Nearly 1,600 rapes and attempted rapes are reported each year. Every five and one-half hours a rape or attempted rape is reported to law enforcement. The definitions of rape and sexual assault are very important because the definitions determine the scope of the problem, and, how the problem, victims, and perpetrators are perceived. The definitions will also affect how and if we think the problem can be prevented. Since the legal definition of forcible rape is so restrictive, the term sexual assault is often used to cover a broader range of sex offenses, including attempted and statutory rape, incest, sodomy, molestation, sexual battery, and any type of sexual behavior involving children.
Rape is the most common form of sexual assault.
Even with such substantial statistics, the number of actual rapes may be greatly underestimated. Most rapists appear to be normal everyday people and most even have consenting sex partners. Therefore, rape is a crime of violence, motivated by anger or the need for control and power rather than a crime of sex, passion, or desire. Alcohol and other drugs are often associated with rapes. With rapes, over half of the offenders are a friend, date, relative, or other acquaintance of the victim.