Child Sex Abuse and Youth Sexual Assault in SLCo

Salt Lake City, Utah — April marks both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is focusing on how those issues overlap, based on trends seen in local prosecutions and survivor experiences.
 
In 2025 alone, prosecutors filed 264 rape charges, including 82 charges where the victim-survivor was a minor. However, officials say those numbers do not fully capture the scope of the problem. Many survivors do not report abuse until years later, meaning some cases categorized as adult victims may involve abuse that occurred during childhood. Research helps explain why these cases can be difficult to detect and prosecute. Studies show about 90%[1] of children know the person who harmed them. These relationships can create fear, shame, and pressure not to report abuse.
 
Statewide data also underscores the scale of the issue. About 1 in 7 Utahns report experiencing sexual abuse before the age of 18, while nationally that number is only 1 in 9.  At the same time, public perception does not always reflect that reality: a 2023[2] survey by the Utah Women and Leadership Project found only 11% of respondents strongly agreed that child sexual abuse is a problem in their community. When they conducted the survey in 2024[3], that number grew only slightly to 12.5%. That gap between reality and perception can directly impact disclosure.
 
According to the SLCo DA’s office’s Survivor and Victim Services Division, some young survivors report not being believed when they first come forward. Research indicates that when children are believed and supported, they are more likely to disclose abuse and engage in the criminal justice process, improving the ability to hold offenders accountable and supporting long-term healing.
 
Prevention and early intervention often begin at home, where creating a safe environment for children to speak openly can play a critical role. At the same time, community resources are available for youth who may not feel safe disclosing abuse within their household. Salt Lake County Youth Services provides support for young people and families, including safe spaces and connections to trusted adults. The SLCo DA’s Office is also working with law enforcement to strengthen investigations and improve case outcomes through coordinated efforts.
 
 
As part of its broader effort to reduce barriers to reporting, the SLCo DA’s Office is collecting donations of new sheets and bed linens to provide to survivors when bedding must be taken as evidence during sexual assault investigations.
 
“Sex assault on children and youth in Utah happens, and though many may struggle to accept that, we have the data and, more importantly, the stories of survivors to help show it. Our prosecutors and advocates in our Survivor and Victim Services Division work every day with survivors of these crimes to help them receive the justice they deserve, and the help that we owe them as members of their community,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We hope the sheet drive we are holding helps raise awareness about sexual assault and the effects it has on survivors in their everyday lives, like when they go to sleep. We invite the community to come to our downtown Salt Lake City and West Jordan offices to donate sheets that can help give some relief, no matter how small, and ease the burden and stress on survivors of sexual assault.”