No One Deserves to be Sexually Assaulted: Help and
Support are Available
Sexual Assault or Rape:
Any unwanted sexual contact. The perpetrator could be anyone of either
sex; a relative, friend, neighbor, acquaintance, stranger, or intimate partner.
Common Responses
There is no standard response to sexual assault. You may experience a few or
all of the following:
Fear, Anxiety-feeling unsafe, nervousness, fear of situations linked to the
assault, compulsive behaviors. Shock, Disbelief -numb, unemotional, surreal
feelings. Helplessness, Depression feeling powerless, overwhelmed, unable to
make choices, self hatred. Anger- fury, desire to retaliate against assailant.
Shame, Embarrassment -feeling "bad"; feeling that every one will "know"
that you have been raped somehow. Self-blame, Guilt -feeling at fault,
responsible for the attack. Flashbacks -remembering, "reliving" the assault.
Isolated-Feeling alone or that no one else can relate to your experience.
These reactions are commonand natural.
If You Were Assaulted Recently
- Do not change clothes, bathe, douche, or alter anything in the immediate area.
- Go to any hospital emergency room for: treatment of injury, treatment of sexually transmitted
disease, pregnancy testing, and collection of physical evidence for criminal prosecution (A
Rape Kit).
- Call the police to make a report.
- Contact the local Rape Crisis Center whose number appears on the back of this card for
confidential support and information.
If you Were Assaulted in the Past
- Seek medical attention.
- If you have already been to the hospital, be sure to receive follow up medical attention.
- Contact your local Rape Crisis Program for individual or support group counseling.
Making a Police Report
With information about the law and support for their feelings, many victims
choose to report the crime and participate in prosecution.
If you decide to speak to the police, you may have a friend or sexual assault
advocate present to support you. You may want to write down everything you
can remember about the assault and the attacker. This will help you when you
meet with the police.
After the police report is made the decision to prosecute belongs to the
prosecuting or city attorney. This decision is based on the evidence that is
available to the prosecutor. Sometimes cases are not prosecuted. This is
usually because of lack of evidence, not because the prosecutor doesn't believe
you. A counselor at your local Rape Crisis Center can help you with this
process
Your Rights as a Victim of Crime
Michigan's Constitution outlines the following as the rights of all crime victims
in Michigan:
- The right to be treated with fairness and respect for your dignity and privacy throughout the
criminal justice process.
- The right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process.
- The right to notification of the court proceedings.
- The right to attend trial and all other court proceedings the accused has the right to attend.
- The right to confer with the prosecution.
- The right to make a statement to the court at sentencing.
- The right to restitution.
- The right to information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, and release of the
accused.
Created by the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Support for this publication made available through the Michigan FIA
Rape-Prevention and Services Program.