Dive Brief:
- A study of 305 reported cases of sexual assault at higher education institutions from 2011 through 2013 found that 20% of the perpetrators were repeat offenders.
- Nearly 75% of sexual assault victims were freshmen or sophomores.
- Colleges and universities were also found to have investigated about 75% of reported sexual assaults, Inside Higher Ed reported.
Dive Insight:
The study should inject some more reliable statistics into the campus sexual assault discussion. It was conducted by United Educators, a risk management and insurance company, and included 204 colleges and universities that it insures. Other factoids unveiled by the study: Accused students were found responsible in 45% of the reported sexual assault cases, with 25% not responsible and 7% withdrawing before a final ruling. Also, victims knew their perpetrators in 90% of the assaults, 41% of the assaults involved off-campus parties, 78% involved alcohol, and victims delayed reporting in 40% of the cases, with an average delay of 11.3 months.