Sexual Violence

  1. Overview
  2. Sexual Violence

National Statistics

Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted (RAINN). 1 in 6 U.S. women and 1 in 33 U.S. men have been victims of a completed or attempted rape (RAINN). Ages 12-24 ...

Indicators of Sexual Assault6

Because this crime is underreported, knowing the potential indicators of sexual violence can assist you in identifying victimization even when victims are reluctant to disclose. Th ...

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

There has been an increase in sexual assaults involving the use of drugs and alcohols as perpetrators find more severe and dangerous means to sedate victims. The common use of alco ...

Strategies to Help Reduce Risk

Individuals should never be blamed or held responsible for their own victimization. However, increasing protective strategies for at-risk individuals has proven to be one way to he ...

Sexual Assault and Persons with Disabilities

Risk Factors Commonly cited risk factors for sexual victimization for persons with disabilities include:5 Type of disability Gender Negative public attitudes toward person ...

When Does It Happen?

43% of rapes occur between 6:00pm and midnight. 24% occur between midnight and 6:00am. The other 33% take place between 6:00am and 6:00pm (www.rainn.org).

West Virginia Statistics

In West Virginia (WV-IBRS, 2009): Nearly 82% of all sexual assaults were committed by someone known to the victim. 46.6% of assaults were committed by an acquaintance and 7. ...

Facts About Ketamine

Street names are Special K, Vitamin K, KitKat and Purple Bump. A general anesthetic used in veterinary surgery and for burn dressing changes. Typically this drug is a colorless ...

How can you support someone who has been assaulted?

Believe them: Many survivors are already afraid to disclose because they are afraid that they will not believed. Let them know that you believe them and acknowledge that it took c ...

Signs of Possible Child Sexual Abuse

Repeated physical complaints with no known cause (e.g., stomach ache, headache, etc.) Sleep disturbances or nightmares Excessive clinging or crying Bedwetting Depression Anx ...

Where Does It Happen?

In WV, approximately 70% of the reported sex offenses occurred at a residence or in a home. Other locations included highways, alleys, fields or wooded areas, parking lots, garages ...

Facts About Rohypnol

Street names are Roofies, R-2s, Roches, the Forget-Me pill, Whiteys, and Mind-Eraser. A benzodiazepine called flunitrazepam (10-20 times more potentthan valium). Illegal in the ...

References

Basile, K.C., Smith, S.G., Breiding, M.J., Black, M.C. & Mahendra, R.R. (2014). Sexual Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements, Version 2.0. At ...

LGBT Victims

LGBT/GLBT/LGB/LGBTQ are acronyms used to refer to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or are questioning their sexual orientation or identity. Transgen ...

Persons mandated to report suspected abuse and neglect:

Any medical, dental or mental health professional Christian science practitioner Religious healer School teacher or other school personnel Social service worker Child care o ...

Who Is The Victim?

Rape is a crime that affects people from all backgrounds, but females between the ages of 12–34 are most often the targets of sexual assault. Risk peaks in the late teen year ...

Mandated Reporting Requirements for Child Sexual Abuse

WV Code §49-6A-2 states that when any mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is neglected or abused or observes the child being subjected to conditions ...

Common Emotional Responses of Sexually Abused Children

Fear of the abuser of getting into trouble or getting a loved one into trouble no one will believe them Guilt for not being able to stop the abuse for believing they "c ...

Sexual Assault and Persons with Disabilities

A Note to Service Providers In the course of your work, you may encounter sexual assault victims who have a cognitive, sensory or mobility disability or a mental illness. Like any ...

Barriers to Seeking Help

Some examples of barriers that prevent victims with disabilities from reporting and/or seeking help include: Lack of accessibility to services (reliance on abusive caregiv ...

Why Is It Important to Receive Medical Care After an Assault?

It is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after an assault. Taking care of your health at this time is an important step in the healing process. You can be examined ...

If You Are a Victim of Non-Stranger Sexual Assault:

Reach out for help. Remember, you are not alone. 2. What happened was not your fault. Talk to someone you trust. 3. Get to a safe place. 4. Reporting is your choice. If you de ...

West Virginia Rape Crisis Centers

Center and Address Contact Information Email and Website Centers Against Violence/Women's Aid in CrisisPO Box 2062Elkins, WV 26241 Hotline: 304-636-8433 Hotl ...

Facts

Make sure you have the right information. If you think... "Sexual violence can happen to anyone." Yes, it can. Sexual violence can happen to anyone – regardless of gender, ...

Ways to Increase Access to Services:

• Collaborate with LGBT agencies • Provide information and education to staff related to LGBT populations • Foster an inclusive environment (e.g., revise agency ...

Why Does It Happen?

Rape is an act of violence that uses sex as a weapon. It is not an act of romance or lust. Studies of convicted rapists have found that the majority have consenting sexual partners ...

Barriers to Reporting and Seeking Services:

In addition to reasons many victims of sexual assault do not report or seek services, LGBT individuals also may experience the following barriers: • Fear of being "outed ...

Barriers to Reporting and Seeking Services:

The socialization of males in Western culture historically has encouraged the repression of feelings of vulnerability and promoted the unrealistic expectation that males can protec ...

Facts About GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate Acid)

Street names are Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid G, Easy Lay, Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy and Great Hormones at Bedtime. Used as a steroid alternative by body builders. Though ...

What can you do if you've been assaulted?

Get to a safe place: This could be your home, a friend's home, or a public place like a police station. Preserve evidence: If you think you might want to pursue a criminal ...

What Are Ways Someone Can "Force" You to Have Sex?

Most sexual assaults involve some type of force, but force is not only physical violence (such as hitting or using a weapon). Force has many forms. The following are examples of ho ...

Sexual Abuse of Children Falls within the Following WV Statutes:

§61-8B: Sexual Offenses §61-8C: Filming of Sexually Explicit Conduct of Minors §61-8D: Child Abuse §61-8-12: Incest West Virginia laws are very specific ...

What Parents Can Do

It is important for parents to discuss sexual violence with their children without scaring them. For younger children let them know the difference between "safe", "unsafe" and "con ...

Child Victims

Many children are sexually abused over a period of years. Long-term abuse in intra-familial situations may begin when the child is young and continue well into adolescence or even ...

Supporting a Child When Abuse Has Occurred

Stay calm. Don't panic or overreact. Believe the child. Assure the child that she/he is not to blame for what has happened. Do let the child know it was very brave to tell you ...

What is Non-Stranger Sexual Assault?

Sexual violence, also generally referred to as sexual assault, is any form of unwanted, unwelcome or coercive sexual contact. Rape includes vaginal, oral or anal sex without that p ...

Supporting Male Victims

Believe him. Try to understand what he is experiencing. Listen to him. Let him know he can confidentially talk to you when he is ready. When he does talk, be supportive. Don't j ...

Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include: Sexual touching and fondling of a child's sexual body parts Forcing a child to touch another person's s ...

Mandatory Reporting

It may not always be clear to service providers who work with individuals with disabilities if they are mandated by West Virginia law to report sexual assault, which situations req ...

Confidentiality

Information should not be released about victims (except to DHHR in cases requiring mandatory reporting) without their informed, written consent. Release of information forms us ...

Responding to LGBT Victims

Your initial response should be based on the victim's self-identified needs rather than your personal opinions and/or family members' concerns. The following are tips for effec ...

Male Victims

Overview and Statistics Although sexual assault is most often a crime against women, men can also be victims. From 1995 to 2010, approximately 9% of all rape or sexual assault vic ...

Facts about Ecstasy (MDMA—Methylenedioxmethamphetamine)

Street names are Adam, E, Essence, Hug Drug, Love Drug and X. Originally developed as an appetite suppressant. Is rarely used with alcohol. Users drink large amounts of water t ...

Who Is The Offender?

Despite stereotypes of rapists as strangers in a dark alley, approximately 73% of adult victims and 93% of child victims of sexual assault know their offender. Most offenders are m ...

Drugs Being Used to Facilitate Sexual Assault:

Sexual assaults can be facilitated by the use of drugs, both "street" and legal. While alcohol is often a factor in sexual assaults, illegal drugs (also called "club drugs") can al ...

What is Sexual Violence?

This general definition was drawn from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website (Basile et al., 2014). (Additional explanation from WV FRIS in parentheses. Definitions ...

Reporting Child Sexual Abuse

When an attempt is made to talk to someone about the abuse, many children are unable to communicate what is happening. Even when the child is quite verbal, the listener may dismiss ...

What is Rohypnol?

"Rohypnol" is the brand name for the drug flunitrazepam, a central nervous system depressant, belonging to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include widely used medi ...

Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse

For a child, disclosing sexual abuse is especially difficult. A child may be embarrassed about what is happening to her/him, or simply lack the vocabulary to express it. While some ...

If You Think You've Been Drugged and Sexually Assaulted

Get help immediately. Get to a safe place. Ask a trusted friend to stay with you and assist you in getting the help you need. Call 911. Preserve as much physical evidence a ...

Risk Reduction

Sexual violence is never the victim's fault; however, taking these precautions could potentially reduce your risk of being assaulted. Trust your instinct. If you don't feel comf ...

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

For the purpose of this section, the term "sexual abuse" will refer to all sex crimes perpetrated against children including but not limited to sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion ...

Physical Effects of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

Individuals may react differently to sedating substances depending on the dosage, their metabolism and sensitivity to the substance and the presence of alcohol and/or other drugs. ...

Emotional Reactions to Sexual Assault

Males who have been victimized may experience some or all of the following reactions: Profound anxiety, fear, helplessness and identity confusion Denial Rage, anger and gui ...