The vast majority of sexual assault cases never go to trial. Estimates suggest that fewer than 2% of all criminal cases in the U.S. (including sexual assault) reach a trial. When accounting for all reported and unreported sexual assaults, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that only about 3% of cases are even referred to prosecutors. The Path to Trial (Attrition) Cases often fall out of the legal system at various stages, a process known as "case attrition": Reporting: Over 60% of sexual assaults are never reported to law enforcement. Arrest: Only about 18% to 53% of reported cases result in an arrest. Charging: Even with an arrest, prosecutors may choose not to move forward due to a lack of evidence or witness cooperation. Only about 19.6% of reported cases result in charges being filed. Plea Bargains: For cases that are formally charged, approximately 87.5% are resolved through plea bargains, where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a trial. Conviction Rates: Because so few cases go to trial, the overall conviction rate for all sexual assaults is low: Overall: On average, only 8.3% of reported sexual assault cases result in a conviction. Trial Outcomes: For the small percentage of cases that do reach trial, sexual assault conviction rates have been found to be equal or higher than those for other violent crimes. In federal cases, roughly 10.8% of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse were convicted specifically at trial. Local Investigations: A recent investigation across eight major U.S. cities found that less than 4% of reported sex crimes resulted in convictions.
