Why Don’t Survivors Report?

After surviving sexual violence, victim-survivors often feel pressured by others, or even by themselves, to file a report to the police. Survivors are often victim-blamed and not believed when they choose not to report. Sometimes, others even try to suggest that the survivor is responsible if the perpetrator continues to harm others, and survivors may internalize these feelings as well. In reality, it’s okay if a survivor chooses not to report, and the only person responsible for sexual violence is the perpetrator themselves.

Survivors may choose not to report for many reasons, or they may simply just not want to report. They also may delay reporting for many of the same reasons. Ultimately, they do not owe anyone an explanation for how they decide to proceed legally. However, to better understand the survivors around us and to effectively combat victim-blaming, here are just a few of the reasons as to why survivors may choose to not report sexual violence to authorities.

Even though survivors are never to blame, in an attempt to make sense of what happened, survivors often blame themselves.1,2 They may think they did something to “deserve” what happened to them, or believe they otherwise played a role in the act of violence, even though this isn’t ever truly the case. If they think they’re partially responsible, they aren’t likely to file a report.
Even if they know they aren’t responsible for what happened, they may feel guilty knowing that reporting could get the perpetrator in trouble.1 These fears are especially prominent when the perpetrator is a member of the family, a close friend, or an important member of the community. They may fear they would be responsible for ruining the perpetrator’s life, when in reality, it is the perpetrator’s own actions that may lead to any consequences. Or, they may worry about the outcome that the perpetrator getting in trouble could lead to, such as a loss of family income.

Even though there is nothing to be ashamed about, many survivors feel ashamed that they have experienced sexual violence.3 They may be ashamed to talk about the acts they were made to participate in during the assault. Considering that many survivors blame themselves, they may feel ashamed of what they believe they did to “make themselves” vulnerable, such as being out late or using substances. 

This shame can be compounded if they were raised in an environment where sexual topics are taboo. The shame they feel makes it harder to discuss what happened with others, especially people they don’t know, like detectives. Detectives, in order to understand what happened, ask direct questions that the survivor may not be ready, or ever want, to answer due to shame.

One of the many ways survivors try to cope with a sexual assault is through avoidance. Avoidance can be internal, meaning they may try to avoid thinking or talking about what happened. When survivors are internally avoidant, they have not given themselves the space to process what happened, and they may not have fully accepted that they were assaulted. Or they may be aware, but they also may not be able to cope with it, so they avoid thinking about the assault to keep themselves safe.

Survivors may be externally avoidant, meaning that they avoid situations, people, or other external factors that may trigger them. Reporting would put them in a position where they continuously have to think and talk about what happened, which can be difficult, and in some cases, dangerous.

After the act of violence, survivors may be struggling with their mental health overall. Legal proceedings can be intense and a large burden to bear, even when someone isn’t struggling with their mental health. It may be the safest option for a survivor to not participate in legal proceedings, because doing so may add to their emotional distress and ultimately put them in an unsafe position. Research has shown that survivors who informally disclose to a loved one and also file a police report have more PTSD symptoms than those who just informally disclose.4

Survivors may be afraid that the person taking the report or the detective assigned to their case will not believe them, which is retraumatizing.1,2 Society often immediately jumps to questioning the validity of a survivor’s story, which can be intimidating for survivors. They may choose not to report because they decide that not being believed would cause them more harm than not reporting would. Research shows that those who receive negative reactions to informal disclosure, such as a friend not believing them, are less likely to report to law enforcement.5 

Additionally, if the perpetrator is someone with a high status, a good reputation, or is seen as any kind of community leader, people are less likely to believe the survivor. People often wrongfully assume that because they have had positive experiences with someone, they are not capable of abuse. Or they may believe that they should be a moral person because of their status or role, such as a teacher or priest.

Survivors may be aware of the legal process and have little trust that the system will effectively hold the perpetrator accountable.1 It is no secret that, even when a survivor does report to the police, they are more likely to never be questioned than they are to be convicted of sexual assault. Out of every sexual assault that is reported to the police, only 16% are ever arrested, and less than 10% are ever convicted of a crime.6 It can further traumatize a survivor and cause them to question the validity of their experience when no action is taken. Or, in some cases, the court decides that there is not enough evidence to make a conviction and the perpetrator may receive a “not guilty” verdict. Ultimately, a “not guilty” verdict doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but the verdict can be deeply upsetting for survivors regardless.


Survivors may also have a general distrust in the police, a distrust that is compounded when the survivor belongs to a minority group. Policing has been historically racist and anti-LGBTQIA+ rights, adding additional layers to the already complicated relationship that sexual assault survivors have with the formal reporting process.7,8 Survivors may distrust that the police will treat them gently and kindly during the process, or they may fear that the report will result in legal consequences for the survivor themselves. Additionally, research published by The Washington Post in 2024 revealed that, on average, two police officers have been charged for sexually abusing a child every week for the past eighteen years.9 Not only do survivors distrust the justice system as a whole, but they distrust the individuals who take part in it.

Survivors may know that there isn’t evidence that could support their report in a court of law.1 The burden of proof placed on survivors far exceeds what would reasonably exist in most cases of sexual assault. Those who commit sexually violent acts do so in ways where it is unlikely that there will be evidence that meets the standards of a court. For example, sexual assault is rarely done in front of witnesses or in public, meaning that no one can corroborate the survivor’s story. 

Another piece of evidence that can be impactful in a sexual assault case is a forensic exam. For many of the reasons outlined in this article, survivors may not decide immediately after the assault that they want to get a forensic exam. Unfortunately, the sooner after the assault, the more likely it will be that they will be able to collect evidence. Many of the interactions we have everyday, despite actually happening, do not have a level of proof beyond our word, and the same goes for sexual assault. 

Survivors may fear that if the report is taken seriously, they will have to face trial. During trial, every detail of the sexually violent act can potentially be discussed and dissected. Legal proceedings can drag on for a long time, which can make it difficult for a survivor to move forward. Different aspects of the process, such as cross-examination, can even retraumatize a survivor.1,3

Many survivors do not realize they have been sexually assaulted for a significant period of time after the crime occurred. Most crimes have what is called a statute of limitations, which essentially means that there is a set period of time after the crime occurs that charges can be filed. Every state is different, but it is not uncommon for survivors to come to terms with the fact that the event was a sexual assault until after the statute of limitations has passed. Survivors may feel there is no reason to report if the statute of limitations for the crime has passed.

Survivors may not know what their rights look like or whether or not the sexually violent act they experienced violates an existing law and “counts” as a crime. They may believe the statute of limitations has passed when it hasn’t. Those who have immigrated, are undocumented, or otherwise have an unstable citizenship status may also not know or understand what their rights are.

Unfortunately, many people do not receive the proper education when it comes to what consensual sexual encounters do and do not look like. Many people who have experienced non-consensual sexual acts do not label their experience as sexual assault.10 If they do not realize they have been sexually assaulted, they cannot file a report until they come to terms with what happened.

Some survivors do not think that the sexual violence they’ve experienced is serious enough to warrant a report.2,3 All sexual violence is serious, but filing a report is a big, intimidating decision. Survivors may doubt and downplay what happened in order to avoid reporting.

Survivors may be afraid of the perpetrator and worry that if they report, they may experience further abuse or harassment, or that others in their life will be harmed.2 If the perpetrator learns about the report, either through their community or by being contacted by the police, this can potentially lead to further harm, especially if the report doesn’t result in a conviction and incarceration. This can be especially harmful in small, tight-knit communities.

Even if the survivor isn’t necessarily afraid that the report would lead to the perpetrator causing them further harm, they may fear other consequences as a result of the report. If the perpetrator is a family member, the survivor may fear retaliation or disapproval from other family members. They may fear that filing the report would tear their family apart, even though they aren’t responsible for what happened in the first place. If the perpetrator is a financial provider, the survivor may fear that they will be unable to pay bills or buy essentials. 

If the perpetrator is a member of the same social group, survivors may fear that they will tear the group apart. They may not be as popular of a group member as the perpetrator, and fear that they will be socially ostracized if they report. Or, they may worry that the traumatic event will be discussed as though it is drama.

Some survivors are members of a minority group that is unfairly stereotyped as being sexually deviant or predatory. They may fear that by filing a report, they are fulfilling these stereotypes, especially when both the perpetrator and the survivor are members of these communities.

Survivors may fear that other people in their life or community will find out what happened or that they filed a report.2 They may not be ready, or ever want, to discuss the event with other people in their life, and worry that filing a report means that the story is no longer in their control.

Survivors who are still minors may have a difficult time reporting for a variety of reasons. If the perpetrator is a guardian or family member, they may feel stuck, or recognize that reporting could have other consequences on their life, such as financial instability, family conflict, or being removed from their home. They may also know that involving law enforcement also means that their parents or guardians will find out about what happened, which can feel violating and deter young survivors from reporting.

Seniors and elders, particularly those experiencing health complications, may also be in similar positions. They may be abused by the person who is caring for them that they rely on for survival. Due to their health complications, they may not be able to access a means to report. Or, if their health issues are related to cognitive decline, they may struggle to recollect and communicate what happened. Others may also dismiss their claims due to cognitive decline.

Another reason why survivors may choose to not report is because they still care about the perpetrator. Sexual assault is more often than not perpetrated by someone the survivor knows, and this can complicate how a survivor processes what happens. They may downplay what happened because they don’t want them to get in trouble,3 or because accepting that someone they know sexually assaulted them is incredibly difficult.

Grooming can further complicate the issue. When someone is groomed, they have been made to believe that they want the relationship. If sexual acts occurred via grooming, these are non-consenual and acts of sexual coercion. However, because they have been groomed, survivors do not recognize that what is happening is actually sexual assault. 

Who perpetrated the assault can also play a role in whether or not a survivor chooses to report.1 As previously stated, when the perpetrator has power through social status, their career, religious leadership, money, age, or any other position they can use to control someone else, a survivor may fear what will happen if they report. They may worry the perpetrator will inflict some form of harm on them, or they may recognize that their position means people will be less likely to believe them.

Or, if the perpetrator is a current or former intimate partner, they also may fear not being believed, especially if they had consensual sexual encounters before and/or after the assault. It is a common misconception that sexual assault cannot happen in intimate relationships. Consent is always necessary and an intimate relationship does not mean partners owe one another sex.

One study found that nearly three quarters of college sexual assault survivors were using substances at the time of the assault.3 Substance use never means that the survivor deserved or invited sexual assault. However, those who are under the use of substances can face harsh stigma and victim-blaming, making it difficult to report.11

Additionally, for students, their school may have certain rules against substance use, they may have been drinking under age, or they may have been using illegal substances, and they may fear that reporting will get them in trouble. However, many schools have amnesty policies to protect students from those repercussions if they are seeking help after something bad happens, such as a sexual assault.

The Perfect-Victim myth outlines what a survivor “should” or “should not” do in order to deserve support and for their experience to be believable or valid. When the survivor doesn’t fit the image of the perfect-victim, they are more likely to receive a negative response from those involved in their case.

Overall, survivors may decide that choosing not to report is ultimately more conducive to their healing process. Or, survivors may not report out of fear, mental health struggles, or distrust that the authorities and their community will have an appropriate response. There are many, many reasons why a survivor may choose to not report, far too many to list here. All of these reasons are valid, and they do not owe anyone an explanation.

Whatever the case may be, it is never anyone’s place to pressure a survivor into reporting or to guilt them if they choose not to. No one should ever discourage a survivor from reporting either. The validity of a survivor’s experience does not rely on whether or not they filed a report, or whether or not that report resulted in a conviction. 

If you decided to not report, for a reason listed here or another reason entirely, we support you.

Sources

  1. Stewart, S., Willmott, D., Murphy, A., & Phillips, C. (2023). “I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” – a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 35(1), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2023.2292103
  2. Goodman-Williams, R., Volz, J., & Fishwick, K. (2024). Reasons for Not Reporting Among Sexual Assault Survivors Who Seek Medical Forensic Exams: A Qualitative Analysis. Journal of interpersonal violence, 39(9-10), 1905–1925. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231211926
  3. Cantor, D., Fisher, B., Chibnall, S., & Harps, S. (2020). AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct . https://www.aau.edu/sites/default/files/AAU-Files/Key-Issues/Campus-Safety/Revised%20Aggregate%20report%20%20and%20appendices%201-7_(01-16-2020_FINAL).pdf
  4. Starzynski, L. L., Ullman, S. E., Filipas, H. H., & Townsend, S. M. (2005). Correlates of women’s sexual assault disclosure to informal and formal support sources. Violence and victims, 20(4), 417.
  5. Scoglio, A. A. J., Lincoln, A., Kraus, S. W., & Molnar, B. E. (2022). Chipped or Whole? Listening to Survivors’ Experiences With Disclosure Following Sexual Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(9-10), NP6903-NP6928. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520967745
  6. Tapp, S., & Coen, E. (2024). National Crime Victimization Survey. U.S. Department of Justice.
  7. Mallory, C., Hasenbush, A., & Sears, B. (2015). Discrimination and Harassment by Law Enforcement Officers in the LGBT Community. In williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/LGBT-Discrimination-by-Law-Enforcement-Mar-2015.pdf
  8. American Public Health Association. (2018). Addressing Law Enforcement Violence as a Public Health Issue [Policy Report]. https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2019/01/29/law-enforcement-violence
  9. Mark Relyea and Sarah Ullman, 2015, “Measuring Social Reactions to Female Survivors of Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault: The Social Reactions Questionnaire-Alcohol,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 30(11): 1864-1887.
  10. Peterson, Z. D., & Muehlenhard, C. L. (2011). A Match-and-Motivation Model of How Women Label Their Nonconsensual Sexual Experiences. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 35(4), 558-570. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684311410210
  11.  Mark Relyea and Sarah Ullman, 2015, “Measuring Social Reactions to Female Survivors of Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault: The Social Reactions Questionnaire-Alcohol,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 30(11): 1864-1887.

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