Research published over the last decade has explored the incidence, prevalence, and consequences of sexual victimization of youth, including attempted and/or completed rape, sexual coercion and harassment, child sexual abuse, and sexual contact with force or threat of force within adolescent acquaintance and dating relationships. Current research reveals that adolescents are more likely to experience sexually violent crimes than any other age group. In New York City, one study found approximately one in four young women aged 14 to 23 experienced an unwanted sexual experience in the past year (Rickert, Wiemann et al. 2004). These findings reveal the urgent need to address the risk factors for experiencing sexual violence, the health and psychosocial implications of victimization, and to increase resources for preventing violence among youth in New York City.

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