The data are divided into two sections, one dealing with rapes and one with nonrape assaults. For the purpose of this report, rape is defined as assault involving the penile penetration or the attempted penetration of a body orifice of the victim or the offender. Although most of the information focuses on the characteristics of sexual assaults as distinguished from all assaults statewide, the report also presents the number of reported sexual assaults by municipality and by county. For rapes, data cover rape victim characteristics, rape offender characteristics, rape characteristics (location, time of day, time of year, use of weapon, victim injury), relationship of rape offenders to victims, and arrests of rape offenders and law enforcement dispositions. Similar information is provided for nonrape sexual assaults. Rapes and nonrape assaults are compared. The 1988 data reaffirm findings from past years. The average victim of a sexual assault is quite young, and the offender is usually known to the victim. This is generally true for both rape and nonrape assaults, although rape victims tend to be older than nonrape assault victims. 38 tables, 26 graphs.