January 24th, 2012
With all the different pepper spray formulations, concentrations, sizes, nozzle types, and spray patterns, how do I choose a defense spray?
Size and Capacity
The sizes of pepper spray range from a half ounce to up to one pound units. The small units work well as a keychain or clipped onto a purse or pocket. Typical effective range is 8 – 10 feet with a capacity of 10 half second bursts.
The 2 ounce defense sprays are classified as personal or medium units that work well in a purse, on a belt or concealed in the palm of the hand. These pepper sprays have an effective range of 12 – 15 feet with a capacity of 25 half second shots.
The 4 ounce size is the most popular for law enforcement purposes. This is the size typically found on their duty belts. The larger sprays have become popular with civilians for home security. These defense sprays have an effective range of up to 20 feet with a capacity of 40 half second burst.
The 9 ounce and 1 pound defense sprays are often called crowd or riot control units. Generally used to control or deter large groups of people. The range is up to 30 feet with a very large capacity.
As you can see the size of the unit generally determines its capacity; how much compound can be sprayed for what length of time. To simplify things, the range only needs to be 6 to 8 feet, the distance at which most personal attacks take place. Keep in mind that the greater the distance the unit is fired from, the more accurate the aim must be, something that can be difficult in time of stress. The number of shots available is not critical, as a good one second shot will disable almost any attacker. Even the smallest pepper spray units have enough formula to handle multiple attackers.
Nozzle and Spray Patterns
Much more important than capacity is the spray pattern and dispersal density of the unit. There are generally two types of spray patterns: a stream pattern which gives good range but requires aiming directly at the face; and a cone fog which has a shorter range but does not require true aiming. In addition to these factors there are two other important comparisons. First, in a wind the stream spray is more controllable. The cone fog is more likely to be blown off target or even back at the sprayer, when using in a windy climate. Second is the question of inhailability. OC works best when it hits the eyes and when inhaled. The cone fog has smaller particles that are instantly inhaled, while the stream may require slightly longer exposure to cause respiratory distress. With all types of sprays it is critical to hit the attacker in the face area.
General Recommendation
Although each person should purchase the pepper spray they feel is best for them, a medium-size 10% concentration with a cone fog spray is probably the overall best choice for most people. Further, since most people carry a key chain of some type, a key chain unit should be added as well. In addition, a large unit with a fog spray should be in the home either at the bedside or by the front door.
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January 19th, 2012
Creating personal safety awareness is more than being conscious that you could be assaulted. It’s more than acknowledging you need to take actions to secure yourself. It’s NOT investing all your time looking out for prospective threats. Creating personal safety awareness knowledge is discovering when to improve your understanding about your environment. It’s understanding when to be prepared to defend yourself (whether that be using a defense spray, tazer or self defense fighting moves) and when to actually defend yourself.
The key to personal safety awareness is focus. As we go about our daily lives we tend to focus on whatever is most important to us at the moment. Creating personal safety awareness is nothing more than discovering when to pay attention to our well being For example, when you’ve just left the movie theater with a date, your focus is likely on the movie plot you watched or anticipating the rest of the day. This is the way we normally think and act. The issue is that we live in a progressively more dangerous environment, which makes us much more susceptible to attack by the various threats on the street.
Developing personal safety awareness is nothing more than learning to pay attention and focus on safety at the times when we are vulnerable. Usually it’s when we’re jogging alone, strolling alone, or doing anything that isolates us from others. Train yourself to think consciously about your individual security when your alone and get used to concentrating on what and who is around you or prospective threats to your safety.
A common situation is the walk from the retail store to the car in the parking lot. Don’t allow yourself to focus on your packages or a phone conversation or fumbling for your keys. Instead, concentrate on the people around you as you leave the store. Is anyone behind you? Turn and look. Is someone following behind you? Is anyone congregating near your car? These circumstances present potential dangers that you must be conscious of.
Most of us are conditioned to keep to ourselves, to “mind our own business”. We shy away from eye contact because it’s not polite to stare. Unfortunately, this is exactly what you have to do. Condition yourself to look at your surroundings and the individuals around you. Make eye contact. What are they wearing? Which way are they walking? How many people are in that group? Are you in danger? Are you alone? Are you a likely target? Is there anyone behind you?
Most of the time personal assaults or attacks happen as a complete surprise to the victim. In some cases, a surprise attack is inevitable. But in way too many circumstances victims are surprised because they’re not aware of their environment. The victim usually says something like, “they came from nowhere.” No they didn’t! The attackers came from somewhere the victim just did not see where. Empower yourself to develop your personal safety awareness!
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January 16th, 2012
Statistics confirm that 1 in 4 Americans will be a victim of violent crime. Think about it, everyday we turn on the television what do we see and hear about. Someone was raped, someone was shot, someone was killed. The fact is crime is all around us. It doesn’t matter if you live in a rural area or the inner city. Now add on the fact that tens of thousands of people are losing their jobs and the economy is in a serious recession. The end result will be an increase in crime.
We owe it to ourselves, family and friends to make sure we take a proactive approach to crime in our communities. In my opinion the best thing we can do is to invest in non-lethal self defense products. This includes products such as pepper spray, stun guns, tasers, and personal alarms. These products are typically hard to find and not readily available in stores.
Each of these products have been proven effective against “would be” criminals. Pepper spray is a very good option, it is inexpensive and works very quickly when used correctly. The active ingredient in pepper spray is Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), which has replaced tear gas in law enforcement arenas. Tear gas was proven ineffective against persons who can not feel pain. Many individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol do not feel pain, thus tear gas will not work. OC on the other hand is an inflammatory agent that debilitates very quickly.
OC works on the membranes, eyes, nose, mouth. First, it causes temporary blindness by constricting the capillaries in the eyes. The eyes clamp shut, even if they try and pry them open they still can’t see. Second, OC produces coughing and discharge from the nose and mouth. Finally, the lungs and respiratory system are targeted making it very difficult to breath. The affected person(s) will be temporarily restricted to life support breathing. These effects last about 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get to safety.
Pepper spray or mace is available in several spray patterns. Which is best? If you live in a “windy” climate you’ll want to stay away from the cones, or foggers. If spray directly into the wind, self contamination is very possible. If wind is a factor purchase a stream pattern.
Stream patterns will give you more range, anywhere from 6 to 30 feet depending on the model you choose. The stream is propelled in a straight line, it comes out hard and fast. The downside to streams is you are forced to be accurate. In other words you need to aim for the eyes, nose, or mouth. Practice with a stream spray is very important.
The fog or cone spray is great for crowd control or use against multiple attackers, in ideal situations the fogger is the way to go. But again if you live in a windy climate you need to be aware of possible “blow back”. Accuracy is not a concern with a fogger.
You will also want to look into the the self life of pepper spray. Depending on the product you can expect to get 2 to 4 years of self life. This means you will need to replace your spray every 2 to 4 years. The manufacturer should post the expiration date or date the product was manufactured. If they don’t DO NOT purchase. The contents may be ten years old and totally ineffective.
A good spray will also contain a “marking dye” which is a dye that will help law enforcement identify a criminal. The dye cannot be washed off, it will remain on the assailant for approximately 10 days!
I encourage you to get yourself and your loved ones a good OC pepper spray today. Learn to use it correctly. Finally, practice, practice, practice. God forbid you have to use it, but if you do you’ll be much more likely to use it effectively.
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January 11th, 2012
The resident of Slidell, LA (my hometown) are feeling safer tonight after Slidell Police reported they arrested a suspect in a series of carjackings. For weeks, residents have been on edge because of a string of recent carjackings targeting women after dark. In each of the five incidents victims were taken at gunpoint to ATM machines, forced to remove cash and hand it over.
Carjacking is a big problem in cities across the U.S. In fact, there is an attempted motor vehicle theft every 28.8 seconds. Carjacking occurs most frequently in parking lots or large commercial areas where cars are parked. Some examples include the mall, restaurants, big box stores, car wash and ATM’s. An attack is most likely to occur when the owner is entering or exiting the parked vehicle. The majority of completed carjackings or attempts occur within five miles of the victim’s home.
Carjacking is a crime of opportunity. Most attackers are male, while most victims are female. Most victims report being preoccupied or distracted prior to being attacked. To reduce your chances of being carjacked, I have listed some common sense tips to help:
- Only park in well lit, high traffic areas.
- Stay clear of isolated or secluded areas.
- Try not to drive alone, especially at night. If you must consider using valet parking or an attended garage.
- As you walk to or from your car be aware of your surroundings.
- Carry pepper spray or mace in your car and on your person.
- Most shopping centers or malls provide free security escorts, take advantage of this.
- Trust and follow your instincts, if it doesn’t feel safe, run away to a well populated place.
- As you approach your vehicle, look under, around, and inside your car.
- If safe, open the door, enter quickly, and lock the doors.
- Don’t sit in your car, start it up and drive away immediately.
- Keep doors and windows locked at all times, especially when stopped in traffic.
- Leave room ahead when stopped in traffic in case you need to maneuver to safety.
- Be suspicious of the stranger who offers to help repair a flat tire or engine problem.
If you ever find yourself confronted by an armed carjacker stay calm and don’t resist; hand over your keys and money. Concentrate on capturing the best mental description that you can.
Never allow yourself to be kidnapped or taken to another location by the carjacker. Run, scream for help, cause a scene, fight for your life, do whatever you can to avoid being taken to another location.
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January 5th, 2012
Pepper spray has been in the news far too often recently for ALL THE WRONG REASONS. Media reports resulting from the use of pepper spray during Occupy Protests have painted a negative and inaccurate picture about pepper spray, the effects, and safety. Unfortunately, perception is very seldom reality as is the case here. The fact is the the use of pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum (OC), is extremely safe and effective.
Pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum (OC) has been used for decades by law enforcement professionals to help subdue and arrest dangerous, uncooperative, violent and combative subjects. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Justice, points to the effectiveness and safety of pepper spray.
The study looked at officer and suspect injuries in three North Carolina police jurisdictions before and after pepper spray was introduced. Here is a brief summary of the findings.
What did the researchers find?
The North Carolina study found that the number of injuries to police officers and suspects declined after pepper spray was introduced. Complaints that the police used excessive force also declined. Officer injuries. In Charlotte, monthly counts of injured officers declined steadily from 1991 to 1998. The monthly count of injured State Highway Patrol officers shows a substantial decline that corresponds with the implementation of pepper spray.
Suspect injuries. Monthly counts of suspects injured by CMPD officers began falling after the introduction of pepper spray. Excessive force complaints. Ninety-four excessive force complaints were filed against State Highway Patrol officers from 1975 to 1998, peaking in 1992–the year before pepper spray was issued. Complaints dropped sharply after the introduction of pepper spray.
The study provided results that supported the general belief that the use of pepper spray will reduce injuries to police officers and suspects and excessive force complaints against police.
Source: “An Evaluation of Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) Use by Law Enforcement Agencies: Impact on Injuries to Officers and Suspects,” by J. Michael Bowling and Monica Gaines, was supported by NIJ under award number 1997–LB–VX–K018.
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December 28th, 2011
A pepper spray baton incorporates two highly effective self defense weapons in one. The baton is actually a kubotan key-chain which is highly accessible, extremely durable and effective as a close quarter self defense weapon.
A kubotan is commonly used to stabilize the closed fist, to apply pressure to sensitive body parts or to gain leverage against an attacker. The kubotan can be used to execute easy yet highly effective strikes such as the eye gouge, groin strike or nose strike.
The pepper baton contains police grade 10% mace pepper spray. Self defense pepper batons provide discrete yet powerful and legal personal security. When actuated, the baton releases a cone-shaped cloud of pepper spray from the end opposite the key ring. The design makes it easy to hold and aim directly at an attacker. The pepper spray baton contains approximately six short bursts with an effective range up to 5 feet.
These refillable batons are machined from heavy aluminum, they are virtually indestructible. Attach your keys to the solid brass key ring to ensure the pepper baton is with you if needed. This is a top quality, discrete self defense weapon that you can take virtually anywhere.
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December 23rd, 2011
- Lock doors and windows.
Lock all doors at night and every time you leave the house. Make sure every window and sliding doors have a working lock or securely pinned. Secure windows and sliding doors with secondary blocking devices (i.e. a door jammer). Use alarms or anti-lift devices to prevent windows and glass from being lifted out.
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Crime-proof outside areas.
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective deterrents to burglary. Keep yard, porch, garage doors, pathways and entrances well-lit at night. Consider motion detecting lights which turn on automatically as someone approaches. Trim plants and shrubs that could serve as hiding places for criminals. Cut back tree limbs that could help thieves climb into windows. Consider light timers for exterior lighting to establish a routine and appearance of occupancy.
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Get to know your neighbors.
Get to know your neighbors on each side of your home and across the street. Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust. Ask neighbors to pick up mail and park in your driveway to give the appearance of occupancy while on vacation. Get to know each others schedules so you can spot an unusual pattern.
- Consider an alarm.
Display alarm company signs and decals on the windows and lawn; burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs. Don’t write your alarm pass-code on or near the alarm keypad. Alarms systems monitor for fire as well as burglary. Learn how to use your system properly.
- Protect yourself with lock and key
Don’t hide keys. Leave a key with a trusted family member, friend or neighbor. Keep a list of everyone you give a copy of your keys to. Consider keys with protection against unauthorized duplication. All entryways should have a sturdy deadbolt lock installed into the frame of the door. Use high quality Grade 1 or 2 locks with a bolt that extends at least one inch to resist prying open or forceful entry. Hardened steel inserts prevents bolts from being sawed off.
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Protect your home when traveling.
Activate the alarm system (if you have one). Inform a trusted neighbor of your travel plans and ask them to collect mail and watch your home while away. Consider using automatic timers to switch interior lights on and off at preset times. Indoor lighting gives the impression of occupancy. For extended absences, consider hiring a trusted house sitter. Don’t advertise your absence. Don’t post messages on Facebook or social media. Never leave a message on your answering machine that tells thieves you are away.
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Protect your valuables.
Gate latches, garage doors, and shed doors are all locked with high-security, laminated padlocks. Grills, bicycles and other valuables left out in the open, should be hidden from view with a tarp and securely locked to a stationary point. Keep a home inventory of valuables including serial numbers, pictures, and sale receipts. Keep a complete copy some-where out of the house.
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Teach home safety to your kids.
Show them how to use the door and window locks, and the alarm system. Never let them allow anyone into your home without asking your permission. Never let a caller at the door or on the phone know that they’re alone. Teach them to say “Mom can’t come to the phone or door right now.” Be sure they carry a house key with them in a safe place. Don’t leave it under a mat or on a ledge outside a house. Be sure they know how to call 9-1-1, or the operator.
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Have and emergency plan.
Have important phone numbers, including police and fire departments, by the phone. Establish a meeting place for family members ; one place near your home and one outside of the neighborhood. If something looks questionable – a slit screen, a broken window, or an open door – don’t go in. Call the police. If you think you hear someone breaking in, leave safely if you can, then call the police. If you can’t leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call the police.
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Take a stand!
Join a Neighborhood Watch group. If one doesn’t exist, you can start one with help from local law enforcement. Work with neighbors and local government to organize community clean-ups. The cleaner your neighborhood, the less attractive it is to crime. Join neighbors, police, school officials, and civic groups in identifying, discussing, and solving troubling conditions in your community.
Follow these links for more information on home security devices or personal defense products.
Source: National Crime Prevention Council.
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December 22nd, 2011
Save big now on all self defense products. All pepper spray, stun guns, tasers, personal alarms and more on sale now. Save an extra 10% off of our low prices between now and midnight Christmas night. Plus get Free shipping on all orders over $100. Use promo code LAST2011 during checkout!
Posted in TASER, Uncategorized, child safety, home protection, pepper spray, personal alarms, product specials, safety tips, self defense, stun guns, surveillance equipment | No Comments »
December 19th, 2011
I’m a dog lover! I have a Golden and Yellow Lab, both of which are considered family members. That said, my dogs can be quite aggressive and territorial toward strangers. As a responsible owner I make sure to keep my dogs restrained to ensure their safety as well as the safety of others. Unfortunately, some owners are not responsible and allow their dogs run the streets and setting the stage for bites and attacks.
The most recent US survey places the number of dogs in the United States at a staggering 74.8 million. (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey.) Another survey of dog bites, conducted by CDC researchers and based on data collected during 2001-2003, concluded that dogs bite 4.5 million Americans per year (1.5% of the entire population). Sacks JJ, Kresnow M. Dog bites: still a problem? Injury Prevention 2008 Oct;14(5):296-301. Almost 800,000 bites per year — one out of every 6 — are serious enough to require medical attention. (Weiss HB, Friedman D, Coben JH. Incidence of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments. JAMA 1998;279:51-53.)
One of the safest and most humane way to protect yourself from aggressive dog attacks is to carry and utilize a non-lethal self defense weapon such as a mini stun baton. Stun guns and batons use high voltage, low amperage electricity and are excellent at deterring and even stopping dog attacks. Simply firing the stun baton and emitting the loud “crackling” sound is usually enough to back a dog down. If it doesn’t, touching the animal with the stun baton will have them “tucking” the tail and running. Stun batons do not cause any long term or serious injuries to the animals.
A mini stun baton is affordable, effective, easy to operate and packed with great features. This mini stun baton is ultra powerful, sporting the equivalent of 4.5 million volts of jaw dropping electricity. These are rechargeable stun batons, which means you can re-charge the batteries by simply plugging it into a standard wall outlet. A wrist strap and safety pull pin keep the mini stun gun from being used if the pin is pulled out. A powerful built in LED flashlight will keep you out of the dark. The mini stun baton itself is only 9.5 inches long, not too big or bulky, but enough length to keep you out of harms way. Lastly, if it breaks we replace it free of charge!
Postal workers, delivery drivers, meter readers, walkers, bikers and joggers; this is a must have product that will increase peace of mind while providing you the safety you need.
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December 12th, 2011
How much is your well being and peace of mind worth? That’s the question I posed to a large group during a presentation on self defense and personal security. The overwhelming response was that their well being and peace of mind were “priceless”. With that being said most were ill prepared with regards to their safety situation.
Rape, abductions, assaults, and home invasions are just a handful of the crimes which are most prevalent in our society. A women is raped somewhere in the United States every 2 minutes, a kidnapping or abduction occurs every 23 minutes, a aggravated assault every 35 seconds and over 8000 home invasion burglaries per day in North America.
Your number one priority needs to be your safety and the security of your home and family. After breathing, eating and drinking there is no more vital need than security. It is time to take a more proactive approach protecting yourself, home and family. By doing so you will be on your way to that “priceless” and elusive peace of mind.
Start with a home security survey. Most police departments will come out and conduct a home security survey free of charge. The goal is to identify areas in and around your home that are vulnerable to crime. You can download our home security survey here.
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Neighborhood Watch is based on this concept of cooperation, and nationwide statistics prove that it works. When citizens take positive steps to secure their own property and neighbors learn how to report suspicious activity around their homes, burglary and other related crimes decrease dramatically. Would be thieves look for easier neighborhoods. If your not involved in a watch program join or start one today.
You can significantly decrease your chances of falling victim to personal attack by practicing awareness techniques. Here are a few tips:
- Always be aware of your surroundings and people around you.
- Walk with a purpose.
- Do not walk alone – after dark.
- Do not be distracted talking or looking for something.
- Park and walk in well-lit and populated areas when possible.
- Have your keys in hand before you reach your vehicle.
- Keep your vehicle doors locked and avoid leaving valuables out.
- Do not flaunt cash, jewelry, camera phones, or other things of value.
- Keep up with your belongings at all times.
- Attend seminars on crime prevention awareness techniques.
Finally, preparation is key to a successful personal and home security plan. Non-lethal weapons such as pepper spray or mace have some are essential and have very real advantages when used properly. By using pepper spray or mace you can effectively protect yourself from a safe distance. Pepper spray is proven to stop even the most aggressive attackers. The most valuable effect of pepper spray or mace is involuntary eye closure and temporary blindness. Get it, make sure it’s accessible and learn to use it properly.
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December 7th, 2011
Outstanding article by the makers of SABRE Pepper Spray at Sabrered.com
PEPPER SPRAY: 10 MOST COMMON EFFECTS
Recently with the influx of Occupy Protests, there has been an increase in law enforcement usage of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) or Pepper Spray. Over the past few weeks, nearly every media outlet in the country from Fox News to the New York Times has shed light on pepper spray deployment to disperse protestors and crowds. In fact, OC sprays commonly referred to as mace, personal safety sprays and pepper spray have become an internet meme and with that, several questions, myths and misinformation have circulated. Many wonder how dangerous is pepper spray and what are the most common effects.
In July 2008, the Force Science Research Center released the results of a study ranking the “risks of injury from 5 major force options” available to law enforcement officers. The study, conducted by the Calgary Police Service and Canadian Police Research Center, focused on the following most common force options:
- Empty-hand control techniques
- Baton
- OC spray (pepper spray)
- Conducted energy weapons (Tasers)
- Lateral vascular neck restraint
OC spray or pepper spray “produced the lowest rate of injury”. In fact, “more than 80% of the sprayed subjects sustained no injury whatever and no injuries were fatal or even resulted in hospitalization”. Additional information can be found at www.Force ScienceNews.com.
Having addressed the safety aspects of pepper spray above, here are the ten (10) most common effects one may experience after having been contaminated by OC sprays:
- Swelling of Mucous Membranes of Eyes, Nose & Throat
- Nasal & Sinus Discharge
- Coughing
- Shortness of Breath
- Drying of the Eyes
- Involuntary Eye Closure
- Painful Burning of the Skin
- Analgesic Effect
- Hyperventilation & Potential Increase in Blood Pressure
- Psychological Effects: Fear, Anxiety & Panic
The majority of the above are self explanatory. The biggest advantage pepper spray provides the user, whether law enforcement or civilian, is the involuntary eye closure. Even if the subject cannot feel pain due to drugs, alcohol or being emotionally disturbed, the inflammatory effects of pepper spray cause the eyes to close temporarily when the ocular area is saturated. Points 8 through 10 do require further explanation. Capsaicin, one of the five (5) major capsaicionids which provides the active ingredient within pepper spray, is also commonly used in sports creams to temporarily relieve, reduce or numb muscle pain. In some cases, pepper spray will also eventually numb the skin causing the effects to subside. This does not mean the individual is fully decontaminated, which is why some re-experience the effects several hours later. Full decontamination occurs after the capsaicinoids are removed from the eyes, pores and outer skin.
Moving on to points 9 & 10, the effects of pepper spray are often quite intense which can cause fear of the unknown, anxiety and panic to take place. These psychological effects can cause hyperventilation and a temporary increase in blood pressure.
It is important to note that all of the ten (10) effects listed above are temporary. Police and civilians alike have depended on pepper sprays for over twenty-years because they provide protection at a safe distance and are one of the safest and most reliable force options available. For more information, you may wish to review the three Pepper Spray “Research in Briefs” released by the National Institute of Justice.
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December 5th, 2011
Pepper spray or mace for rape prevention? Everyone, male or female; young or old should arm themselves with a self defense product like pepper spray or mace. Why? Because it has the potential to save lives if used properly.
Just last week a young women in our hometown was forcibly raped by an attacker as she tried to enter her home. This twenty six year old women returned home at 3:00 a.m. As she neared her front door she noticed a man approaching. While attempting to get into her apartment the attacker asked if he could use the telephone and have a glass of water. She said no and attempted to close the front door. That’s when he overpowered her forcing his way into the apartment. Once inside he raped the women at knife point.
I can’t help but think the outcome could have been different had the victim possessed pepper spray in her hand and used it. Most of us feel like our homes and neighborhoods are safe. Others have the “it can’t happen to me” syndrome. The truth is it can happen to any of us. Although, there are no guarantee’s you can drastically increase your odds buy getting serious about your personal security situation.
Here are a few things you can do to take control of your personal safety.
Where to buy pepper spray?
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November 30th, 2011
Unfortunately, very few women take the possibility of falling victim to crimes like rape and sexual assault seriously. As a result, little is done from the standpoint of prevention and safety. In our opinion, awareness, communication and preparation are the best ways to help women everywhere increase their personal safety situation. A start is to share the following facts from The Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center (STAR) http://www.brrcc.org/
Statistics
An average 233,986 Americans age 12 and older are sexually assaulted each year. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.
Who Are the Victims?
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Among all victims, about nine out of ten are female.
1 out of every 33 American men has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in his lifetime. About 10% of all victims are male.
Age
Age of sexual assault victims:
- 15% are under age 12
- 29% are age 12-17
- 44% are under age 18
- 80% are under age 30
- Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years
- Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of sexual assault
Race
Estimated persons raped in lifetime by gender and race:
Women
- 17.7% of white women
- 18.8% of African-American women
- 6.8% of Asian / Pacific Islander women
- 34.1% of American Indian / Alaskan Native women
- 24.4% mixed race women
- 14.6% of Hispanic women
Men
- 2.8% of white men
- 3.3% of African-American men
- 4.4% of mixed race men
- The sample size was too small to estimate for Asian/ Pacific Islander and American Indian / Alaskan Native men
Effects of Rape
Physical Injuries
100% of completed rapes, 39% of attempted rapes, and 17% sexual assaults against females result in injured victims.
- 33% of victims sustain minor (bruises and chipped teeth) physical injuries
- 5% of victims sustain major (broken bones and gunshot wounds) injuries
- 61% of victims sustain undetermined injuries
Only around 36% of injured victims receive medical care
Mental Health
Victims of sexual assault are:
- 3 times more likely to suffer from depression
- 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder
- 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol
- 26 times more likely to abuse drugs
- 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide
Occurrence of Sexual Assaults
The number of rapes reported is spread fairly evenly throughout the year, with a slight increase in August (around 9%) and the fewest in December (around 7%).
Time of day sexual assaults occur:
- 43% between 6:00pm and midnight
- 33% between 6:00am and 6:00pm
- 24% between midnight and 6:00am
Nearly 6 out of 10 sexual assault incidents were reported by victims to have occurred in their own home or at the home of a friend, relative, or neighbor.
Reporting to Police
There were 90,427 forcible rapes reported to police in 2007. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes, with an average of 39% being reported to the police each year.
When victims of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault did not report the crime to the police, the most often cited reasons were:
Rape:
- personal matter (23.3%)
- fear of reprisal (16.3%)
- police biased (5.8%)
Attempted rape:
- personal matter (16.8%)
- fear of reprisal (11.3%)
- protect offender (9.9%)
Completed and attempted sexual assault:
- personal matter (25.3%)
- reported to different official (12.4%)
- fear of reprisal (11.3%)
The closer the relationship between the female victim and the offender, the greater the likelihood that the incident will not be reported. When the offender was a current or former husband or boyfriend, about 75% of all victimization’s were not reported to police.
When the offender was a friend or acquaintance, an average 71% were not reported. When the offender was a stranger, an average 44% were not reported.
The Offenders
Almost 2/3 of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
- 23% of rapists are an intimate
- 3% are another relative
- 38% are a friend or acquaintance
- 31% are a stranger
- 6% are unknown
Only about 6% of rapists ever serve a day in jail. The average age of an arrested rapist is 31 years old.
- 0.6% are 17 years old or younger
- 54.6% are 18 to 29 years old
- 28.6% are 30 to 39 years old
- 8.9% are 40 to 49 years old
- 7.3% are 50 years old or older
Marital status of arrested rapists.
- 22.1% are married
- 1.2% are widowed
- 28.5% are divorced
- 6.2% are separated
- 42% are never married
Convicted rapists made up 1.2% of the 272,111 state prisoners released in 1994, and 46% of these released rapists were rearrested within three years for some type of felony or serious misdemeanor.
National Sexual Assault Hotline:
1.800.656.HOPE
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November 29th, 2011
The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a reported rape this morning and a possibly related attack that occurred a week ago.
This morning’s incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. at an apartment on Stanford Avenue. The 26-year old victim had just returned home when a man, who had possibly been following her, approached. As she was trying to get into her apartment the suspect asked her for a glass of water and if he could use the phone. She refused and was trying to close her door when he forced his way inside. He then pulled a knife and raped the victim. The suspect is described as an Hispanic male, broken English, mid-20’s, 5’6”, medium build, with short, dark hair, wearing all dark clothing. He may have been in an older model, maroon or red four-door car.
One week ago, on November 22nd, at about 2:45 a.m., a 20-year old female who had accidentally been locked out of her apartment on Lee Drive was sitting outside waiting for her roommates to return when a man walked up to her and asked if he could use her cell phone. She allowed him to and he then returned her phone and walked away. Several minutes later someone grabbed her from behind and choked her, threatening to kill her if she made a sound. He then reportedly began trying to drag the victim between two sets of stairs. She began screaming loudly and the suspect released her and fled. She described her assailant as the same man who borrowed her phone, an Hispanic male, 20-25, 5’5”-5’8” tall
It is not yet known whether these two incidents are related but there are obviously strong similarities.
The police department urges everyone, but especially young women in the LSU area, to take note of these events and take appropriate steps to protect themselves. Be cautious, be aware of your surroundings, and be wary of anyone approaching and asking to use your phone or making similar requests. Most important, try not to be outside alone during the late night or early morning hours and always make sure your doors and windows are locked. Report any suspicious behavior to your local law enforcement agency immediately.
Anyone with any information on the identity of the suspect(s) is urged to contact the Sex Crimes Division at 225-389-3853 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.
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November 25th, 2011
Don’t miss these awesome holiday deals on the self defense products you need to stay safe. Stocking stuffers and gift ideas on premium pepper spray, stun guns and personal alarms!
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