Who is the Assailant?

Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim – a family member, friend, colleague, neighbor, or an individual the victim has crossed paths with in some way in their everyday life.

The assailant may use a weapon; however, most just use physical force. Nearly half of all sexual assaults occur within a mile of the victim’s home. Alcohol and drugs often play a role, as the assailant is usually intoxicated with alcohol or drugs more than a third of the time.

A sexual assault is about violence and control. It is not about love, intimacy or even sex. It is a violent crime and should be treated as such.

Here are some common myths and facts related to sexual assault:

Myth: The primary motive for sexual assault is sex.
Fact:  Studies show that the motive for the sexual assault is power and control, not sex.

Myth: A husband/wife cannot sexually assault their partner.
Fact: Studies show that 1 out of 7 women are sexually assaulted by their husbands.

Myth: Only women are sexually assaulted.
Fact: One out of every 10 men is a victim of sexual assault.

Myth: A sexual assault could never happen to me.
Fact: Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault regardless of age, race, religion, occupation, education, or a physical description.

Myth:  If a victim doesn’t scream or fight, it is not a sexual assault.
Fact: The perpetrator’s primary weapon is fear. A victim does not have to have bruises, cuts, or any other physical injury to prove that he or she has been sexually assaulted. Submission is not consent — it is against the victim’s will.

Cindy Magnole is the Injury Prevention Coordinator at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a longtime registered nurse. She is also chair of the Miami-Dade County Injury Prevention Coalition. Cindy can be contacted at [email protected] .