Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a violent crime and includes rape, child sexual abuse, incest, and sexual harassment. Sexual assault is a humiliating, terrifying, and brutal experience; an act which violates a person's innermost physical and psychological well-being. The victim of sexual assault can be anyone; no one is immune, and no one deserves to have it happen to them. Each victim responds in a different way, but every victim needs strong support from family and friends as well as from medical, law enforcement, legal, and social service personnel. Following such an experience, a survivor may feel frightened and powerless. Feelings of vulnerability, loss of control, and a sense of shock or disbelief may also be prevalent.

General Statistics

• One in three girls and one in five boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 16.
• 1 out of every 3 American women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
• 1 in 7 women will be raped by her husband.
• 6 out of 10 rape/sexual assaults occurred in the homes of the victim, family members or friends.
• 1,871 rapes occur per day.
• 1.3 women are raped per minute.
• Three out of five rapes happen before age 18.
• Three out of ten rapes happen before age 11.
• Between 80 - 90% of sexual assault victims knew their attacker.

Types of Sexual Violence

Child Sexual Abuse

Symptoms of Abuse

There are a variety of "symptoms" that may be suggestive of child sexual abuse. It is critical to understand that if your child is displaying a variety of the following symptoms, it is not necessarily indicative that your child is being or has been abused. However, you should consider these signs as red flags and seek professional advice. It is important for parents to listen to their intuition and seek assistance when concerned.

Children and Youth:

• Sudden personality change, temper tantrums
• Poor concentration
• Suddenly clingy
• Acting out, aggressive behavior
• Layers of clothing, needing to wear coat indoors
• Bizarre behavior (writing with saliva, feces)
• Seeking older friends, use of power over younger children, animals
• Sleep disturbances, nightmares, bedwetting, fear of "monsters", insomnia
• Loss of appetite, problems eating or swallowing, nausea, pain in stomach
• Fear of certain people and/or places, stranger anxiety or social withdrawal
• Unexplained anger or irritability, unprovoked crying
• Secretive behavior - "I have a secret", "I can't tell you"
• Regression-behaving younger
• Sexualized behavior-excessive masturbation, new adult terms, pseudomaturity
• Anxiety-related illnesses
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Wetting pants, thumb-sucking
• Re-enactment of the abuse by using dolls, friends, drawings
• Threatening behavior-fear of violence, games with threats
• Sudden talk of adult, imaginary, or secret friend
• Physical indicators, such as; rashes, redness, swelling, tears of vaginal and anal areas. Discharge, blood, unusual odors from genitals, pain in genital/rectal area. Fear of treatment or examination for these symptoms. Sexual abuse can also occur without observable physical indicators.

Teens:

Similar disturbances seen in children, in addition to:

• Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or compulsive overeating
• Agoraphobia, difficulty relating to the opposite sex, fear of sexuality
• Denial of anything wrong
• Sexual acting out - early and/or frequent sexual activity or sexualized behavior. Difficulty relating to the opposite sex in a non-sexual way.
• Low self-esteem, depression
• Running away, or involvement with the law
• Role confusion, wanting caretaker role in family
• Pseudomaturity, acting older than she/he is
• Suicidal
• Recurrent physical complaints
• Self-mutilation
• Truancy 
• Change in school performance
• Attention-getting/delinquent behavior
• Limited social life

 

How to Respond to a Disclosure

Your child's disclosure may very likely shock, stun, and anger you. It is critical that you remain calm. Communicate a willingness to hear what your child is saying. Save your own feelings for later - out of the child's presence. Showing anger or pain may likely discourage the child from disclosing fully.

If your child is disclosing he or she has been sexually molested, the child will likely continue only if you:

Believe:  "I believe you"
Affirm:  "I'm glad you told me"
Support:  "It is not your fault"
Report:  The law requires child molestation or child sex abuse be reported. "We're going to report this to protect you and other children."

Disclosure May Be Vague and Indirect:

• The child may avoid the offender
• The child may change play habits and the way they treat their playthings
• The child's pretend games may become more adult
• The child may appear to be going through a "phase"

If you become suspicious, do not panic or jump to conclusions, but be sensitive to the child's feelings, moods, and behaviors. If discussion of abuse arises during conversations, react naturally and calmly. Let the child lead. Don't force the subject. Keep the child and their sibling's lives as normal as possible.

Disclosure of Evidence

• Record Conversations:  Immediately after the conversation, using the child's words and your words, write down what was said.
• Asking Questions:  Do not ask any questions. Simply listen to what your child has to say.
• Report the Abuse:  You do not need to have full information to call law enforcement and report what your child has said.
• Obtain Support and Guidance:  SARC is available to answer questions, provide support, and offer advocacy and counseling services.
• Reassure the Child:  During the investigation and possible prosecution, the child will need reassurance. Discussion of the case must not be done in the child's listening range or presence. The child's memory must remain unaltered by adult conversation and comments. If your child shares more information, follow the preceeding procedure.

Mandated Reporting

Under the mandated reporting law, a report must be made when it appears there is reasonable cause to believe that a child, legally defined as a person under the age of 18, has been non-accidentally physically or mentally injured, neglected or sexually abused. In addition to abused children, the statute also affords protection of dependent adults and developmentally disabled persons not able to provide for their own protection through the criminal justice system.

Those required by state law (RCW 26.44.030) to report include the following:

1. Medical practitioners (licensed health service providers, including: podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors, registered or licensed nurses, dentists, osteopaths, surgeons, physicians and religious healing practitioners).
2. Professional school personnel (including, but not limited to, teachers, counselors, administrators, child care facility personnel and school nurses).
3. "Social services counselor" (anyone engaged in a professional capacity during the regular course of employment in encouraging or promoting the health, welfare, support or education of children, or providing social services to adults or families, including mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, and domestic violence programs).
4. Coroners, medical examiners and licensed pathologists.
5. Registered pharmacists.
6. Licensed or certified child care providers or their employees.
7. Department of Social and Health Services employees.
8. Juvenile probation officers.
9. Law enforcement.
10. Department of Corrections employees who become aware of possible child abuse or neglect during the course of their employment.
11. Any adult who resides with a child suspected to have been abused.

Why Children Don't Disclose

It is often difficult for parents to understand why their child did not disclose the abuse at an earlier time. It is critical that children are not blamed for their inability to tell. Children are confused, sad and scared. Offenders often tell children that what they are doing to them is normal and that is how you show someone you love them. It may take awhile for children to realize that what the offender is doing is wrong. Offenders also threaten children. They may tell the child that they will hurt their parents, other siblings or pets. They may also make the child feel guilty by blaming the child or telling the child that the offender will be put in jail if he/she tells. The child may like some of the attention that the offender is giving the child, thus making the child feel partially responsible. Offenders are skilled at isolating childen and making them feel alone. They may tell the child that no one will believe them or be able to help them. Offenders are master manipulators. Remember that just as it is not a child^s fault that they were molested, it is also not the child^s fault that he/she did not disclose. All responsibility must be put solely on the offender. 

Date/Acquaintance Rape

The vast majority of reported rapes occur between people who know each other. It can happen between friends, people who have met once, or people who may know each other fairly well. People are raped at parties, at dances, on dates, in dorms, in cars, at parks, in the home of acquaintances, and even in their own home. 

Victims can be all ages; adolescent, adult, or elderly. Victims can be male or female. The common element shared by all is sexual victimization by someone known and often trusted. Offenders can be friends, neighbors, or casual dates. Anyone who coerces another person into unwanted sexual contact is an offender.

Stranger Rape

Stranger rape is defined as being sexually assaulted by someone unknown to the victim. While this certainly occurs, stranger rape happens at a much lesser rate. However, stranger rape is generally more physically violent and the victim is more likely to suffer from physical injuries. 

Marital Rape

Common experiences of sexually abused wives:

• Most sexually abusive husbands believe it's a husband's right to have sex with his wife whenever he wants to.
• Sexual abuse commonly includes vaginal, anal intercourse, combined with physical abuse - beating, kicking, and burning.
• Often women have been forced into homosexual acts, sex with animals, prostitution, public exposure and other degradation.
• Many women report their children having been witnesses to such attacks.
• Some men sexually abuse both the wife and children.
• Many victims of marital sexual abuse have been beaten for refusing sex, and a significant minority have been threatened with weapons.
• Many women are forced to submit to sex following a beating.
• Over half of sexually abused wives have been forced to have sex when they were ill, and nearly half upon coming home from the hospital with a newborn.
• Many women have received sexually transmitted diseases from their husbands.
• Other physical problems that result include anal or vaginal stretching and bleeding, bladder infections, leaking of urine, missed menses, miscarriages and stillbirths, unwanted pregnancies, and infertility.
• Many women do not perceive themselves as having been forced into sex, because there was no overt threat or physical force - only coercion. They often don't define that as rape.

Medical examination is always crucial in marital rape just as in any type of rape. The rape kit is important because it preserves evidence for possible future legal action. Rape and physical abuse in a marriage are often associated with homicide; her fears are reasonable. Such women need to be told that their lives may be in danger and advised of legal alternatives and the possibility of protection in a shelter or at friends/relatives' home.

Effects of Sexual Abuse

Sexual Assault Trauma Syndrome

Sexual assault is a crisis that causes extreme emotional and physical trauma. Some victims of sexual assault respond to their experiences in the following ways:

Phase 1: The Crisis

The first phase of the trauma, the most intense and crucial time, may last a few days or longer. During this time the victim must make immediate and long-term decisions regarding physical and emotional health. The initial support the victim experiences can influence his/her recovery. The emotions the victim expresses may include: shock and disbelief, anger and rage, fear, guilt, physical symptoms (during the weeks following the assault, the victim may experience acute physical symptoms, sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy), behavior (some survivors experience nightmares, flashbacks, changes in eating, drinking, or sexual habits).

Phase 2: Initial Adjustment

The survivor may try to return to pre-crisis life without resolving the problem. The victim may say "I'm fine," and successfully suppress, deny, or rationalize the attack.

Phase 3: Resolution

Resolution begins when a survivor realizes he/she must deal with feelings about the assault. Adjustment depends on: immediate support system after the assault, former level of stability and strength, and degree of support from family and friends. Resolution is often complete when he/she has worked through the first two phases and can successfully integrate into mainstream life.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Re-experiencing the event.
• Unresponsiveness to or reduced involvement with the external world.
• Symptoms of physical illness caused by anxiety.
• Dysphoria, which is characterized by depression, melancholy, sadness, fatigue, generally "feeling badly".
• Abnormal thinking. Cognitive processes include self-blame, concluding the world is unsafe, and a feeling of aloneness.
• Explicit, vivid memories, dreams and/or nightmares which feels as though one were reliving the event.
• Dissociation which may range from "emotional anesthesia" to multiple personalities.
• Feeling lost or estranged from people and unable to feel pleasure or interest in previously enjoyed activities.
• Decreased or lost ability to feel emotions of any type.
• Hyper-alertness or exaggerated "startle" response.
• Insomnia of various types.
• Difficulty concentrating on and completing tasks.
• Guilt feeling for the event, especially if it involved another victim. Sense of guilt about surviving or what one did to survive.
• Avoiding situations that recall the trauma.

Experiencing PTSD is an indicator that professional help would be beneficial.

Flashbacks

Flashbacks are normal. They are memories of past traumas. They may take the form of pictures, sounds, smells, body sensations, feelings, or the lack of them (numbness). Many times there is no actual visual or auditory memory. One may have the sense of panic, of being trapped, of feeling powerless with no memory stimulating it. These experiences can also happen in dreams.

• What helps:




• Tell yourself that you are having a flashback.
• Remind yourself that the worst is over.
• Get grounded.
• Breathe.
• Reorient to the present.
• Get in touch with your need for boundaries.
• Get support.
• Take time to recover.
• Honor your experience.
• Be patient.
• Find a competent therapist or self-help group.
• Know you are not crazy - you are healing!!

Nightmares

Difficulty sleeping and experiencing nightmares is common for victims of sexual violence. Survivors may also find themselves sleeping an inordinate amount of time. This is a common escape mechanism for our bodies.

Drug/Alcohol Abuse

There is a high correlation between sexual abuse and drug and/or alcohol abuse. This is not to say that a survivor of sexual violence will undoubtedly become an abuser. However, victims should be aware that relying on drugs/alcohol only delays the healing process and may cause additional concerns.

Self Harm

• Suicide
• Self-mutilation

Trust Issues

Because the majority of offenders are known to victims, a great amount of betrayal is experienced by the abused. Survivors often question their judgement and ability to assess another person^s character. Victims not only lose trust in other individuals, but often lose trust in themselves. Trust issues can take a great amount of time to overcome; patience and understanding are necessary. 

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia
• Bulimia

Denial

Denial is a common and dangerous defense mechanism. Those that remain in a state of denial are not able to begin the healing process. Most often, individuals who are unable to move past denial find that the abuse affects their life in a variety of negative ways for a great amount of time. It is often not until the victim moves out of denial and begins to incorporate their experience into the rest of their lives, that they can become whole again.

Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse

Protecting children from sexual abuse by restricting activities and limiting interaction with others will keep them safe from strangers but is not effective protection from someone they know. Most molestation occurs by someone the child knows. Excessive protectiveness may lower self-confidence and cultivate dependency.

Some Positive Steps One May Take

Know age-appropriate behavior and provide it to your children so they can identify abusive behavior and describe it.

1. Teach your children the names of their body parts. They should be able to name them and to understand their "private parts" are to be touched by no one else except to help keep them clean and healthy. They should understand "private" also means they do not touch someone else's "private parts."
2. Teach your children the difference between SAFE and UNSAFE touching. SAFE touching such as hugs, pats on the head, shoulder, arm, etc. will make us feel happy, safe and loved. UNSAFE touching, even if not on our "private parts", makes us feel confused, unsafe, uncomfortable, and frightened.
3. Develop a relationship with your children so they trust and have confidence in you and that they will not be embarrassed or "put down" by discussing if someone has made them uncomfortable by touching them.

Safety Issues to Consider

1. Suspect the motives of an adult who wants to spend a lot of time alone with your child. Monitor your child's activities in youth groups, summer camps, etc.
2. Know the source and motives of toys, money, etc. your child receives.
3. Chaperon - be a part of your child's talent pursuits. One to one coaching or photography sessions may develop into pornographic activity and seduction.
4. Explain to your child that adults should ask adults for directions and help. Caution them to stay out of the reach of someone who stops in a car for information or directions. Impress on them to be prepared to run or yell.
5. Select a code word that only you and your children know. If a person picking them up does not volunteer the word, insist they will not go with them.
6. Prearrange an action plan with your child in case of a real emergency. Discuss options for "what if" scenarios.
7. If your family should experience separation, divorce, unemployment, change in residence, death of a loved one, or other stressful situation, be especially attentive to your child's needs and concerns.

Victims Rights

RCW's

• 7.69.030: There shall be a reasonable effort made to ensure that victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crimes have the following rights:
  1. With respect to victims of violent or sex crimes, to receive, at the time of reporting the crime to law enforcement officials, a written statement of the rights of crime victims as provided in this chapter. The written statement shall include the name, address, and telephone number of a county or local crime victim/witness program, if such a crime victim/witness program exists in the county;
  2. To be informed by local law enforcement agencies or the prosecuting attorney of the final disposition of the case in which the victim, survivor, or witness is involved;
  3. To be notified by the party who issued the subpoena that a court proceeding to which they have been subpoenaed will not occur as scheduled, in order to save the person an unnecessary trip to court;
  4. To receive protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of cooperating with law enforcement and prosecution efforts, and to be provided with information as to the level of protection available;
  5. To be informed of the procedure to be followed to apply for and receive any witness fees to which they are entitled;
  6. To be provided, whenever practical, a secure waiting area during court proceedings that does not require them to be in close proximity to defendants and families or friends of defendants;
  7. To have any stolen or other personal property expeditiously returned by law enforcement agencies or the superior court when no longer needed as evidence. When feasible, all such property, except weapons, currency, contraband, property subject to evidentiary analysis, and property of which ownership is disputed, shall be photographed and returned to the owner within ten days of being taken;
  8. To be provided with appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that employers of victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crime will cooperate with the criminal justice process in order to minimize an employee^s loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearance;
  9. To have access to immediate medical assistance and not to be detained for an unreasonable length of time by a law enforcement agency before having such assistance administered. However, an employee of the law enforcement agency may, if necessary, accompany the person to a medical facility to question the person about the criminal incident if the question does not hinder the administration of medical assistance;
  10. With respect to victims of violence and sex crimes, to have a crime victim advocate from a crime victim/witness program present at any prosecutorial or defense interviews with the victim, and at any judicial proceedings related to criminal acts committed against the victim. This subsection applies if practical and if the presence of the crime victim advocate does not cause any unnecessary delay in the investigation or prosecution of the case. The role of the crime victim advocate is to provide emotional support to the crime victim;
  11. With respect to victims and survivors of victims, to be physically present in court during trial, or if subpoenaed to testify, to be scheduled as early as practical in the proceedings in order to by physically present during trial after testifying and not to be excluded solely because they have testified;
  12. With respect to victims and survivors of victims, to be informed by the prosecuting attoney of the date, time, and place of the trial and of the sentencing hearing for felony convictions upon request by a victim or survivor;
  13. To submit a victim impact statement or report to the court, with the assistance of the prosecuting attorney if requested, which shall be included in all presentence reports and permanently included in the files and records accompanying the offender committed to the custody of a state agency or instititution;
  14. With respect to victims and survivors of victims, to present a statement personally or by representation, at the sentencing hearing for felony convictions;
  15. With respect to victims and survivors of victims, to entry of an order of restitition by the court in all felony cases, even when the offender is sentenced to confinement, unless extraordinary circumstances exist which make restitution inappropriate in the court^s judgement; and
  16. With respect to victims and survivors of victims, to present a statement in person, via audio or videotape, in writing or by representation at any hearing conducted regarding an application for pardon or commutation of sentence.
• 7.69A.030: Rights of child victims and witnesses
  In addition to the rights of victims and witnesses provided for in RCW 7.69.030, there shall be every reasonable effort made by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges to assure that child victims and witnesses are afforded the rights enumerated in this section. Except as provided in RCW 7.69A.50 regarding child vicitms or child witnesses of violent crimes, sex crimes, or child abuse, the enumeration of rights shall not be construed to create substantive rights and duties, and the application of an enumerated right in an individual case in subject to the discretion of the law enforcement agency, prosecutor, or judge. Child victims and witnesses have the following rights:
  1. To have explained in language easily understood by the child, all legal proceedings and/or police investigations in which the child may be involved.
  2. With respect to child victims of sex or violent crimes or child abuse, to have a crime victim advocate from a crime victim/witness program present at any prosecutorial or defense interviews with the child victim. This subsection applies if practical and if the presence of the crime victim advocate does not cause any unnecessary delay in the investigation of prosecution of the case. The role of the crime victim advocate is to provide emotional support to the child victim and to promote the child^s feelings of security and safety.
  3. To be provided, whenever possible, a secure waiting area during court proceedings and to have an advocate or support person remain with the child prior to and during any court proceedings.
  4. To not have the names, addresses, nor photographs of the living child victim or witness disclosed by any law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, or state agency without the permission of the child victim, child witness, parents, or legal guardians, to anyone except another law enforcement agency, prosecutor, defense counsel, or private or governmental agency that provides services to the child victim or witness.
  5. To allow an advocate to make recommendations to the prosecuting attorney about the ability of the child to cooperate with prosecution and the potential effect of the proceedings on the child.
  6. To allow an advocate to provide information to the court concerning the child's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings.
  7. To be provided information or appropriate referrals to social service agencies to assist the child and/or the child's family with the emotional impact of the crime, the subsequent investigation, and judicial proceedings in which the child is involved.
  8. To allow an advocate to be present in court while the child testifies in order to provide emotional support to the child.
  9. To provide information to the court as to the need for the presence of other supportive persons the court proceedings while the child testifies in order to promote the child's feelings of security and safety.
  10. To allow law enforcement agencies the opportuntiy to enlist the assistance of other professional personnel such as child protection services, victim advocates or prosecutorial staff trained in the interviewing of the child victim.
  11. With respect to child victims of violent or sex crimes or child abuse, to receive either directly or through the child's parent or guardian if appropriate, at the time of reporting the crime to law enforcement officials, a written statement of the rights of child victims as provided in this chapter. The written statement shall include the name, address, and telephone number of a county or local crime victim/witness program, if such a crime victim/witness program exists in the county.

Who Can Help

Support, Advocacy & Resource Center:  (509) 374-5391

Child Protective Services: (509) 737-2800

Local Police Agencies:

Connell Police Department - (509) 234-4141
Kennewick Police Department - (509) 585-4208
Pasco Police Department - (509) 545-3421
Prosser Police Department - (509) 786-1500
Richland Police Department - (509) 942-7360
West Richland Police Department - (509) 967-3425
Benton County Sheriffs Office - (509) 735-6555
Franklin County Sheriffs Office - (509) 545-3532

Prosecuting Attorneys Office:

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney - (509) 735-3591
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney - (509) 545-3543