Nearly one in two women in the U.S. will experience some form of sexual violence victimization in her lifetime (broadly defined), and Utah has the same overall rate. According to the most recent Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice report, when considering more specific definitions, one in three Utah women has been sexually assaulted, and one in six women report having been raped. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, rape occurs in Utah at a rate higher than the national average. Hence, sexual assault is a serious problem within the state.  The state of Utah recognizes sexual violence as a significant threat to public health that carries lifelong consequences for the safety and well-being of Utah citizens. Public awareness of sexual assault has increased in recent years, but there is still much that needs to be done to decrease sexual assault rates and thereby improve the health and well-being of Utah women.

This research snapshot focuses on three key areas: 

1) An overview of Utah’s sexual assault facts and statistics,

2) A review of campus sexual assault in Utah, and

3) A discussion of the financial and well-being costs of sexual assault in the state.