New Mexico Clearinghouse on Sexual Abuse and Assault Services

A project of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.

3909 Juan Tabo NE, Suite 6, Albuquerque NM 87111 USA
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Introduction
Definitions
Demographics
Sexual Offense Characteristics
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Sexually Transmitted Disease, Pregnancy, and Sexual Assault
Reported Sexual Assault
Summary
Cautions on the Interpretation of Data
References
Appendix

The Nature of Sexual Assault in New Mexico (1996-1997): A Description of Survivor, Offender, and Offense Characteristics
This report was developed by Betty Caponera, Ph.D., New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs for the Behavioral Health Services Division, Department of Health, State of New Mexico. March, 1998

I. Introduction
As reported in the previous Behavioral Health Services Division report, The Nature of Sexual Assault in New Mexico: A Description of Survivor, Offender, and Offense Characteristics (NSANM-I), the figures presented herein were obtained from the Sexual Assault History Form, a standardized data collection instrument used by mental health centers and rape crises centers throughout New Mexico and submitted to the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. Specifically, these figures represent mental health center and rape crisis center clients throughout New Mexico who presented for therapy between 7/1/96 and 6/30/97 for a recent or past sexual offense (criminal sexual penetration [CSP] including spousal rape, fondling, or sexual harassment, - see Definition of Terms in section II).

While not intended to provide incidence or prevalence data, the purpose of the Sexual Assault History Form is to capture much needed information regarding the nature of sexual assault in New Mexico, specifically with regard to several variables that help describe survivor, offender, and offense characteristics. Additionally, because the Sexual Assault History Form was changed for the FY97 fiscal year, this report (NSANM-II) also captures data on the role of alcohol/drug use, domestic violence, and prior abuse in the occurrence of sexual assault; the likelihood of sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy outcomes from sexual assault; and the frequency of reporting sexual assaults to law enforcement or social service agencies. The hope is that an analysis of such information over time, will lead to more effective prevention, assessment, and treatment services.

Completed Sexual Assault History Forms from each center are submitted to the Coalition on a monthly basis. There were 1,625 reports submitted by 25 centers throughout New Mexico (see Table 1). However, since all questions may not have been answered on each report submitted, the number of reports for each question may differ.

II. Definition of Terms
Criminal Sexual Penetration (CSP): "The unlawful and intentional causing of a person to engage in sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio or anal intercourse. This also includes causing penetration, to any extent and with any object, of the genital or anal openings of another, whether or not there is any emission." (NM Statute 30-9-11)

Fondling: to molest sexually by touching another's private parts (genitals) and breasts on a female.

Spousal Rape: CSP of one's intimate, household partner.

Sexual Harassment: any unwelcome, unwanted sexual behavior. This may be verbal, non-verbal (looking someone up and down), physical (patting someone's buttocks), or visual (displaying graphic images).

III. Demographics of Reported Sexual Offenses
A. State Regions Reporting
Over half, 895 (55%) of all reported sexual offenses came from the Central and Northwestern region of New Mexico (Health District 1). This represents a slight increase from the 49.5% reported in this region in NSANM-I. As reported in NSAMM-I, this finding was expected since this region contains some of New Mexico's largest cities (Albuquerque, Farmington, Santa Fe, and Gallup), and national data reveal that urban women experience the highest risk for sexual assault (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994)). Additionally, available New Mexico data from 1992, reported 776 rapes in urban areas, compared to 214 rapes in rural areas (New Mexico Crime In Perspective, 1994 Report). The Southwestern region of New Mexico (Health District 3) had the second highest number of sexual assault reports submitted 300 (18.5%). In NSAMN-I the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the state were equally represented comprising 15.6% of reported sexual offenses, respectively. However, while the Northeastern region remained virtually unchanged, comprising 15.2% of the sexual assault reports submitted, the Southeastern region had 31% fewer reports (183) than those submitted in NSANM-I (264). This region comprised 11.3% of sexual assault reports submitted. See Table 1.

Table 1. State Regions Reporting

Central and Northwestern Region (Health District 1) Albuquerque Programs for Children and Adolescents Albuquerque Rape Crises Center Albuquerque-RHOC Bernalillo/La Buena Vida Daybreak/Aztec Farmington-CCC/PMS Gallup-Western NM Counseling Grants-Cibola Counseling Rio Rancho Counseling Center Valencia Counseling/Los Lunas		Reported Sexual Offenses 64 565 2 35 64 78 37 1 19 30		Total 895		Percent (55)
Southwestern Region (Health District 3) Alamogordo, The Counseling Center Anthony/SNMHD La Pinon-Las Cruces Silver City-Border Area Socorro Mental Health SW Counseling-Las Cruces		99 18 101 53 21 8		300		(18.5)
Northeastern Region (Health District 2) Raton Mental Health Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center SMMCMH/Las Vegas Vistas Del Sol-Espanola		10 134 92 11		247		(15.2)
Southeastern Region (Health District 4) Artesia Health Resources Carlsbad Mental Health Association Counseling Associates, Roswell Hobbs-Guidance Center of Lea Portales-Mental Health Resource		7 17 10 58 91		183		(11.3)

To examine the difference in the number of reports submitted per reporting center in the NSANM-I and NSANM-II data, see Appendix A.

B. Survivor Demographics
1. Gender of Survivor
Of the 1,616 sexual offense reports that documented the gender of the survivor, 87% (1409) of the survivors were female. This compares to 91% of female survivors of sexual offenses reported nationally (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders, 1997).

2. Age of Survivor at Presentation for Therapy
The age of the survivor when presenting for therapy was documented in 1,586 (98%) of the sexual offenses reported. Of these cases, the age group with the most presentations was 25-34 (377 or 24%), closely followed by the age group 13-17 (331 or 21%). Interestingly, children 17 or younger comprised 35.5% (256) of all those presenting for therapy for sexual offenses. See Figure 1.

3. Age of Survivor at Onset of Sexual Abuse
A meta-analysis of 19 retrospective studies on child sexual abuse showed peak vulnerability of abuse for boys and girls to be between the ages of 7 and 13 (Finkelhor & Baron, 1986). In this dataset, the age of the survivor at onset of sexual abuse was not documented or was unknown in 70% of the 1,205 reports that addressed this question. However, of the 356 reports where age of survivor at onset of sexual abuse was documented/known, the age groups in which onset of sexual abuse was greatest were 4-6 and 7-10 with 100 (28%) and 101 (28%) cases reported in these age groups, respectively. The next age group in which onset of sexual abuse was great was 11-14 with 60 (17%) cases reported, followed closely by the age group Birth – 3, with 51 (14%) cases reported. See Figure 2.

4. Ethnicity of Survivor
Ethnicity of the survivor was documented in 97% (1573) of reported sexual offenses. Almost half (48%) of the reported survivors were of Anglo descent, over one-third (39%) were Hispanic, 7% were Native American, and 3% were African American. For a comparison of these percentages to the ethnic composition of New Mexico, see Figure 3.

5. Survivor Disability
Of the 1,553 offense reports that addressed this question, disability of the survivor was not documented in 51% (797) of the reports. Of the 756 reports that documented any disability of the survivor, 66% (496) had no disability. The highest reported disability among survivors was emotional/mental disability prior to the sexual offense incident, with 203 (27%) of the documented cases reporting this disability. Four percent (34) of cases reported had physical disability. See Figure 4.

6. Survivor History of Prior Sexual Abuse
Recent research reports a correlation between sexual abuse as a child and the likelihood of experiencing sexual abuse as an adult (Mayall & Gold, 1995; Wyatt et al, 1992; Runtz, 1987; and Russel, 1986). Of the 1,628 offense reports, prior abuse as a child (prior to age 18) unrelated to the current assault, was not documented in 1,028 (63%) of the cases. Of the 600 cases that documented prior sexual assault as a child, over three-fourths (461, 77%) were abused as children.

Similarly, prior abuse as an adult unrelated to the current assault, was only documented in 426 (26%) of the reports. Of these cases, one-third (34%) experienced prior abuse as an adult, the other two-thirds, 280 (66%) reported no adult abuse prior to the current assault.

C. Offender Demographics

1. Gender of Offender
   Of the 1548 (95%) sexual offense cases where gender of the offender was documented, 1,503 (97%) were male and 45 (3%) female.

2. Age of Offender
   Age of the offender was not documented in over a third (35%) of the 1,623 reports that answered this question. The age groups with the greatest number of offenders were 18-24 and 25-34 with reports of 256 (24%) and 258 (24%) cases, respectively. Interestingly, while the number of sexual offenses committed by offenders of all other age group categories was less, when taken together, sexual offenses committed by those 17 and under comprised an equal number, 260 (24%) of offenders as the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups. See Figure 5. This finding differs significantly from the percent of single offenders (10.9%) and multiple offenders (4.4%) younger than 18, that was reported nationally (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997).
   
   
   

Of the sexual offenses reported, 88.5% (1,307) were committed by someone known to the survivor. This is significantly higher than the nationally reported 67% of sexual offenses that were committed by someone known to the survivor. (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994), and represents a slight increase over the 86% reported in the NSANM-I which was based on 1995-96 data. Of those offenders known to the survivor, 45% (588) were family members/relatives. This represents a slight decrease from the 52% documented in the NSANM-I.

Of the sexual offenses committed by family members/relatives, fathers were the highest group of reported offenders, committing 29% (169) of all family member sexual offenses. Step-fathers and uncles were tied for the second highest category of reported offenders at 15%, respectively. Mothers accounted for 2% (11) of the family offender sexual offenses. See Figure 8. The offenses committed by family members/relatives as shown, are consistent with and in many cases, are almost identical, to those reported in the NSANM-I - father (172), step-father (97), uncle (87), cousin (78) , brother (69), and mother (15).

2. Survivor/Offender Ethnic Relationship
Of the 1,110 sexual offense reports where the survivor/offender ethnic relationship was documented, the offender was the same ethnicity as the survivor in over three-quarters (78.5% or 871) of the cases reported. The offender was of a different ethnicity than the survivor in less than one-quarter (21.5% or 239) of the cases reported.

C. Number of Offenders Involved Per Sexual Assault
The number of offenders was documented in 1,486 (91%) of reported sexual offenses. Of the documented reports, 80% (1182) involved one offender. While the 20% of cases involving multiple offenders is a 2% decrease from that documented in the NSANM-I, it is still significantly higher than the 9.4% of multiple-offender sexual assaults reported nationally (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994).

D. Type of Coercion Used
The type of coercion used was not documented in over one-quarter (29%) of the sexual offense reports. Of the 1,149 reports that documented type of coercion used, almost half, 48% (557) used physical force. Over one-quarter, 27% (312) used manipulation, and 14% (161) used verbal threat. These figures are quite consistent with those reported in the NSANM-I. Only 3% and 4%, respectively, actually used a gun or a knife, which again is consistent with the NSANM-I, and with both the national percent (4) of reported sexual assaults (involving non-strangers) that use a firearm, and the 5% of nationally reported sexual assaults (involving non-strangers) that use a knife (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994). See Figure 10. Unfortunately, in this and the NSANM-I, the type of coercion used does not distinguish between known and unknown assailants, so a clear comparison with national data may not be made.

E. Use of Alcohol/Drugs
1. Survivor
Survivor use of alcohol or other drugs was not documented in over half (58.5%) of the sexual offense reports. Of the 674 reports that documented alcohol/drug use, 22% of survivors used alcohol or other drugs during the reported (current) assault. Of the 368 survivors who had a previous assault, only 5% reported using alcohol or drugs during the previous assault. This is explained, in large part, by the great number of previous sexual assaults occuring during childhood.

2. Offender
Use of alcohol or other drugs by offenders was documented in only 23% of the sexual offense reports. Of the 377 reports that documented alcohol/drug use, 57% (215) of offenders used alcohol or other drugs during the reported (current) assault. Survivors reported offender's use of alcohol or drugs in a previous assault in only 214 cases. Of these, alcohol or other drug use by the offender was reported in 29% (62) of the cases.

F. Location of Sexual Offenses
Of the 1,331 reports that documented location of the sexual assault, 43.5% (579) were committed in the survivor's home. This is higher than the nationally reported 34% of sexual assaults committed in the survivor's home (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994), but represents a 5.5% decrease of that documented in NSANM-I. The offender's home represented the location of the second highest category of reported offenses, 23.5% (314). Nine percent (121) of the reported sexual offenses occurred in a vehicle. Seven percent (92) of the reported sexual offenses occurred in a private residence other than the offender's or survivor's home. See Figure 11. These top four reported locations for committed sexual offenses in New Mexico were the same as those documented in the NSANM-I.

V. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Domestic violence history among survivors was documented in only 40% (652) of the sexual offense reports. Of the cases where domestic violence among survivors was documented, 68% of survivors reported a history of domestic violence. Domestic violence history among offenders was understandably reported in a fewer number of cases, since many survivors of assault do not know this information about their offender. However, of the 215 cases where survivors knew and reported the domestic violence history of the offender, 61% of offenders had a history of domestic violence.

VI. Sexually Transmitted Disease, Pregnancy, and Sexual Assault

A. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's)
Of the 1,628 reported sexual offenses, 70% did not document whether a sexually transmitted disease was contracted as a result of the sexual assault. Of the 491 cases where contraction of a sexually transmitted disease was documented, 14 (3%) of the survivors contracted a sexually transmitted disease during the reported (current) sexual assault. Only 1% (5) of 457 survivors reported contracting a sexually transmitted disease during a previous assault.

B. Pregnancy
Of the 1,628 reported sexual offenses, pregnancy resulting from the reported (current) sexual assault was documented in less than half, 44% (717) of the reports. Of these cases, pregnancy resulted from the reported (current) sexual assault in 4% (31) of the cases. Only 2% (13) of the 618 survivors, reported a resulting pregnancy from a previous assault.

VII. Reported Sexual Assault
There were 1,022 (63%) sexual assault cases that documented whether the current sexual assault was reported to law enforcement or social services. Over one-third (39%) of the current assaults were not reported, over half (51%) were reported to law enforcement, which is significantly more than the 33% reported nationally (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997), and 10% were reported to a social service agency.

VIII. Summary

A review of the mental health and rape crises centers' Sexual Assault History Form data reveals that in the state of New Mexico:

• Survivors are overwhelmingly female (87%), disproportionately children (63% - NSANM-I), but more likely to seek therapy as an adult (64.5%), and have a history of domestic violence (68%) in their past.
• Ethnic proportions of survivors reflect their proportion in the New Mexico population, so more survivors are Anglo and Hispanic. While the precentages of Hispanic and Black survivors slightly exceeded their percentages in the New Mexico population, the differences were insignificant.
• Over 3/4 of those who reported a current sexual assault were sexually abused prior to the current assault and prior to age 18. In cases of on-going sexual abuse, children were more likely to be sexually abused when between the ages of 4-10 (58%) than between the ages of 11-14 (17%), or Birth-3 (14%). Both of these statistics speak to the need of early and sequential sexual prevention education to empower children from pre-school through 5th grade with skills to prevent sexual abuse. Since a disproportionate number of sexual assaults on children are committed in a residence and by a family member, schools are the more objective environment for child sexual assault prevention education.
• One-third (34%) of those who reported a current assault also reported prior sexual abuse as an adult. This is consistent with the 39% of women who were victims of more than one sexual assault as reported in the National Women's Study (Rape In America: A Report To The Nation, National Victim Center,1992).
• Disability of the survivor was grossly underreported. However, among cases where disability was documented, 2/3 of the sexual assault survivors had no observable or reported disability. In cases where a survivor had a disability, those with an emotional or mental disability comprised 85% of the disabled survivors, and were six times more likely to be sexually assaulted than survivors with physical disabilities. This is indicative of the need for greater measures to protect the emotionally/mentally disabled from sexual predators.
• Offenders are overwhelmingly male (97%), with a history of domestic violence (61%). Those 17 and under are equally likely to offend as those 18-34, and three times as likely to offend as those ages 45 and older.
• In New Mexico, offenders know their victims (85%) and almost half of the time (48%) are a family member/relative of the victim. This in part explains why in over 3/4 (78%) of cases the offender is the same ethnicity as the survivor.
• At 20%, New Mexico has a significantly higher percentage of cases that involve multiple offenders when compared to the 9.4% reported nationally (Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994). The overwhelming majority (80%) of assaults, however, are done by a single offender who is most likely to be the survivor's father or step-father, if a family member, or a friend or acquaintance, if a non-family member.
• Survivors in New Mexico are most likely to be victimized in their own home (34%), by an assailant who is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (57%). While not likely to use a firearm or knife (3% and 4%, respectively), the offender will subdue their victim more often by physical force (48%) than verbal manipulation (27%) or threat (14%).
• While STD's and pregnancy result from very few of the reported sexual assaults in New Mexico, ( 3% and 4% respectively), concerns about becoming pregnant and contracting a sexually transmitted disease were reported nationally, by 34% and 19%, of survivors, respectively (Rape In America: A Report To The Nation, National Victim Center, 1992).
• In a national survey, only 32% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). In this study, 51% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement. However, this figure represents reports made by the victims and/or mental health or rape crisis professionals when the client presented for sexual assault.

It is important when interpreting this report, that the reader keep in mind the following critical limitations of this data set:

• Incidence or prevalence rates of reported sexual offenses from 7/1/96 to 6/30/97 can in no way be determined from this data set. This is true for a number of reasons:
  • Omitted from this data set are data from law enforcement agencies, hospital emergency departments, child protective services, Crime Victim's Reparation Commission, insurance companies, or the countless other sources of possible reporting of sexual offense cases.
  • While these data do represent reports of sexual offenses to mental health and rape crisis centers throughout New Mexico, one may not conclude that they capture all reports of sexual offenses to these centers. This is so because it cannot be verified that all mental health and rape crisis centers use the Sexual Assault History Form. Further, it can not be determined if all centers involved which do use this form, do so on a consistent basis; and that those who use it, consistently submit their monthly reports to the Coalition.
  • This data set only capture self-report sexual offense cases to mental health and rape crisis centers within the identified time frame of this review. It does not speak to all of the incidents of sexual offenses that have occurred for which the victims did not seek help at these centers, nor for which the victim sought help but failed to identify sexual assault as a presenting reason.
• This report was intended to shed some light on the nature of sexual offenses in New Mexico with regard to survivor, offender and offense characteristics, including: survivor/offender relationship, number of offenders involved in an offense, type of coercion used, location of offense, alcohol/drug use, domestic violence history, consequences of sexual assault, and the reporting of sexual assault. However, the large number of undocumented cases in each of these stated categories may or may not significantly change the results as presented in this report.
• In a national survey, only 32% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). In this study, 51% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement. However, this figure represents reports made by the victims and/or mental health or rape crisis professionals when the client presented for sexual assault.

1994 New Mexico Selected Health Statistics Annual Report, June 1996. Department of Health, Public Health Division, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.

Caponera, B. (1998). The Nature of Sexual Assault in New Mexico: A Description of Survivor, Offender and Offense Characteristics. Behavioral Health Services Division, NM Department of Health.

Criminal Victimization in the United States, 1994: A National Crime Victimization Survey Report, May 1997, NCJ-162126. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Finkelhor, D., and Baron, L.(1986) High-risk children. In A sourcebook on child sexual abuse. D. Findelhor, ed. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 986. Pp.60-88.

Mayall, A., and Gold, S.R. (1995). Definitional Issues and Mediating Variables in the Sexual Revictimization of Women Sexually Abused As Children. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10 (1), 26-42.

New Mexico Crime In Perspective, 1994 Report. Morgan Quitno Corporation.

New Mexico State Statutes. New Mexico State Government.

Rape In America: A Report To The Nation, 1992. National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.

Runtz, M. (1987). The psychosocial adjustment of women who were sexually abused during childhood and early adulthood. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Russell, D.E.H. (1986). The secret trauma. Incest in the lives of girls and women. New York: Basic Books.

Sex Offenses and Offenders: An Analysis of Data on Rape and Sexual Assault, February 1997, NCJ-163392. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Wyatt, G.E., Guthrie, D., and Notgrass, C.M. (1992). Differential effects of women's child sexual abuse and subsequent sexual revictimization. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 167-173.

Appendix

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