serious bodily harm.A Assault victimization varies largely by sex 

and geography. Some professions, including law enforcement and emergency room nurses are also at an increased risk.

48.3

11.8

Aggravated assault

Simple assault

100

0

25

50

75

100

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

13.5

3.0

52.3

61.9

Aggravated assault 

reported to police

Simple assault 

reported to police

100%

36.8

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

0

25

50

75

100

41.7

25

1 million+

500,000 – 999,999

250,000 – 499,999

100,000 – 249,000

Under 100,000

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

0

5

10

15

20

25
SOURCES

A Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Violent Crime,” https://www.bjs.gov/index.

cfm?ty=tp&tid=31

B Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

Concatenated File, 1992-2015, (U.S. Department of Justice) 

In 2015, 33% of aggravated assault victimizations were 

committed with a knife, 23% with a firearm, and 11% 

without a weapon. One-third of aggravated assaults were 

either committed with another form of weapon or an 

unidentified weapon.B

In 2015, most aggravated assaults were committed by 

someone the victim knew. Women who were assaulted knew 

their assailant more than 60% of the time, compared to 

roughly 50% of men.

B

In 2015, individuals age 35 to 49 and those 50 and over 

accounted for more than half of aggravated assault 

victimizations.B

An estimated 3 in 1,000 people were victims of aggravated 

assault in 2015. Of these, 56% of women reported that they 

were either home or close to their home at the time of the 

assault. Comparatively, 43% of men reported that they were 

in a parking lot, commercial place, or other public area at the 

time of assault.B

Current Data on Assault

Victim Relationship to the OffenderB

by victim sex and type of assault

Stranger Non-stranger

47 50 53

66

50

69

34 31

Aggravated assault

Simple assault

Men:

Aggravated assault

Simple assault

Women:

100%

12 – 17 (12%)

18 – 24 (16%)

25 – 34 (15%)

35 – 49 (29%)

50+ (28%) 

Age of Aggravated Assault VictimsB

Aggravated Assault by LocationB

and victim sex

Commercial 

place, parking 

lot, or public area 27

43

Men

Women

60%

At or near friend’s, 

neighbor’s, or 

relative’s home

8

4

30

56

At or near 

victim’s home

9

3

Other location

11

10

School

Knife (33%)

Other weapon (26%)

Firearm (23%)

Unidentified weapon (7%)

No weapon (11%)

Weapons Used in Aggravated AssaultsB