Sexual Assault

Definition of Sexual Assault:

• Any unwanted sexual activity (rape, fondling, groping, flashing, peeping Tom, molesting, etc.)
• Sexual assault is sexual behaviors and actions that one person does to another person against their will.  It is any unwanted sexual touch on top of or underneath clothing, contact, intrusion and/or penetration without the consent of another person.  It is an act of dominance, power and control.  If you have sexual intercourse with a person against her or his will or without her or his consent, whether or not you use force, it's sexual assault.  Threats of violence, coercion, retribution or dire harm; kidnapping; physical assault; use of weapons; taking advantage of someone who's impaired or unconscious through the use of alcohol or drugs; taking advantage of someone who's underage or physically/mentally helpless (i.e., a person under the age of 14, in invalid, someone who's mental functioning doesn't permit them to make a conscious choice, someone who's in custody or confined by law or health problems) compounds the severity of the crime.

All About Consent:

• Consent is cooperation in act/attitude pursuant to exercise of free will and knowledge of the nature of the act. A person must be 14 years old, of sound mind and body, not impaired by illness, drugs, or alcohol, and not forced to give consent.
• Age of Consent is 15. It’s illegal for someone who is more than four years older to have sex with a 15-year-old. If someone is 16-17, the partner can’t be more than 10 years older.
• What constitutes legal consent? Both parties must actively give their consent to sexual activity. This means to ask before doing. Neither person can be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Neither can be mentally disabled, passed out or asleep. Both people must have equal power in the relationship.
• REMEMBER If you use force, threats, coercion, or intimidation, get someone drunk or high, slip them a drug or usE a weapon in order to have sex with them, It is not consent.

Signs of Sexual Assault:

• Under Construction.

Facts about Sexual Assault:

• One in every 3.5 females is forced to participate in sexual activities against her will.
• More than 80% of these sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance—often a date or a boyfriend.
• More than half of sexual assaults go unreported
• At least 50% of college students’ sexual assaults involve  alcohol and/or drugs.
• College-age women are more at-risk of sexual assault than women in any other age group.

If you are Sexually Assaulted:

1. Trust yourself and your instincts, even if you were drinking or can’t remember fully what happened.
2. If you decide to Report the assault, put all clothing in a brown paper bag and DO NOT SHOWER or douche.  This will help preserve evidence.  It’s best to call police to come to the scene
3. Get medical attention for injuries, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV.
4. Call Tu Casa for support and resources.  We can provide options, counseling, and help in the criminal justice process.  Remember that it was not your fault.

If you are Raped:

1. Get to a safe place.
2. Seek medical attention for injuries, pregnancy, STDs.
3. Call a crisis hotline for ongoing support and assistance
4. If you’ve been raped, DON’T SHOWER! Forensic evidence is all over your body, on your clothes, under your fingernails, in your hair. Trained medical personnel should perform a sexual assault examination to collect this evidence if you want to pursue legal recourse.

5. Report the crime to the police.

6. Seek counseling from trained professionals. EMDR therapy has been shown to be highly effective for people who’ve experienced trauma.
7. Take care of yourself.  Give yourself time to heal. Don’t expect to “just get over it.” Be gentle with yourself. "

If you are stalked or attacked:

• If you are alone in your house or another location, go immediately to where other people are. Run out the door to a neighbor’s. Crawl out a window onto the roof. If you’re in the car, drive to a diner or convenience store. Go where there are lights and other people.

• If a stranger asks for your help, say “No” and keep walking. Don’t be afraid to seem rude by not helping. Do not get close to a vehicle to look at a photo or show a spot on a map.
• If you are being held against your will or being forced into a car, attract help from other people in any way you can: scream “NO!” or “GET AWAY FROM ME!” (Sometimes screaming “FIRE” works even better.) React in a physical way as soon as you can: create a disturbance, scream, throw things, blow the horn. You can't count on others coming to your aid, but you want to appeal to his fear of getting caught and make him think that someone could hear you and be coming.
• Keep a barrier between you and the bad guy. Keep your doors locked. Stay in your car. Use pepper spray.
• If a robber asks for your wallet or purse, don’t hand it to him. Toss it away from you. Chances are he’s more interested in your wallet/purse than you, and he’ll go for it, giving you a chance to RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

• If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit a running target 4 in 100 times, and even then, it most likely will not be in a vital organ. RUN!

• Use your strongest weapons against his weakest targets. His weakest targets are his eyes, throat, groin and knees, face and abdomen. Your strongest weapons are kicks using the bottom of your feet or heels, your elbows, hammer fists and palm heel strikes. The elbow is the strongest point on your body.  If you’re close enough to use it, DO SO!

• If assaulted and--even with a gun--told to get in a car, don't. Drop to the ground, squirm and make yourself heavy to prevent him from carrying you away. The criminal will have more control if you do and you won't come back.
• If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and  stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but  everybody else will. This has saved lives.

• Take every opportunity you can to learn more about self-defense and to practice the techniques you learn. Even an hour long session can give you the tools you need to keep safe.

• If anyone hurts you or makes you feel bad, tell an adult you trust. If they can’t, don’t or won’t help you, tell another adult. Even if the person hurting you is someone you know and thought you could trust, keep asking for help until you get it.