Sexual Assaults

What to Do | How to Help | Reduce the Risk | Protect Children | Statistics | References

What do I do if I am sexually assaulted?
▪  Find a safe environment - anywhere away from the attacker. Ask a trusted friend stay with you for
   moral support.
▪  Preserve evidence of the attack - don't bathe or brush your teeth. Write down all the details you can
   recall about the attack and the attacker.
▪  Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE), for free, confidential counseling, 24 hours/day
▪  Get medical attention. Even with no physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of STDs and
   pregnancy. To preserve forensic evidence, ask the hospital to conduct a rape kit exam.
▪  Report the rape to law enforcement authorities. A counselor can provide the information you'll need
   understand the process.
▪  Remember it wasn't your fault.
▪  Recognize that healing from rape takes time. Give yourself the time you need.
▪  Know that it's never too late to call. Even if the attack happened years ago, the National Sexual Assault
   Hotline can still help. Many victims do not realize they need help until months or years later.

How can I help a friend who has been sexually assaulted?
▪  Listen. Be there. Don't be judgmental.
▪  Encourage your friend to seriously consider reporting the rape to law enforcement authorities. A counselor
   can provide the information your friend will need to make this decision.
▪  Be patient. Remember, it will take your friend some time to deal with the crime.
▪  Let your friend know that professional help is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
   Encourage him or her to call the hotline, but realize that only your friend can make the decision to get help.

 

What can I do to reduce my risk of sexual assault?
▪  Don't leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.
▪  When you go to a party, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, watch out for each other, and
   leave together.
▪  Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
▪  Don't allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don't know or trust.
▪  Think about the level of intimacy you want in a relationship, and clearly state your limits.

 

How can I protect my child from sexual assault?
▪  Communicate, communicate, communicate.
▪  Speak to your children using the proper names for their body parts. Armed with information, children are
   better able to report abuse to you.
▪  Teach your children about safe and unsafe touches, as well as what is appropriate physical affection.
▪  Let your children know that respect for elders doesn't extend to an adult that has made your child
   uncomfortable. It's OK to say no and it's OK to leave the situation.
▪  Trust your own instincts. If your instincts tell you something is wrong, follow-up.
▪  For information about Internet safety, download A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety from the FBI.
   The materials are available in English & Spanish.

 

Rape Statistics
Most of these statistics are from the National Center for Victim of Crime
▪  According to the victimization survey, 261,000 rapes and sexual assaults occurred in the U.S. in 2000.
▪  In 2000, 17% of rape or sexual assault victims were victimized by an intimate. Women were raped or
   sexually assaulted by an intimate more frequently than men (18% vs. 0%).
▪  Police recorded 90,186 incidents of forcible rape in 2000. Of these reports, 46.9% resulted in an arrest of
   at least one person.
▪  Findings from a study of 3,006 women revealed that a rape victim was 9 times more likely to receive timely
   medical care if she reported the assault to the police or other authorities. 3 out of 4 victims in this study
   who reported the rape to police received medical care whereas only 15% of rape victims who did not
   report the crime received post-rape medical care.
▪  The National College Women Victimization Study showed that 2.8% of college women experienced rape
   during the 6 month period in which the study was conducted. Of victims, 22.8% were victims of multiple
   rapes. If this data is calculated for a calendar year period, nearly 5% of college women are victimized by.
▪  Among college women, 9 in 10 victims of rape and sexual assault knew their offender. Almost 13% of
   completed rapes, 35% of attempted rapes, and 22.9% of threatened rapes happened during a date.
▪  Off-campus sexual victimization is much more common among college women than on-campus
   victimization. Of victims of completed rape 33.7% were victimized on campus, and 66.3% off campus.
▪  Less than 5% of completed or attempted rapes against college women were reported to law enforcement.
   However, in ²/₃ of the incidents the victim did tell another person, usually a friend, not family or school
   officials.
▪  Most campuses (79%) provide for formal disciplinary hearing for sexual assault cases, and 28% offer the
   option of an informal hearing.
▪  60% of institutions of higher learning allow the accused to bring an attorney to the hearing, while the same
   right is granted to 54% of victims. In 94% of institutions, hearings are closed.
▪  Preponderance of evidence is the standard used by just over half of the boards adjudicating sexual assault
   cases on campuses.

References
▪  American Medical Association. (1995). Strategies for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual
   Assault. Chicago, Ill.: American Medical Association.

▪  Bachman, Ronet & Linda Saltzman. (1995). Violence Against Women: Estimates from the
   Redesigned Survey. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of
   Justice Statistics.

▪  Benedict, Jeffrey. (1998). Athletes and Acquaintance Rape. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.

▪  Gonsiorek, John. (1995). Breach of Trust: Sexual Exploitation by Health Care Professionals and
   Clergy. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.

▪  Koss, Mary & Harvey, Mary. (1991). The Rape Victim: Clinical and Community Interventions.
   Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications.

▪  Lee, Sharice. (1995). The Survivor's Guide. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.

▪  Lefkowitz, Bernard. (1997). Our Guys: The Glen Ridge Rape and the Secret Life of the Perfect
   Suburb. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press.

▪  Marvin, Mary Jo. (1995). Preventing Violence Against Women: Not Just a Women's Issue.
   Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council.

▪  Mendel, Matthew Parynik. (1995). The Male Survivor: The Impact of Sexual Abuse. Thousand Oaks,
   Calif.: Sage Publications.

▪  National Center for Victims of Crime & Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center. (1992). Rape in
   America: A Report to the Nation. Arlington, VA: National Center for Victims of Crime.

▪  Pearlman, Laurie A. & Saakvitne, Karen. (1995). Trauma and the Therapist: Countertransference
   and Vicarious Traumatization in Psychotherapy with Incest Survivors. New York: Norton.

▪  Wiehe, Vernon & Richards, Ann. (1995). Intimate Betrayal: Understanding and Responding to the
   Trauma of Acquaintance Rape. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.