What to Do If You are Sexually Assaulted
by Statistics indicate that one in every four persons will experience an act of sexual violence against them in their lifetime. Crime of any type is traumatizing to its victims but violations of this nature are extremely traumatic to victims. If you or someone you know experiences an act of sexual violence, there is help.
After an assault, you may not feel comfortable in going home again. Take this step slowly. Recruit the support of a close friend or family member. Ask if you can stay with them awhile until you feel safe again. If you decide to stay somewhere else and you stop by to pick up a few things, proceed with caution. If the crime happened there, it may cause flashbacks or re-traumatization. If you must have someone else go in for you. The police can escort you if you would like, it is likely that they have already been through the crime scene, and the offender is no longer present however it is crucial to remember that the first step to healing is rebuilding your sense of personal safety- give that the time it needs, don’t rush in to prove yourself strong. Things like this take time to heal.
If you know the offender- deciding to identify or not disclose their identity can be hard. If you know the person who assaulted you: you may feel a dual conflict. What if it’s someone well known? What if it’s someone close to you or your family? What if it’s someone in your family? What if they threatened you..or you feel somewhat responsible because you may have led them on- perhaps it was someone you went out on a date with, or even a spouse? While, this may be the first criminal sexual offense the perpetrator had committed against you, it may not be the first time the offender has committed this kind of crime. It is highly likely that it will not be the last, once you are on your way to healing you may want to advocate for protecting other potential victims from this offender.
While there are several varying types of sexual offenders there is no justifiable excuse for sexually victimizing someone. No one deserves it, asks for it, sets themselves up for it, or is to blame for what happened to them. While victims carrying the burden of guilt, shame and fear, its important when considering identifying the offender what that means. A person who commits a sexual crime against another is an individual who is need of not only consequence for their decision and act but intervention. It is not only the job but the obligation of the Criminal Justice System to rehabilitate criminals and holding them accountable for their offenses and victims. While the violations will leave lasting impressions on a victims mind, body and spirit, there is life out there waiting for you to come back too.
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