The Facts About 

Assault 

In 2010, there were an estimated 

725,189 incidents of aggravated assault 

and 2.4 million cases of simple assault 

in the United States.3

In 2010, incidents of assault accounted 

for 63 percent of violent crime in the 

United States.4

In both simple and aggravated assaults, 

firearms were the most common weapons 

used, followed by knives.5

During a 1-year period, 47 percent 

of youth ages 14 to 17 experienced 

a physical assault.6

In 2010, an aggravated assault 

occurred every 41 seconds.7

Resources for Information 

and Assistance

National Center for Victims of Crime 

202–467–8700 

www.ncvc.org

National Organization for Victim Assistance 

1–800–TRY–NOVA or 1–800–879–6682 

www.trynova.org 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

1–800–273–TALK (8255) [24/7 hotline] 

1–888–628–9454 (Spanish) 

1–800–799–4889 (TTY) 

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Directory of Crime Victim Services 

Office for Victims of Crime 

Office of Justice Programs 

U.S. Department of Justice 

http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices 

This product was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime under 

an agreement with ICF International in support of the Office for Victims 

of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center under contract number 

GS–23F–8182H/OJP–2006F_124. The opinions, findings, and conclusions 

or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do 

not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department 

of Justice.

Assault 

OVC

HELP SERIES

for Crime Victims

Endnotes

1

Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010, Violent Crime, “Terms & 

Definitions.” 

2

Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2011, Criminal Victimization in the 

United States, 2010, Washington, DC.

3

Ibid.

4

Ibid.

5

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011, Crime in the United States 

2010. Washington, DC.

6

D. Finkelhor et al., 2009, Children’s Exposure to Violence: 

A Comprehensive National Survey. Bulletin. Washington, DC: 

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 

7

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011, Crime in the 

United States 2010. Washington, DC.
What Is Assault?

Assault—an unlawful physical attack or threat of 

attack—is the most common violent crime in the 

United States. Aggravated assault is an attack, with 

or without a weapon, resulting in serious physical 

injury, such as broken bones, lost teeth, or internal 

injuries. The definition also includes a threat or 

attempted attack with a deadly weapon, such as 

a gun or a knife, resulting in no physical harm. 

Simple assault is an attack or threat of an attack 

without a weapon with the intent to inflict less serious violence upon another person.1

Many victims know their attackers. In 2010, for 

instance, 64 percent of female victims and 40 

percent of male victims of aggravated assault knew 

their attacker as a friend, acquaintance, relative, or 

intimate partner.2

Assault victims may face extensive physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Assault victims 

may have been seriously or permanently injured. 

Even if they were not injured, they have faced the 

possibility of death and fears of leaving behind 

loved ones. These fears and the potential physical 

aspects of the assault may have a significant immediate and long-term emotional impact on assault 

victims. And just as everyone reacts to a crisis differently, not everyone copes with the impact of a crisis 

in the same way or within the same timeframe.

If You Are a Victim of Assault

If you were assaulted, you may experience a wide 

range of different feelings about and reactions to 

the assault. Although you may feel as if you are the 

only one experiencing these feelings—and that no 

one else understands what you are going through—

remember that your reactions are normal. 

Your reaction may be immediate or delayed. Some 

feelings may subside within a few days, while others 

may continue for some time or resurface after being 

triggered by another event. You may feel shock that 

this could happen to you and guilt that you could 

not prevent it. You may feel that others believe 

the crime was somehow your fault, and you may 

feel humiliated or rejected by family members or 

acquaintances. 

You may feel angry at the attacker or at the police 

and the criminal justice system for not doing enough 

about the assault. You may be fearful that you could 

be assaulted again. You also may be disturbed 

by new feelings of vulnerability and loss of control 

similar to what you felt during the assault.

Many assault victims are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder, which can involve having 

flashbacks or nightmares about the assault, avoiding places that remind them of the assault, feeling 

depressed or emotionally numb, and being easily 

startled at little noises or abrupt movements. 

Whatever your reaction, it is important for you to 

deal with your emotions at your own pace and in 

your own way. It is also important to seek help if 

you feel the need. There are many resources and 

forms of assistance available to you.

Where Can You Get Help?

Remember that, as a victim of assault, you are 

not alone. Your community may have victim assistance programs, caring professionals, and support groups—all of which are there to help you by 

providing assistance, information, services, and 

referrals. Social services programs and trained 

professionals also can help you learn about crime 

victims’ rights in your state.

If the assault involved an injury, you may be eligible for reimbursement by your state’s crime victim 

compensation program for certain out-of-pocket 

expenses, such as medical or counseling expenses 

and lost wages. To be eligible for these funds, you 

must report the assault to the police and cooperate 

with the criminal justice system. Victim assistance 

programs in your community can provide compensation applications and additional information. The 

applications are also available online from each 

state’s program.

It is important to keep a record of expenses you 

incur as a result of the assault. If the attacker is 

arrested and convicted, a judge may order restitution for certain losses as part of the sentence. 

However, even if an offender is convicted and 

ordered to pay restitution, you may receive no, or 

only partial, restitution for your losses because, in 

many cases, the defendant may not have sufficient 

assets or income to pay restitution. (In many jurisdictions, a restitution order can be converted into a 

civil judgment so that victims can garnish any future 

wages, tax refunds, or other income the offender 

may earn.) 

You may request restitution by completing a victim 

impact statement and listing your losses and expected future expenses (such as necessary medical 

treatment). A victim-witness specialist or victimwitness coordinator in the prosecutor’s office can 

help you with this process.

Whether you have been assaulted by a stranger 

or someone you know, the best way to ensure your 

safety is to report the incident to local law enforcement immediately. Of course, the decision to report 

an assault is entirely yours.