sciencegirl
03-26-2008, 01:08 PM
Sexual assault is any physical contact of a sexual nature without voluntary consent.
While associated with rape, sexual assault is much broader and the specifics may vary according to social, political or legal definition.
Perpetrators may include, but are not limited to, strangers, acquaintances, superiors, legal entities (as in the case of torture), or family members. Both male and female sex predators can commit sexual assault against same-sex or opposite-sex victims or both. Generally, victims are more likely to be assaulted by an acquaintance (such as a friend or co-worker), an intimate partner, or a family member than by a complete stranger. The act is sometimes accomplished by force sufficient to cause physical injury. More often, the act is accomplished by psychological coercion alone, with no overt physical injuries to the victim. However, even when no lasting physical injury is sustained, the psychological damage done by this form of intimate violation may be substantial. Psychological damage is often particularly severe when sexual assault is committed by parents against children due to the incestuous nature of the assault.
Wickipedia
Statistics
1 in 5 women will be the victim of completed or attempted sexual assault or abuse during her lifetime. (Koss, 1996)
A woman is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes. (US Dept. of Justice, 2000)
_ One in two rape victims is under 18 years old
_ One in six rape victims is under 12 years old
54% of rapes and sexual assaults are ever reported nationally. Locally, the numbers are much lower. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
_ The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private matter and fear of reprisal by the assailant.
69% of female victims were raped or sexually assaulted by people they know. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
_ 57% were raped by acquaintances
_ 10% were raped by husbands or boyfriends
_ 2% were raped by other relatives
The relationship of victim to perpetrator was unknown in about 3% of cases.
1 in 6 men and boys over 12 are victims of attempted or completed sexual abuse or sexual assault. (Mathews, 1996 and Hopper, 2002)
_ Numbers are uncertain because the stigma attached to rape and sexual abuse is even greater for men.
_ More research needs to be done in the US.
In 2002, more than 31,000 men and boys over 12 were victims of completed or attempted rape or sexual assault.
(National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
25% of child sexual abuse victims are boys. Of those, about 30% are between the ages of 4 and 7 years.
(Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Maltreatment, 1995)
The US Department of Justice estimated that the out-of-pocket expenses of rape are $7.5 billion per year. (Miller, 1996)
_ When pain, suffering and lost quality of life were given a monetary value, the annual costs of rape reached $127 billion.
_ Few of these costs are ever compensated.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
What To Do If You Are Sexually Assaulted
Go to a safe place.
If you want to report the crime, notify the police immediately. Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control.
Call a friend, a family member, or someone else you trust who can be with you and give you support.
Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands, or brush your teeth until after you have had a medical examination. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not clean or disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
Get medical care as soon as possible. Go to a hospital emergency department or a specialized forensic clinic that provides treatment for sexual assault victims. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault. Having a medical exam is also a way for you to preserve physical evidence of a sexual assault.
If you suspect that you may have been given a "rape drug," ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take a urine sample. Drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood.
Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.
Get information whenever you have questions or concerns. After a sexual assault, you have a lot of choices and decisions to make - e.g., about getting medical care, making a police report, and telling other people. You may have concerns about the impact of the assault and the reactions of friends and family members. You can get information by calling a rape crisis center, a hotline, or other victim assistance agencies.
Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims. Counseling can help you learn how to cope with the emotional and physical impacts of the assault. You can find a counselor by contacting a local rape crisis center, a hotline, a counseling service, other victim assistance agencies, or RAINN. RAINN is a national victim assistance organization, at 1-800-656-HOPE. RAINN will connect you to a rape crisis center in your area.
Rape Treatment Center-
UCLA Medical Center
The Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit
If you are sexually assaulted, it is important to remember to go to a hospital emergency room; as they are specifically trained in the collection of sexual assault evidence. If you present to your local urgent care or your personal care physician, they will refer you to the local emergency room.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to refrain from showering, bathing, douching, eating or drinking, washing your hands, or brushing your teeth before you have a medical examination. If at all possible; do not urinate or defecate before your medical exam. By doing so, valuable forensic evidence is lost and will hinder future prosecution.
Most states have standardized sexual assault evidence collection kits which are developed by the state police and their crime laboratory. The state police are involved in the training of doctors and nurses in emergency rooms on the proper collection of sexual assault evidence.
If at all possible; present to the emergency room in the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. The emergency room is equipped with paper bags to collect your clothing. If you must change your clothing; place each individual piece into a separate paper bag and take it with you to the emergency room. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.
What is involved in the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit?
You will first be asked to disrobe over a large sheet provided by the hospital or large paper sheet provided in the kit. This sheet is used to collect any falling debris; such as fibers, grass, dirt, etc., while you are disrobing. Your clothing will then be placed in separate paper bags.
Three swabs (2 each) will then be collected from three orifices. The mouth, the vagina, and the rectal area. The swabbing of the mouth will occur first and then you will be able to drink water and clean out your mouth, in case of an oral assault.The three swabs will be allowed to dry and will then be placed in separate paper envelopes marked Oral, Vaginal, and Rectal. They will be sealed, initialed and dated.
Head and pubic combings and head and pubic hair pulls will occur next. This is for the scientists to determine if there are any foreign head or pubic hairs. It varies from state to state, but the maximum number of pulled head hairs range from 25-50 and pulled pubic hairs range from 15-25. You have the option of doing this yourself; or the nurse will do it for you if you like. The hair comings and pulled head hairs will be placed in separate envelopes marked hair comings and pubic hair comings. They will be sealed, initialed and dated.
An additional two swabs will be used to swab over other areas of the body where evidence may be; i.e., if the perpetrator ejaculated on the thigh or elsewhere on the body; or around the breast area for saliva. These swabs are only collected based on the information provided by the victim. The swabs will be left to dry and then will be placed in an envelope, sealed, initialed and dated.
The next process is a blood draw. Blood will be drawn and placed in a purple top and a red top tube. The purple top tube will sealed, initialed, and dated and placed back into the evidence collection kit. The red top tube will be used by the hospital to check for pregnancy and or sexually transmitted diseases.
The final part of the evidence collection process is fingernail scrapings. A wooden stick will be scraped underneath each of your fingernails. The fingernails scrapings and the stick will be placed into two separate envelopes marked left hand and right hand. The envelope will sealed, initialed and dated.
All of the above evidence will be placed back into the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit. You will then be asked to sign an Authorization to Release the kit to the local police agency. This form and other forms will be placed into the kit. The kit will be sealed with evidence tape, initialed and dated. The kit will be turned over to the responding officer who will in turn take it to the local crime laboratory for analysis.
As you can see by the statistics; most women are sexually assaulted by someone they know. Due to shock and fear of the assault, many women are unsure if they want to press charges while at the emergency room. It is important to know; that the police do not have to be called while at the hospital; unless of course, the assault involves a child. Then it is mandatory. Should you decide not to release the kit at the time of evidence collection; the hospital is required to keep the kit refrigerated for at least two weeks; to allow the victim time to decide if she will press charges. If the victim decides within the two weeks to press charges; she can then go back to the emergency room and sign the authorization and release it to the police officer. At that time, you will be interviewed by a police officer and an investigation will begin.
Do keep in mind, however, that it is best to call the police immediately; to ensure your recollection of events is recorded accurately and precisely, especially if this is stranger sexual assault, and to ensure the evidence collection kit isnt accidentally lost by the emergency room.
REMEMBER: SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE IS NOT ABOUT SEX. IT IS ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL Sciencegirl
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips
Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
If you are walking after dark; have a friend go with you. If thats not possible; always walk confidently and quickly to your location.
If you are attacked; use your common sense and dont panic.
Scream, yell, and kick. Did you know the strongest part of a woman's body is the elbow? Use it.
If your attacker wants your purse or your keys, throw them over his head and then run in the opposite direction.
If you are driving on country roads or less traveled roads and police are trying to get you to pull over; drive to the nearest well lit area then stop. This is your right.
If you dont have a home alarm and have a car alarm; place your extra set of keys next to your bedside. If someone tries to break in; the whole neighborhood will wake up.
If you are placed in a vehicle by your attacker, leave evidence behind. Try to leave fingerprints on the inside and outside of the vehicle. Lightly pull on your hair and leave hair strands behind. Put a couple of fingers in your mouth and leave saliva somewhere in the car.
Always have your car and house keys in your hand when you are about to use them. Dont be vulnerable searching through your purse.
Always park in well lit areas.
NEVER offer to let anyone come in your home to use the phone. Tell them you will make the call for them. Even if its a woman who is asking. They could be working in pairs.
Sciencegirl
While associated with rape, sexual assault is much broader and the specifics may vary according to social, political or legal definition.
Perpetrators may include, but are not limited to, strangers, acquaintances, superiors, legal entities (as in the case of torture), or family members. Both male and female sex predators can commit sexual assault against same-sex or opposite-sex victims or both. Generally, victims are more likely to be assaulted by an acquaintance (such as a friend or co-worker), an intimate partner, or a family member than by a complete stranger. The act is sometimes accomplished by force sufficient to cause physical injury. More often, the act is accomplished by psychological coercion alone, with no overt physical injuries to the victim. However, even when no lasting physical injury is sustained, the psychological damage done by this form of intimate violation may be substantial. Psychological damage is often particularly severe when sexual assault is committed by parents against children due to the incestuous nature of the assault.
Wickipedia
Statistics
1 in 5 women will be the victim of completed or attempted sexual assault or abuse during her lifetime. (Koss, 1996)
A woman is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes. (US Dept. of Justice, 2000)
_ One in two rape victims is under 18 years old
_ One in six rape victims is under 12 years old
54% of rapes and sexual assaults are ever reported nationally. Locally, the numbers are much lower. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
_ The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private matter and fear of reprisal by the assailant.
69% of female victims were raped or sexually assaulted by people they know. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
_ 57% were raped by acquaintances
_ 10% were raped by husbands or boyfriends
_ 2% were raped by other relatives
The relationship of victim to perpetrator was unknown in about 3% of cases.
1 in 6 men and boys over 12 are victims of attempted or completed sexual abuse or sexual assault. (Mathews, 1996 and Hopper, 2002)
_ Numbers are uncertain because the stigma attached to rape and sexual abuse is even greater for men.
_ More research needs to be done in the US.
In 2002, more than 31,000 men and boys over 12 were victims of completed or attempted rape or sexual assault.
(National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept. of Justice, 2003)
25% of child sexual abuse victims are boys. Of those, about 30% are between the ages of 4 and 7 years.
(Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Maltreatment, 1995)
The US Department of Justice estimated that the out-of-pocket expenses of rape are $7.5 billion per year. (Miller, 1996)
_ When pain, suffering and lost quality of life were given a monetary value, the annual costs of rape reached $127 billion.
_ Few of these costs are ever compensated.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
What To Do If You Are Sexually Assaulted
Go to a safe place.
If you want to report the crime, notify the police immediately. Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control.
Call a friend, a family member, or someone else you trust who can be with you and give you support.
Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands, or brush your teeth until after you have had a medical examination. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not clean or disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
Get medical care as soon as possible. Go to a hospital emergency department or a specialized forensic clinic that provides treatment for sexual assault victims. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault. Having a medical exam is also a way for you to preserve physical evidence of a sexual assault.
If you suspect that you may have been given a "rape drug," ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take a urine sample. Drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood.
Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.
Get information whenever you have questions or concerns. After a sexual assault, you have a lot of choices and decisions to make - e.g., about getting medical care, making a police report, and telling other people. You may have concerns about the impact of the assault and the reactions of friends and family members. You can get information by calling a rape crisis center, a hotline, or other victim assistance agencies.
Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims. Counseling can help you learn how to cope with the emotional and physical impacts of the assault. You can find a counselor by contacting a local rape crisis center, a hotline, a counseling service, other victim assistance agencies, or RAINN. RAINN is a national victim assistance organization, at 1-800-656-HOPE. RAINN will connect you to a rape crisis center in your area.
Rape Treatment Center-
UCLA Medical Center
The Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit
If you are sexually assaulted, it is important to remember to go to a hospital emergency room; as they are specifically trained in the collection of sexual assault evidence. If you present to your local urgent care or your personal care physician, they will refer you to the local emergency room.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to refrain from showering, bathing, douching, eating or drinking, washing your hands, or brushing your teeth before you have a medical examination. If at all possible; do not urinate or defecate before your medical exam. By doing so, valuable forensic evidence is lost and will hinder future prosecution.
Most states have standardized sexual assault evidence collection kits which are developed by the state police and their crime laboratory. The state police are involved in the training of doctors and nurses in emergency rooms on the proper collection of sexual assault evidence.
If at all possible; present to the emergency room in the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. The emergency room is equipped with paper bags to collect your clothing. If you must change your clothing; place each individual piece into a separate paper bag and take it with you to the emergency room. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.
What is involved in the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit?
You will first be asked to disrobe over a large sheet provided by the hospital or large paper sheet provided in the kit. This sheet is used to collect any falling debris; such as fibers, grass, dirt, etc., while you are disrobing. Your clothing will then be placed in separate paper bags.
Three swabs (2 each) will then be collected from three orifices. The mouth, the vagina, and the rectal area. The swabbing of the mouth will occur first and then you will be able to drink water and clean out your mouth, in case of an oral assault.The three swabs will be allowed to dry and will then be placed in separate paper envelopes marked Oral, Vaginal, and Rectal. They will be sealed, initialed and dated.
Head and pubic combings and head and pubic hair pulls will occur next. This is for the scientists to determine if there are any foreign head or pubic hairs. It varies from state to state, but the maximum number of pulled head hairs range from 25-50 and pulled pubic hairs range from 15-25. You have the option of doing this yourself; or the nurse will do it for you if you like. The hair comings and pulled head hairs will be placed in separate envelopes marked hair comings and pubic hair comings. They will be sealed, initialed and dated.
An additional two swabs will be used to swab over other areas of the body where evidence may be; i.e., if the perpetrator ejaculated on the thigh or elsewhere on the body; or around the breast area for saliva. These swabs are only collected based on the information provided by the victim. The swabs will be left to dry and then will be placed in an envelope, sealed, initialed and dated.
The next process is a blood draw. Blood will be drawn and placed in a purple top and a red top tube. The purple top tube will sealed, initialed, and dated and placed back into the evidence collection kit. The red top tube will be used by the hospital to check for pregnancy and or sexually transmitted diseases.
The final part of the evidence collection process is fingernail scrapings. A wooden stick will be scraped underneath each of your fingernails. The fingernails scrapings and the stick will be placed into two separate envelopes marked left hand and right hand. The envelope will sealed, initialed and dated.
All of the above evidence will be placed back into the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit. You will then be asked to sign an Authorization to Release the kit to the local police agency. This form and other forms will be placed into the kit. The kit will be sealed with evidence tape, initialed and dated. The kit will be turned over to the responding officer who will in turn take it to the local crime laboratory for analysis.
As you can see by the statistics; most women are sexually assaulted by someone they know. Due to shock and fear of the assault, many women are unsure if they want to press charges while at the emergency room. It is important to know; that the police do not have to be called while at the hospital; unless of course, the assault involves a child. Then it is mandatory. Should you decide not to release the kit at the time of evidence collection; the hospital is required to keep the kit refrigerated for at least two weeks; to allow the victim time to decide if she will press charges. If the victim decides within the two weeks to press charges; she can then go back to the emergency room and sign the authorization and release it to the police officer. At that time, you will be interviewed by a police officer and an investigation will begin.
Do keep in mind, however, that it is best to call the police immediately; to ensure your recollection of events is recorded accurately and precisely, especially if this is stranger sexual assault, and to ensure the evidence collection kit isnt accidentally lost by the emergency room.
REMEMBER: SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE IS NOT ABOUT SEX. IT IS ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL Sciencegirl
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips
Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
If you are walking after dark; have a friend go with you. If thats not possible; always walk confidently and quickly to your location.
If you are attacked; use your common sense and dont panic.
Scream, yell, and kick. Did you know the strongest part of a woman's body is the elbow? Use it.
If your attacker wants your purse or your keys, throw them over his head and then run in the opposite direction.
If you are driving on country roads or less traveled roads and police are trying to get you to pull over; drive to the nearest well lit area then stop. This is your right.
If you dont have a home alarm and have a car alarm; place your extra set of keys next to your bedside. If someone tries to break in; the whole neighborhood will wake up.
If you are placed in a vehicle by your attacker, leave evidence behind. Try to leave fingerprints on the inside and outside of the vehicle. Lightly pull on your hair and leave hair strands behind. Put a couple of fingers in your mouth and leave saliva somewhere in the car.
Always have your car and house keys in your hand when you are about to use them. Dont be vulnerable searching through your purse.
Always park in well lit areas.
NEVER offer to let anyone come in your home to use the phone. Tell them you will make the call for them. Even if its a woman who is asking. They could be working in pairs.
Sciencegirl