March 2009

Originally published in the Alaska Justice Forum 22(4): 2-3 (Winter 2006).

http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/forum/22/4winter2006/b_sxassault.html

For other articles and publications related to sexual assault and violence against women, see:

http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/vaw/

Abstract: This study examined the characteristics of all sexual assaults reported to the Anchorage Police Department from 2000 through 2003. Key descriptive findings are summarized.

• Victims tended to be young and female, with Native women victims in over 45% of reported sexual assaults.
  
• In a majority of the assaults – over 62% - the assailant was not a stranger to the victim. The most common non-stranger relationships included friends and acquaintances.
  
• A majority of the assaults occurred indoors, with 45% taking place at the residence of one or both of those involved.
  
• Sixty-five percent of victims had used alcohol prior to the assault and 74% of suspects had also.
  
• While assaults occurred all over the Municipality of Anchorage, they happened with more frequency in Spenard, Fairview, and Downtown.