Coping with Sexual Assault: A Guide to Resolution, Healing ...

Chances are, you are reading this because you or someone you care about has been raped. This booklet is for any adult with visual impairments who has ever been the victim of sexual assault. It is also a 2,

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good resource for family members, friends, partners or spouses to learn more about supporting their loved one through this difficult time. To begin, here are a few important facts about sexual assault that may be helpful to know.

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Coping with Sexual Assault

Rape is a crime that hurts people from all kinds

of backgrounds and abilities. Victims of sexual

assault include: men and women; old and young;

rich and poor; heterosexuals and homosexuals;

persons persons

with

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atl-ieosr;

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ethnic backgrounds; and

persons who are home-

e,

less or in hospitals, institutions, or prisons. No

matter what your background or situation, rape is

a personal violation.

exual assa

if ferent

Yet, it is never the victim's fault that the assault happened. You may choose to leave your window open on a summer night, go for a walk alone, get drunk at a party, go home with someone you just met, or say no to your spouse, partner or date about sex. None of these actions gives anyone the right to violate you. However, many rape victims do blame themselves for different reasons. It is important to remember, just like any other crime, the offender is responsible and to blame. You did not cause this to happen by anything you did or said.

Introduction

eserves to

You do not have to deal with this alone. There

are many different resources available to help.

This booklet offers

general information

e

about some of the

medical, emotional,

and legal issues. This

information will be

useful whether you were recently assaulted or

if you were assaulted a long time ago. Since

services and laws vary from state to state, you

may want to check with an agency in your area

for more information.

e

You have a right to be informed about your choices in medical care, the court system, your legal rights, and counseling options. With this

information, you will be able to make the decisions that are best for you and your future.

Getting assistance under the

Americans With Disabilities Act . . . . . . 2

ence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

ncerns . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . O .

General information about

seeking medical care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Concerns regarding pregnancy and

sexually transmitted infections . . . . . . . 23

Alcohol and other drugs in

sexual assault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

"Date-rape drugs" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

..............

Your decision to report the crime . . . . . . 31

The police interview and investigation . . .34

Evidence collection (rape kit exam) . . . . . 35

Polygraph and voice stress test . . . . . . . .37

The court process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

The arraignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Coping with Sexual Assault

The preliminary hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

The grand jury hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

The trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

The sentencing hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

After the trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

4

e o e e e e m o e e e o -

Accompaniment and support . . . . . . . . . .46

Bond and harassment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Requesting an HIV test of

the perpetrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Plea bargaining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Testifying in court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Civil law suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

. ile since the assault . 55

Information for survivors and

their family members . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Emotional recovery and other

common concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Concerns about family and friends . . . . . .61

. Further resources in m i l k and cassette .

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