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If you have been sexually assaulted and are looking for guidance please consider the following:
- Make sure you are in a safe place.
- Contact a friend or family member you trust or call the local sexual assault program center hotline.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Most of all, know this is not your fault.
You may not know right now whether you will contact the police but in case you later decide to, the evidence available immediately is crucial. To preserve evidence follow these recommendations:
- Do not shower, bathe, wash your hands, brush your teeth, use the toilet or clean up in any way.
- With a thorough medical exam evidence can be collected at your local hospital. In Minnesota you can complete the evidence collection process even if you are unsure about reporting the incident to law enforcement. The county is obligated to pay for all evidence collection in a sexual assault evidence exam.
- Do not change or destroy clothing. Your clothes may be evidence.
- If the assault occurred in your home, do not rearrange and/or clean up anything. You could destroy evidence.
Victim Rights
In 1983 the Minnesota legislature passed the Minnesota Crime Victim Bill of Rights. An advocate from a community based advocacy program can assist you in exercising these rights.
RIGHT to be notified of:
- Plea agreements
- Changes in court schedules, date, time and place of plea hearings and sentencing
- Release of offender from prison/institution
- Victim rights
RIGHT to participate in prosecution:
- Right to inform court of impact of crime at the time of sentencing
- Right to have input in pre-trial diversion program
- Right to object to plea bargain
- Right to request a speedy trial
- Right to bring a supportive person to all hearings
- Right to attend plea hearing
- Right to attend sentencing
- Right to give written objections to sentence
RIGHT to protection from harm:
- Threatening or tampering with a witness is against Minnesota law
- Witnesses do not have to give their addresses in court
- Victims have the right to a secure waiting room during court
- Employers may not discipline or dismiss victims or witnesses who are called to testify in court
RIGHT to apply for financial assistance:
- Victims may be eligible for financial assistance from the state or from the offender, if they have suffered economic loss.
Getting back to normal can take a long time and you may be wondering if there is anyone who can help. Many survivors have found it helpful to talk to rape crisis counselors. You can find the telephone numbers of your local center here or listed in your phone book. You may also call the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline, operated by RAINN, at 1-800-656-HOPE. By calling this number you will be automatically connected to your closest rape crisis center. Rape crisis centers are on call 24-hours a day waiting to help you.
A GUIDE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
When someone you know or care about has been assaulted, it is normal for you to feel upset and confused. At a time when you may want to help most, you will be dealing with a crisis of your own. Your support at a time like this can be extremely helpful to a sexual assault victim. Consider the following guidelines to help you through this time:
Believe the victim Believe her/his experience without question. Do not blame her/him. Whatever the circumstances s/he was not looking for or asking to be assaulted. It is very common for the victim of a sexual assault to blame her/himself. Reassure her/him that the blame for rape rests squarely and only with the assailant and that s/he has no way of knowing what would have happened if s/he had acted differently.
Respect The victim Respect her/his fear. Assailants commonly threaten to kill or seriously harm the victim if s/he does not comply. Most victims feared that they would not survive the assault. This fear does not go away when the rapist does. This fear is real. Help her/him deal with it by finding ways to increase her/his safety.
Accept The victim Accept her/his strong feelings. S/he has the right to any emotion. S/he has the right to be numb, sad, angry, in denial, terrified, depressed, agitated, withdrawn, etc. Being supportive is an attitude of acceptance of all her/his feelings, an atmosphere of warmth and safety that s/he can rest in. Tolerate her/his needs, be there for her/him.
Listen to The victim Let her/him know you want to listen. It does not matter so much what you say, but more how you listen. Try to understand what s/he is going through. S/he did the very best s/her knew how in a dangerous situation. S/he survived. Give her credit.
- Let her/him talk, do not interrupt.
- Find time to focus on the victim. Ask her/him what s/he needs from you.
- You may feel nervous about stalls and silences. They are okay, just let them happen.
- If s/he needs help to continue talking, try repeating back to her/him the things s/he has said.
- Reassure her/him that s/he is not to blame. Blaming questions such as, "Why didn't you scream?" or "Why did you go there?" are not helpful. Instead, you night say, "It's difficult to scream when you are frightened" or "Going someplace unfamiliar is risky, but you were not asking to be assaulted."
Take her/him seriously. Pay attention. This will help her/him validate the seriousness of her/his feelings and her/his need to work them through. Sexual assault is a shattering experience which a victim does not get over in a hurry or alone. It may be months or years before she feels fully recovered. Recovery is a process of acceptance and healing which takes time.
Stay with The victim Stay with her/him as long as she wants you to. One of the most upsetting losses experienced by rape victims is the loss of independence and solitude. For awhile, many victims feel too frightened and vulnerable to endure being alone. This will pass with time. Meanwhile, be good company.
Let the Victim Make her/his own decisions do no pressure her/him into making decisions or doing things s/he is not ready to do. Help her/him explore all the options. It is essential to respect her confidentiality. Let her decide who knows about the sexual assault.
Care Care about her/his well being. In order to care about your friend, you may need to cope with some difficult emotions of your own. If you are experiencing rage, blame or changes in how you feel about your friend/relative, you can be most helpful to her/him by finding ways of coping with your own emotions. Sexual assault is not provoked nor desired by the victim. In fact, sexual assault is motivated by the assailant's need for power and control and his desire to humiliate and degrade the victim. The advocacy program in your area has advocates that can help people sort through their feelings and emotions. To find the program nearest you click here. Programs accept anonymous calls and phone line staff can help callers talk through their feelings.
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