Why They Don't Report

It's Complicated

Survivors may choose not to report for a plethora of reasons. On top of having to deal with their thoughts and feelings of the assault, they often have to deal with stigmas from the community and often from the ones they love.

Below are some of the reasons survivors may choose not to report:

• Fear of not being believed within their community
• Fear of stigmas and judgments from family, friends, and the community
• Fear of the long and often re-traumatizing court process
• Fear of retaliation from the abuser or their friends/family

Many times the process of seeking justice creates barriers to reporting. The average length of time it takes to get a rape kit done is around 4 hours. Unfortunately, justice is not always served and victims are often left without a resolution, which leaves them open to further victimization.