Thread by @MichaelGLFlood

Sexual assault facts: Most victims don’t report. Most delay disclosing or reporting, or never report. 83% of Australian women assaulted didn’t report their most recent incident of SA to police. 4 in 10 didn’t seek advice or help from others. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Incidents are under-reported, under-prosecuted, and under-convicted. Conviction rates for sexual assault in Australia are extremely low. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Victims don’t report or delay reporting e.g. because of confusion, guilt, shock; fear of perpetrator and consequences of reporting; fear that won’t be believed; acceptance of rape myths; difficult legal processes; etc. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Most allegations are made in good faith. False allegations are rare. And when they do occur, most are not malicious, but motivated by fear or need for assistance. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Many rapists / offenders do not use physical violence during an assault. Most do not use a weapon. Most offenders have a prior relationship with the victim. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Offenders may groom victims into compliance with assault over time, build trust, etc. Victims may freeze or cooperate rather than try to fight off the offender. Verbal resistance is more common than physical resistance. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Women victims often match their level of resistance to the offender’s level of aggression. Less likely to engage in direct physical resistance if have been sexually victimised before. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Victims may experience unwanted sexual arousal and bodily responses during rape and sexual assault (including erections and orgasm). These do not indicate that they consented. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Injury rates during sexual assaults vary. Some studies find that injuries are rare (4-20%). Others find that they are common (60-80%). And the presence of injuries does not tell us necessarily about non-consent. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Victims, in reporting the assault, may be calm and controlled, numb, or emotional. And victims’ emotional responses may change over time. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Victims’ memories of the assault often are fragmented, confused, and lacking in detail. Typically only segments of the experience are remembered. It's rare to recall lots of peripheral details. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Rapes usually are committed by someone known to the victim. And often in a familiar residential location. Rapes are often committed by family members or boyfriends or husbands. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology

Sexual assault facts: Victims may stay in a relationship with the offender after the assault. Because of trust, power, or fear. Because they have been groomed into thinking they are responsible or have consented to the abuse. aic.gov.au/publications/t… @AICriminology