If you believe someone you or someone you know has been date rape drugged, call 911 immediately and if possible, bring the drink with you to the hospital.
Primary Prevention
For over 25 years, the Sexual Assault Crisis and Education Center has been supporting, counseling and advocating for primary and secondary victims of sexual assault. Yet, in order to put an end to sexual violence, we must identify what behaviors constitute sexual assault and how to avoid them, so that we can limit and prevent sexual violence from occurring. Educating the public on its legal responsibilities when it comes to consensual sexual activities is just as important as educating the public on its legal rights.
Sexual assault is an act of violence that is very terrifying for the victim, whether the victim is a man, woman, adult or child, with long lasting emotional, physical and social effects. Victims, their families and their loved ones may face years of secrecy, lowered self-esteem, health problems and troubles in their current or future relationships.
Sexual violence affects our society as a whole, as social problems such as drug and alcohol use, suicide, eating disorders, depression, and prostitution all have links to sexual assault. In order to prevent oneself from perpetrating sexual assault on another person, one must understand that any forced sexual activity, regardless of the relationship between the parties, is sexual assault. In order for sexual activity to be legal, it must be consensual by all participants, without the use of or threat of force, manipulation or coercion. If someone is under the age of 16 (in CT), is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is unconscious or is developmentally delayed, he/she cannot give his/her legal consent to sexual activity, even if he/she says "yes". In all other cases, if someone does not give a clear "yes", or is forced, tricked, threatened or manipulated into giving consent, legal consent has not been given.
What To Do If you have been sexually assaulted:
Think about taking to someone you trust. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to react, and you may be feeling anger, confusion, frustration, and/or guilt. Talking to someone, such as a friend, family member, teacher or counselor may help. Seek medical attention, and if possible, within 72 hours of the assault. If you wish to have an evidence collection exam done, do not shower or change clothes after the assault. Hospital personnel can give you information and options for treatment for possible pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections. A sexual assault crisis counselor can meet you there to help you get through the process.
Never forget, THIS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT. A sexual assault victim is never to blame for an assault, no matter how much he/she drank, what he/she wore, or where he/she went. A sexual assault is always the decision of the perpetrator.
Think about calling a Sexual Assault Crisis Center. A sexual assault crisis counselor can give you the information you need, and can counsel you through this process. The Sexual Assault Crisis and Education Center can be there to assist you every step of the way, whether it is through our 24-hour hotline, at the hospital, at the police station or in the courtroom.
Statistics
National:
-Only 10% of all sexual assaults are reported to the police,
whether the victim is a child or an adult.
-75% of adults and 90% of children who have been sexually
assaulted know their offender.
-By their 16th birthday, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will
have been sexually assaulted.
-Of all sexual assaults reported to the police each year,
only 2-5% are false claims. This false reporting rate is
consistent with the false reporting rates of all other major crimes.
State:
-19% of Connecticut residents have experienced
sexual assault in their lifetime.
-14% of Connecticut residents have experienced childhood
sexual assault in their lifetime.
-Only 16% of rapes were reported to the police.
- 26% of female Connecticut residents were sexual assault
survivors and had experienced one or more types of sexual
assault(forced contact, attempted and completed intercourse.)
Local:
During the 2003-2004 fiscal year (July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004) SACEC
provided crisis intervention, counseling and support to 726 new clients
throughout the eight towns of lower Fairfield County.
During the same period (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004) SACEC educated
6871 community members.
Internet Safety
With the rapid exponential growth of the Internet in the last decade, it becomes more and more important that we ensure our children and teenagers are taking all the precautions to enjoy the Internet’s benefits safely. While the Internet is an invaluable tool, it also presents certain dangers that we all must be aware of.
For Parents:
Keep your home computer in a common area (family room, kitchen, den, etc.)
The less you are around your child while he/she is using the computer, the less you can monitor what he/she is doing on the computer.
Teach your child not to give out any personal information over the computer (i.e., name, address, age, school, grade, Family’s names, phone numbers, etc.)
Tell child to NEVER to meet up with someone he/she has met over the Internet. If he/she wants to meet up with someone over the Internet, make sure you go with your child, and meet in a public place.
Remember, the more you knowledge you have about your computer and the Internet, the better prepared you are to ensure your child is using the Internet safely.
For Children and Teenagers:
-NEVER give out your personal information online, especially in a chat room.
(This includes your name, address, telephone number, school, age, grade, parents’
names or anything that could help someone find you.)
-Remember, strangers online are the same as strangers in person, and
just because you cannot see them does not mean it is okay to share
information about yourself.
-If someone is harassing you or making you feel uncomfortable, whether you
know them or not, stop talking to them, print out what they have
written, sign off and tell an adult what has happened.
-Remember, you can block an unwanted person’s email address and screen name.
-Never harass someone online, or say inappropriate things.
-Never type something that you would not want printed out.
-NEVER meet someone in person that you talk to online. Even if you have been
talking to someone online and you feel like you know them really well, it can be
very dangerous.
-If you ever meet up with someone you met online, ALWAYS bring a parent with
you and do so in a public place.
Myths and Facts
Myth
Only females can be sexually assaulted.
Fact
Both males and females are sexually assaulted everyday. Men have just as much a right as woman to say no to any sexual activity they do not want, and if they are forced, they have been sexually assaulted.
Myth
Victims who do not physically resist sexual assault really wanted it to happen, or are to blame for their sexual assault.
Fact
During a sexual assault, most victims are in fear for their lives, or are in fear of being hurt even more. Victims make the best decisions they can in order to preserve their safety, and if a victim does not fight back, it does not change that the perpetrator is at fault for the sexual assault.
Myth
When someone says "no", they really mean, "yes".
Fact
Any "no", whether it’s verbal or expressed through body language, MUST BE respected. If you are unsure, you must stop and ask. You cannot decide what another person wants to do sexually.
Myth
If someone is drunk, dressed provocatively, or is somewhere they should not have been and they are raped, they are to blame or "asked for it".
Fact
A victim of sexual assault is NEVER to blame, regardless of where he/she was, what he/she wore, or how much he/she drank. The only person to blame for a sexual assault is a perpetrator, and the only person who can prevent a sexual assault is a perpetrator, not a victim. No behavior ever justifies someone being sexually assaulted, and even if someone takes all precautionary measures, he/she is still not fully protected from being sexually assaulted.
Myth
Most people who say they were sexually assaulted really consented to sex, but regretted it later and called it rape.
Fact
The false reporting rate for sexual assault is 2-5%, the same as all other major crimes. It is much more likely for someone to have been sexually assaulted and never report it rather than make a false report.