Education and Prevention

Thank you for visiting the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). On this site, you may encounter information about sex offenders living near you or your loved ones. An informed public is a safer one, and information will help you make better choices. What does it mean to live, work, or attend a school near a sex offender’s residence? What are the real threats to you or your children’s safety? What should you do if you suspect abuse is occurring or has occurred? All of these questions may come to mind as you view the results of your queries to this Website. The information contained on this portion of NSOPW will assist you in learning the facts about sexual abuse and help you protect yourself and loved ones from potential victimization. Below, you will find information organized into three groups:  children, teens, and adults. Each section is prefaced by facts, which are followed by prevention and education materials and additional links to resources designed to assist parents and caregivers.

Children Teens Adults


Arrow Adults

Facts:

The National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS)16 found:
  • 18% of surveyed women and 3% of surveyed men were raped at some point in their lifetime.
  • 19% of minority women and 18% of nonminority women reported a rape at some point in their lifetime.
  • American Indian/Alaska Native women are significantly more likely than women from all other backgrounds to have been raped at some point in their lifetime.
  • 54% of female victims and 71% of male victims were first raped before their 18th birthday.
  • 29% of female victims and 17% of male victims were 18 to 24 years old when they were first raped.
  • 17% of female victims and 12% of male victims were 25 or older.
  • Although most rape victims identified by NVAWS were under the age of 18 when they were first raped, the survey found that more women were raped as adults than as children or adolescents.
Adult Female

If you are a victim of sexual assault:17 Try to get to a place where you feel safe. Reach out for support. Call someone you trust, like a friend or family member. You are not alone; there are people who can give you the support you need. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE—your call is free and is anonymous and confidential. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Medical care is important to address any injuries you may have and to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Most important, know that the assault is not your fault.

You have the right to:

  • Be treated with respect and dignity.
  • Privacy. That means you can refuse to answer any questions about the sexual assault, your sexual orientation, your sexual history, your medical history (including HIV status), and your mental health history.
  • Have your conversations with a sexual assault counselor/advocate remain confidential.
  • Decide whether or not you want to report the assault to the police.
  • Not be judged based on your race, age, class, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • Have a sexual assault counselor/advocate accompany you to medical, law enforcement, and legal proceedings.
  • Request that someone you are comfortable with stay with you in the examination room.
  • Ask questions and get answers regarding any tests, exams, medications, treatments, or police reports.
  • Be considered a victim/survivor of sexual assault, regardless of the offender’s relationship to you.

If you are considering filing a police report:

  • Try not to bathe, shower, change your clothes, eat, drink, smoke, gargle, or urinate prior to the exam.
  • Seek medical attention for an exam and evidence collection as soon as possible after the assault.
  • Bring a change of clothes with you.
  • You have the right to have a sexual assault counselor/advocate with you during your medical exam.
  • Reporting to the police is your choice.

As a victim/survivor of sexual assault, you may have some of the following feelings:

  • Anger, fear, guilt
  • Loss of control, powerlessness, embarrassment
  • Depression, isolation, denial
  • Shame, disbelief, self-blame, emotional shock

You may experience some or all of the above feelings. This is natural and every victim/survivor of sexual assault responds differently. Remember, you are not alone and you are not to blame for what happened.

How to help.18 If someone you care about is sexually assaulted, you may feel angry, confused, and helpless. There are several things you can do to help in the healing process and provide the support your loved one needs.

  • Believe the victim/survivor unconditionally. Accept what you hear without judgment.
  • Reinforce to the victim/survivor that it is not his or her fault. Sexual assault is NEVER the victim/survivor’s fault. It is important not to ask “why” questions, such as “Why were you in that area at that time?” that suggest that they are to blame for the assault.
  • Understand that you cannot control how the victim/survivor feels or “fix” the problem. Everyone reacts differently to sexual assault and heals at their own pace. It is important that you not assume you know how they are feeling—almost any reaction is possible and completely normal.
  • Be a good listener and be patient. Let the victim/survivor know you are there for them when they are ready to talk. When and if the victim/survivor does want to talk about the assault, do not push for information. Let them tell you what they are comfortable sharing in their own time.
  • Help the victim/survivor regain a sense of control over their life. During a sexual assault, power is taken away from the victim/survivor. Support decisions and choices the victim/survivor makes without passing judgment. Try not to tell the victim/survivor what to do; instead assist by presenting options and resources for them to make the decision that is right for them.
  • Respect the victim/survivor’s need for privacy. If the victim/survivor needs to be alone, respect that decision.
  • Do not suggest that the victim/survivor “move on” with their life and forget about the rape. The victim/survivor needs the opportunity to work through the trauma of the assault and begin the healing process.
  • Respect the victim/survivor’s right to decide whether or not to report the assault to the police.
  • Remember to take care of yourself—seek support if you need it. You will be better able to support the victim/survivor.

If you need help or support, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE, operated by The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Your call is anonymous and confidential. You may also contact a counselor using the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. The online hotline provides live, secure, anonymous crisis support for victims of sexual assault, their friends, and families. Both resources are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like to search for a specific crisis center in your area, visit http://centers.rainn.org.

Materials:

Additional Resources:

  • The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act. OVW maintains resources for victims of sexual assault, including state sexual assault coalition listings.

  • RAINN provides Free Online Training for Crisis Centers and Volunteers on helping victims of sexual assault. RAINN provides the service at no charge to 1,100 local rape crisis center affiliates and their thousands of staff and volunteers.

  • The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) utilizes a comprehensive grassroots communication network to shape national policy related to sexual violence and victims' needs; ensure funding for rape crisis programs and sexual assault coalitions; and provide expertise to governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations addressing sexual violence in all of its forms.

  • Centers for Disease Control Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program: The RPE program encourages the development of comprehensive prevention strategies through a continuum of activities that address all levels of the social ecological model. It is important that these activities are developmentally appropriate for the audience and are conducted at different life stages. This approach is more likely to prevent sexual violence across a lifetime than any single intervention or policy change.

  • The National Center for Victims of Crime is dedicated to forging a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. The National Center's toll-free Helpline, (800) FYI-CALL, offers supportive counseling, practical information about crime and victimization, and referrals to local community resources, as well as skilled advocacy in the criminal justice and social service systems.

  • The Office for Victims of Crime makes available on their Website an Online Directory of Crime Victim Services, a resource designed to help service providers and individuals locate nonemergency crime victim service agencies in the United States and abroad.

  • VAWnet, the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women. VAWnet’s Sexual Violence section offers effective strategies, and reliable, culturally relevant tools are necessary to bring about heightened public awareness and the focused societal commitment necessary to end violence against women. This area provides resources to support prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and social change education activities that identify and address factors that perpetuate and increase risk of sexual violence.

  • The National Sexual Violence Resource Center serves as the nation’s principal information and resource center regarding all aspects of sexual violence. It provides national leadership, consultation, and technical assistance by generating and facilitating the development and flow of information on sexual violence intervention and prevention strategies. The NSVRC works to address the causes and impact of sexual violence through collaboration, prevention efforts, and the distribution of resources.

Arrow References

  1. Tjaden, P. and Thoennes, N. "Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings From the National Violence Against Women Survey." Special Report. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006.
  2. Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. http://www.connsacs.org/seeksupport/assaulted.htm.
  3. Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. http://www.connsacs.org/seeksupport/friend_assaulted.htm.

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