SEXUAL ASSUALT Your Agency

MYTHS AND FACTS MYTH FACT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME OF PASSION SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME OF VIOLENCE. ASSAILANTS SEEK TO DOMINATE, HUMILATE AND PUNISH THEIR VICTIMS

MYTHS AND FACTS MYTH FACT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS AN IMPULSIVE ACT MOST RAPES ARE PLANNED. OFTEN A RAPIST TAKES ADVANTAGE OF A WOMAN IN A VULNERABLE SITUATION (WALKING ALONE, INTOXICATED)

MYTHS AND FACTS MYTH FACT RAPISTS ARE ABNORMAL PERVERTS OR HAVE UNSATISFIED SEX DRIVES FACT MOST RAPISTS ARE MARRIED OR HAVE SEXUAL PARTNERS AND HAVE NORMAL SEX DRIVES. RAPE IS NOT AN EXPRESSION OF SEXUAL DESIRE, BUT A VIOLENT EXPRESSION OF ANGER AND FEELINGS OF BEING POWERLESS.

STATISTICS SEXUAL ASSAULT IS THE MOST RAPIDLY GROWING CRIME IN AMERICA. A WOMAN IS RAPED IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY MINUTE. 1 OUT OF EVERY 3 WOMEN WILL BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN HER LIFETIME.

STATISTICS 61% OF ALL FEMALE RAPE VICTIMS ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OLD. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE PERPETRATED BY FRIENDS, ACQUINANCES, INTIMATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

STATISTICS OVER 50% OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS OCCUR IN THE HOME. IN APPROXIMATELY 85% OF ALL ASSAULT CASES, SOME TYPE OF FORCE IS USED, WHETHER IT IS CHOKING, BEATING OR PLAIN PHYSICAL FORCE.

PROFILES OF RAPIST POWER REASSURANCE MOTIVATION THE FBI HAS ESTABLISHED 4 PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS FOR RAPISTS. WHILE MOST RAPIST WILL FIT INTO ONE OF THESE PROFILES, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PERSONALITIES, THERE IS NO ONE CORRECT CHARACTERISTIC FOR A PROFILE. SUSPECTS MAY EXHIBIT CHARACTERISTICS FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE PROFILES.

REDUCING YOUR RISK OF BECOMING A SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM THERE ARE THREE LOCATIONS WHERE A PERSON SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT: AT HOME ON THE STREET WHILE DRIVING

SAFETY AT HOME MAKE SURE ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS IN YOUR HOME CAN BE LOCKED SECURELY, PARTICULARLY SLIDING GLASS DOORS. KEEP ENTRANCES WELL LIGHTED. NEVER GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU ARE HOME ALONE IF STRANGERS CALL OR COME TO THE DOOR.

SAFETY AT HOME CHECK THE IDENTIFICATION OF ANY SALES OR REPAIR PERSON BEFORE LETTING HIM IN. COMMUNICATE WITH THEM WITH THE DOOR CLOSED AND VERIFY THEIR BUSINESS. DON’T LET ANY STRANGER INTO YOUR HOME - NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON OR EMERGENCY. OFFER TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY PHONE CALL WHILE THEY WAIT OUTSIDE.

SAFETY AT HOME INSTALL A DOOR VIEWER (PEEPHOLE) TO SEE WHO IS OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR WITHOUT OPENING IT. USE YOUR LAST NAME AN FIRST INITIAL ON YOUR MAILBOX. IF YOU COME HOME AND FIND A DOOR OR WINDOW OPEN OR SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY, DON’T GO IN. GO TO THE NEAREST PHONE AND CALL THE POLICE.

SAFETY ON THE STREET WALK CONFIDENTLY AT A STEADY PACE ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET THAT FACES TRAFFIC. WALK NEAR THE CURB AND AVOID PASSING CLOSE TO BUSHES, DOORWAYS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE A RAPIST COULD CONCEAL HIMSELF.

SAFETY ON THE STREET DON’T WALK AT NIGHT, IF POSSIBLE. AVOID SHORT CUTS THROUGH PARKING LOTS OR ALLEYS. STAY IN WELL-LIGHTED AREAS.

SAFETY ON THE STREET IF BEING FORCED INTO A VEHICE ON THE STREET, REMEMBER THAT YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING HELP IS BETTER THERE THAN IN THE DESERTED AREA THE RAPIST WILL TAKE YOU. ABOVE ALL, BE ALERT TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

SAFETY WHILE DRIVING DRIVE WITH ALL THE DOORS LOCKED. EXERCISE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN USING ENCLOSED GARAGES. PARK IN A WELL-LIGHTED AREA AND LOCK THE DOORS, EVEN IF YOU’LL ONLY BE GONE FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME.

SAFETY WHILE DRIVING BEFORE WALKING TO YOU CAR, CHECK THE PARKING LOT FOR SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE. IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN, PUT UP THE HOOD, LOCK THE DOORS, AND PUT YOUR FLASHERS ON. IF SOMEONE STOPS TO HELP, DON’T GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. ASK THEM TO CALL THE POLICE.

SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IF YOU ARE BEING FOLLOWED, DON’T GO HOME. GO TO THE NEAREST POLICE OR FIRE STATION AND HONK THE HORN. OR DRIVE TO AN OPEN BUSINESS OR GAS STATION WHERE YOU CAN SAFELY CALL THE POLICE. DON’T PICK UP HITCHHIKERS.

SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IF YOU HAVE A FLAT, DRIVE ON IT UNTIL YOU REACH A SAFE WELL-LIGHTED AND WELL-TRAVELED AREA. IF YOUR CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, LEAVE ONLY THE CAR KEY WITH THE REPAIR SHOP.

SURVIVING A SEXUAL ASSAULT

IF YOU ARE ATTACKED KEEP YOUR HEAD. STAY AS CALM AS POSSIBLE, THINK RATIONALLY AND EVALUATE YOUR RESOURCES AND OPTIONS. KEEP ASSESSING THE SITUATION AS IT IS HAPPENING, IF ONE STRATEGY DOESN’T WORK, TRY ANOTHER.

IF YOU ARE ATTACKED PASSIVE RESISTANCE TRY TO THINK AND TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THE SITUATION. TRY TO CALM THE ATTACKER. TRY TO DISCOURAGE THE ATTACKER BY PRETENDING TO FAINT OR CRY HYSTERICALLY.

YOUR GOAL IS TO ESCAPE, NOT TO WIN IF YOU ARE ATTACKED ACTIVE RESISTANCE TRY TO DISTRACT OR TEMPORARILY INJURE THE ATTACKER TO CREATE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ESCAPE. YOUR GOAL IS TO ESCAPE, NOT TO WIN

IF YOU ARE ATTACKED THE ATTACKER IS UNARMED A YELL CAN SURPRISE OR FRIGHTEN AN ATTACKER AWAY. FIGHT BACK IF YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY. BREAK AWAY AND RUN TOWARDS PEOPLE.

WHATEVER YOU DO, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOUR SURVIVAL REMEMBER IF ATTACKED, ESCAPE. IF TRAPPED, STAY ALIVE. IF ASSAULTED, MEMORIZE DETAILS. WHATEVER YOU DO, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOUR SURVIVAL

DATE RAPE

DATE RAPE ACQUAINTANCE OR DATE RAPE IS WHEN SOMEONE YOU KNOW OR ARE ON A DATE WITH FORCES YOU TO HAVE SEXUAL CONTACT OR INTERCOURSE. FORCE CAN INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM EMOTIONAL PRESSURE, TO PHYSICAL RESTRAINT, TO BEATING, TO THE THREAT OF HARM, EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT A WEAPON.

AFTER THE ATTACK IMMEDIATELY CALL THE POLICE DO NOT SHOWER, DOUCHE OR CHANGE CLOTHING. DO NOT DISTURB THE AREA WHERE THE ASSAULT OCCURRED. THE POLICE MAY REQUEST YOUR CLOTHING AS EVIDENCE.

AFTER THE ATTACK INFORM THE POLICE OF ALL DETAILS OF THE ATTACK, HOWEVER INTIMATE AND ANYTHING UNUSUAL YOU MAY HAVE NOTED ABOUT THE ATTACKER. REMEMBER WHAT THE PERSON SAID AND HOW IT WAS SAID.

AFTER THE ATTACK SHOW THE POLICE ANY EXTERNAL BRUISES OR INJURIES, HOWEVER MINOR, RESULTING FROM THE ATTACK. INFORM THE POLICE IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING THAT YOU DID NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORT.