Sexual assault is a complex crime which forensic psychological research has only just begun to understand and explain. This chapter overviews some of the key areas for consideration by practitioners and researchers. The current thinking involves considering five factors, the first of which is attrition, which refers to cases being lost or dropped from various stages in the criminal justice system. The second factor is court issues: the question of consent and the witness testimony. The third is rape myths, which are particularly problematic because they support stereotypical notions of rape. Victim-focused approaches seek to understand rape according to the offender's preference for a certain age of victim, and the relationship between the victim and offender. The fifth factor is the use of drugs or alcohol to commit sexual assault; the relationship between alcohol use and sexual assault is complex and requires further investigation.