US sexual offenders facts & statistics

How many sex offenders are there near me? What does an average sex perpetrator look like? These are the questions you may be asking yourself as you think about the safety in your community and the well-being of your close people.

In this article, we’re diving deep into the often-unspoken truths about sex offender patterns. You’ll find insights into their demographics, behaviors, and the implications for public safety.

How many sex offenders are in the US?

There are 688,799 registered sexual offenders as of February 2024.

According to our database, there are 688,799 registered perpetrators of sex crimes in the USA. Note that there might be fluctuations throughout the year as some people are added, and others are removed from the US sexual offender registry. Additionally, we’re in the process of processing information on Puerto Rico, so our dataset currently doesn’t include these numbers.

Texas, California, and Illinois have the highest number of sexual perpetrators. The Northern Mariana Islands, Michigan, and the Menominee Tribes represent the lower end of the sexual predator watch list. To get to know the exact numbers of sexual offenders by state, check out the Nannostomus registered sex offenders report.

Who is the most common sex offender?

In 8 out of 10 cases, the sex offender is someone the victim knew.

Only 19% of rapes and sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by strangers. In 6% of instances, the crimes involve multiple offenders. About 33% of abusers are current or former intimate partners, while 39% of rapes are committed by acquaintances. For male victims, close relatives are twice more frequent perpetrators than for females.

Most sexual assaults are committed by white people—around 75%.

White individuals constitute the largest racial group among sex offenders, accounting for 75% of cases. Black individuals also represent a significant proportion, responsible for 26% of sexual abuse instances.

Asian offenders are considerably less common, comprising only 0.5%. Furthermore, 0.3% of offenders have an unknown racial classification. American Indians or Alaskan Natives represent the smallest demographic group involved in sex offenses, making up just 0.1% of the total.

The likelihood of committing sexual offenses is significantly higher among individuals in their 30s to 50s.

The most prevalent age range for US sex offenders falls between 40 and 69 years, encompassing around 71% of the total.

The number of individuals aged 70-79 sharply decreases to 9.5%. The trend of declining sexual offenses continues with age, falling to 2.7% for the 80-89 age bracket and a mere 0.3% for those aged 90-99.

Conversely, the younger demographic (10-29 years) accounts for a smaller proportion, with those aged 10-19 and 20-29 collectively making up about 4.1% of offenders.

For every 1 female offender, there are 37 male perpetrators.

Males are significantly more prone to committing sex offenses across the USA. Men are responsible for approximately 97.35% of reported crimes. In contrast, 2.65% attributed to female convicted sex offenders.

Offender was armed with a gun, knife, or other weapon in 11% of rape or sexual assault victimizations.

This means a higher potential for physical harm beyond the sexual assault itself.

5.5% of rapists are in prison, either awaiting trial or serving sentences for their offenses.

According to our sexual predators statistics, the majority of sex perpetrators, 69.6% of the total, are released and subject to registration. Around 17.3% are under supervision, while 2.8% of offenders have absconded. Deceased offenders make up about 2%. Around 2.05% are on U.S. probation for crimes involving interstate or federal jurisdictions. Merely 0.08% have been deported from the U.S. following sex crime convictions. 0.06% are monitored by the Departments of Juvenile Justice.

The average sexual recidivism rate is 13.7%, while the average overall recidivism rate is 36.9%.

This suggests that individuals convicted of sexual offenses are less likely to re-offend than those convicted of other types of crimes.

Who is the common sex offense victim?

82% of sexual cases report victims with unknown gender.

Female victims form the second-largest category, representing 15% of registered victims. 3% of felonies are reported against male individuals.

Children aged 11-15 are at the highest risk of sexual abuse, making 28.86% of cases.

This is followed by those aged 10 and under, with 17.93% cases, and the 16-20 age group, with 18.67% cases.

There is a noticeable decline as the age increases: 21-25 years old accounts for 8.65% of victims, 26-30 years old for 6.08%victims, and it continues to decrease from there.

For older age groups, the numbers are lower: 51-55 years have 1.47% victims, 56-60 years have 1.10%, and 61-65 years have 0.70%.

Among those sex victims who arrive at emergency departments, the average age is 14 years for males and 19 years for females.

At an average age of 14 years, male victims are presented as particularly vulnerable at an early age. Conversely, female victims, with an average age of 19, underscore the critical issue of sexual violence among teenagers and young adults.

Most victims in the sexual crime list are White.

White victims make up 60.9% of the cases. Black individuals represent 25.9% of the victims. Amerindian victims constitute 12.5%, while Asian individuals are the least prone to sexual abuse and they constitute 0.5% of cases.

Pedophile statistics on child sexual abuse

• In most cases, abusers seldom use physical force to gain compliance from their kid victims. Mainly, they resort to deception and enticement. Abuse typically occurs within a long-term relationship between the offender and victim.
• More than 80% of adults convicted of rape admit to having committed child molestation.
• Similarly, at least 50% of those convicted for child molestation confess to having sexually assaulted adults.
• 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members. Only 7% of sexual violence cases against kids are conducted by strangers. 59% of offenders were acquaintances.

Interesting facts about sex offenders and offenses

The average cost for services rendered by emergency departments was $3,551.

When the sexual abuse occurred during pregnancy, the expenses were the highest, averaging $4,553. For patients paying out of pocket, for which hospitals might offer a discount, the charges came to an average of $3,673.

Sex offense is the most under-reported crime.

63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Only 12% of child sexual abuse instances are registered with the authorities.

The prevalence of false reporting in the USA is between 2% and 10%.

A study of eight U.S. communities found a 7.1% rate of false reports. A study of 136 sexual assault cases in Boston found a 5.9% rate of false reports. Other researchers studied 812 reports of sexual assault and found a 2.1% rate of false reports.

Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge are the most common car makes among convicted sexual offenders.

Ford is the most common vehicle make owned by 35.37% sexual predators. Chevrolet (29.24%), Dodge (13.75%), and Toyota (11.76%) are other popular choices. A significant number of vehicles are homemade (9.87%), which includes custom cars and modified vehicles.

Conclusion

Understanding the dynamics and statistics of sexual offenses is vital for the safety and well-being of communities. Nannostomus recognizes the importance of accessible and comprehensive information, which is why we offer a meticulously compiled sex offender registry derived from public sex offenders websites. Our database is invaluable for those who require up-to-date and detailed data on sex offenders. Contact us today to discuss how our sex offender registry can meet your specific needs.