Research on Intimate Partner Sexual Assault Using Previously Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits

Sexual violence is most often perpetrated by someone a survivor knows, including intimate partners. Yet, this continues to be one of the least understood types of sexual violence. This paper explores intimate partner sexual assault. Using data from one of the sites for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), it examines the characteristics of the cases involving intimate partners, how they compare to stranger cases, and implications this might have for our knowledge of intimate partner sexual assault and what should be done to respond to it. Of the 1411 previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits in the study, 276 (almost 20%) involved intimate partner cases. While both intimate partner and stranger victims were overwhelmingly young and female, intimate partner cases were more likely to occur in private residences and involved more violence in addition to the sexual assault than stranger cases. In fact, over one-third of the intimate partner cases involved other violence. Intimate partner cases were also more likely to be charged and screened at the original incident. These findings have important implications for the response to intimate partner sexual assault. Law enforcement, service providers, and health care professionals must be knowledgeable about different types of sexual assault in order to employ the most effective and supportive responses.