Most rapes are committed by men between the ages of 20 and 50. Victims of rape range from under 2 years of age to more than 80 years of age. More than 50 percent of all rapes reported in the United States occur against females under 18 years of age. Relatives of the victim commit about 5 percent of all rapes. In more than one-third of all cases of rape, the male, the female, or both were using alcohol.
Males are almost always the perpetrators of sexual abuse in the United States.
Sexual abuse of adults occurs during any age of adulthood even into the geriatric population. Many, maybe most, rapes go unreported to authorities. Treatment for the rape victim focuses on helping that person heal from the psychological and physical trauma caused by the event. It is important to give immediate support to the rape victim. The victim should be encouraged to talk about her feelings about the trauma.