Study on adolescents more exposed to violence and injuries during sexual assault than we thought

A recent study of forensic evidence in 563 cases of badual badault in Mbadachusetts revealed "striking similarities" in the types of injuries and violence experienced by adult and adolescent victims.

Similarities suggest that teens are at greater risk of violence and injuries during badual badault than previously thought, according to the study's authors, Theodore P. Cross, Senior Specialist in research in the field of social work, and the College of Medicine of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Thaddeus Schmitt, former student.

The majority of victims were badaulted by someone they knew, such as a friend or acquaintance. According to this study, badual badaults by strangers were less common. They concerned 18% of victims aged 12 to 15 years and nearly 31% of adult victims, aged 18 and over.

Similarly, adolescent victims were penetrated and badaulted with the help of force, a weapon or physical restraints at a rate comparable to that of adult victims, the researchers found. .

In reviewing police records, the researchers found that arrests were about twice as likely when the victims were under the age of consent, or in 52% of cases involving victims under 12 years of age. .

However, investigators found that only 25% of victims involving victims aged 16 to 17 had been arrested and 24% of victims involving adult victims.

While previous studies had found greater differences in the rates of violence experienced by adults and teens, Mr. Cross said: "Our study could be generalized to all cases because sample came from a set of hospitals located throughout the state rather than a single hospital or a specialized center. "

Cross and Schmitt compared the results of forensic research and law enforcement actions in badual badault cases that occurred in Mbadachusetts from 2008 to 2010.

They extracted a random sample of cases from a national database of medical reports on badual badault examinations conducted in hospital emergency departments, examining data from crime laboratory reports, police records and forms of evidence collection kit of badual badault.

The final sample of the study included 33 cases in which the victims were under 12 years of age. There were 66 cases in which the victims were 12 to 15 years old, 48 in the case of victims aged 16 to 17 and 416 in the case of adult victims. .

Biological evidence such as semen / sperm, blood and saliva, and DNA were found at similar rates in adults and adolescents, but were much less likely to be found in children under 12 years of age. In all age groups, obtaining a DNA match with the suspected suspect, the researchers found that a suspect in another case or convict was rare.

"Although previous studies have suggested that obtaining biological evidence that may correspond to DNA profiles is more important in adult victims, less common in adolescents, and much less likely in children, we have found no significant difference, nor is the DNA match rate of the suspect, "Cross said.

"It is surprising that the rate of matches and DNA profiles is not significantly lower in children than in older ones, as the search for biologics was less likely for child victims," ​​he said. declared.

The researchers also found that the use of force and suffocation of the victim increased significantly with age.

About half of adults suffered non-bad injuries, compared with 27% of children under 12 years of age. Similarly, adolescents experienced non-bad and anobad injuries at rates similar to those of adults, which contradicts most previous studies.

"Nearly half of the younger teens would have had a non-bad injury and over a third an anobad injury," Schmitt said. "These results should reinforce the concern over the trauma even experienced by young adolescent victims."

Schmitt said that little research has been done on badual abuse and badual abuse among adolescents; as a result, the needs of these survivors have been largely neglected in the development of policies and practices.

Further research is needed on the best intervention methods for adolescent victims of badual badault and the coordination of needed services with adult and child agencies, Cross said.