A new report from High Rise Financial sheds light on the current state of violent victimization in the United States. While violent crime rates have slightly declined, dropping by 3 percent between 2022 and 2023, violence remains a serious issue. In 2023, an estimated 6.3 million violent victimizations were reported across the country.

That works out to 22.5 incidents per 1,000 people. However, that number only reflects reported cases. Many survivors don’t feel safe or supported enough to come forward, meaning the true number is likely even higher.

By sharing its findings, High Rise Financial hopes to raise awareness about the ongoing impact of violent crime. The goal is to help more people recognize the signs, seek support, and push for stronger prevention efforts.

What Counts as Violent Victimization?

Violent victimization covers a wide range of crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery, and assault. This particular study focused on various forms of assault, which can be broken into three main categories:

Simple Assault

This is the most common form of assault. It typically involves one person intentionally or recklessly causing harm to another. Weapons may or may not be involved. Intimidation and threats can also fall under this category. While often classified as a misdemeanor, the severity of charges can increase based on the situation and the accused person’s criminal record.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault refers to situations where serious bodily harm occurs. It doesn’t always involve a weapon, but the level of injury is what sets it apart from simple assault. These cases often happen in a victim’s home or on public roads. Aggravated assault is usually considered a felony.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault includes unwanted sexual contact, harassment, groping, and attempts to coerce or force someone into a sexual act. It is separate from rape, though the two can overlap. Sexual assault also includes non-consensual behavior directed toward someone who cannot legally give consent.

How Common Are These Crimes?

According to the U.S. Department of Justice:

• Simple assault accounted for 18 percent of all crimes, with a rate of 13.8 incidents per 1,000 people over the age of 12. That adds up to 3.9 million cases.
• Aggravated assault was reported at a rate of 4.5 per 1,000, totaling 1.27 million cases in 2023.
• Sexual assault occurred at a rate of 1.7 per 1,000, with around 481,000 incidents.

These figures offer only a partial view. Many people choose not to report due to fear, shame, or mistrust of law enforcement or legal systems.

States With the Highest and Lowest Assault Rates

Some states consistently report more violent crimes than others. According to The Council of State Governments Justice Center, the states with the most reported assault cases in 2023 were:

• California: 198,036 cases
• Texas: 123,856 cases
• New York: 76,298 cases
• Florida: 65,621 cases
• Michigan: 45,888 cases

On the other end of the spectrum, the fewest reported assaults came from:

• Rhode Island: 1,839 cases
• New Hampshire: 1,503 cases
• Maine: 1,430 cases
• Vermont: 1,362 cases
• Wyoming: 1,116 cases

Again, it’s important to remember that these numbers don’t always reflect reality. Survivors who don’t report their experiences are not counted, which can lead to misleadingly low totals.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Violent victimization doesn’t affect everyone equally. According to the study, both men and women experience violence, but the numbers show that women reported 3.5 million cases, while men reported 2.8 million.

The highest rates of victimization were reported among young adults. People between the ages of 18 and 24 experienced violence at a rate of 43.9 per 1,000. Those between 25 and 34 followed closely with 33.2 cases per 1,000.

The Williams Institute further noted that transgender individuals are four times more likely to face violent victimization than cisgender individuals. This highlights the added risk that marginalized groups often face.

Relationship to the Offender

In many cases, survivors don’t know or don’t disclose their relationship to the offender. In 2023:

• 600,000 cases involved unclear relationships
• 460,000 cases involved strangers
• 336,195 cases involved romantic partners

This data shows that violence doesn’t just come from strangers; it often comes from people close to the victim, which can make it even harder to report.

Why Sharing This Data Matters

Making these statistics public helps shine a light on an issue that too often goes ignored or misunderstood. The more we talk about violent victimization, the closer we get to making meaningful changes. Education, awareness, and advocacy are powerful tools in creating safer communities for everyone.