Behaviors of Potentially Unsafe People
 

1. Unsafe people target a victim who they can have access to without making others suspicious and who they judge to be vulnerable in some way.  The way a person looks or acts is never the cause of sexual abuse or sexual assault.
2. Unsafe people then test their target using intrusive actions that make the potential victim feel nervous, confused, or unsafe. Some intrusions are:
   • inappropriate comments
   • extremely personal questions
   • standing or sitting too close
   • using touch to intimidate
3. If unsafe people find that the intrusions effectively confuse or intimidate the  person, they try to isolate the potential victim.
4. The unsafe person may use threats to control the victim.  Unsafe people may...
   • blame the victim
   • abuse a position of authority
   • tell the victim that no one will believe him/her
   • threaten to harm the victim or someone close to the victim 

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Things you can do to stay safer
 

• Sexual abuse can still happen even if a person follows every safety guideline.  Remember, no matter what the circumstances, sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault.
• If you find yourself in a situation that makes you uneasy, trust that “gut feeling,” and get away, if possible.
• Your best tool for staying safe is ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION.  When talking to the person who is making you feel unsafe:
  • make eye contact
  • use your serious, forceful voice
  • clearly tell the person to stop the behaviors that make you feel unsafe.

1. “Stop touching me”
2. “Don’t do that” 
3. “You’re making me feel uncomfortable, stop” 

• ALWAYS tell a trusted adult, such as your parents or a teacher, about someone who makes you feel unsafe.  If the person doesn’t believe you or won’t help, then keep telling until someone listens.

What are Mandated Reporters Required to Report? 

Mandated reporters are required to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elders or incapacitated adults. 

Reporters should provide the name, age and address or location of the person who is suspected of being abused, and as much information about the abusive situation as possible. 

Mandated Reporters are required to share with the local department of social services records and information related to any report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation regardless of who made the report. 

What is the Timeframe for Making Reports?

Virginia law 63.2-1606 says that reports should be made "immediately."

 Child Protective Services:  (800) 552-7096

Adult Protective Services:  (888) 832-3858

Is There a Penalty for Failure to Report?

Mandated Reporters who fail to make a report may be fined up to $500 for the first failure and up to $1000 for subsequent failures.  The Commissioner of the Department of Social Services shall determine and impose the fine for all mandated reporters except law enforcement. 

CPS and APS also will refer matters as necessary to the appropriate licensing, regulatory or legal authority for administrative action or criminal investigation. 

Who is a Mandated Reporter?

Any person licensed, certified, or registered by health regulatory boards listed in 54.1-2503, except in persons licensed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine:

• Board of Audiology and Speech Pathology: Audiologists; Speech-Language Pathologists: School Speech-Language Pathologists
• Board of Counseling: Licensed Professional Counselors; Certified Substance Abuse Counselors; Counseling Assistants; Certified Rehabilitation Providers: Marriage and Family Therapists; Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners
• Board of Dentistry: Dentists and Dental Hygienists
• Board of Funeral Director and Embalmers: Funeral Establishments, Services Providers, Directors, and Embalmers; Resident Trainees; Crematories; Surface Transportation and Removal Services; Courtesy Card Holders
• Board of Long-Term Care Administrators: Nursing Home Administrators
• Board of Medicine: Doctors of Medicine, Surgery, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and Chiropractic: Interns and Residents; University Limited Licensees; Physician Assistants; Respiratory and Occupational Therapists; Radiological Technologists and Technologist Limited: Licensed Acupuncturists; Certified Athletic Trainers
• Board of Nursing: Registered Nurses (RN); Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LNP); Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN); Clinical Nurse Specialists: Certified Massage Therapists; Certified Nurse Aides (CNA)
• Board of Optometry: Optometrists
• Board of Pharmacy: Pharmacists, Pharmacy Interns, and Technicians: Permitted Physicians: Medical Equipment Suppliers: Restricted Manufacturers: Humane Societies: Physicians Selling Drugs: Wholesale Distributors: Warehouses
• Board of Physical Therapy: Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants
• Board of Psychology:  School, Clinical, and Applied Psychological: Sex Offender Treatment Providers: School Psychologists - Limited
• Board of Social Work: Registered Social Workers; Associate Social Workers; Licensed Social Workers; Licensed Clinical Social Workers
• Any mental health provider as defined in 54.1-2400.1
• Any emergency medical services provider certified by the Board of Health pursuant to 32.1-111.5
• Any guardian or conservator of an adult
• Any person employed by or contracted with a public or private agency or facility and working with adults in an administrative, supportive, or direct care capacity
• Any person providing full, intermittent or occasional care to an adult for compensation, including but not limited to companion, chore, homemaker and personal care workers
• Any law-enforcement officer

What Rights do Mandated Reports Have?

• A person who reports is immune from civil and criminal liability unless the reporter acted in bad faith or with a malicious purpose.
• A person who reports has a right to have his/her identity kept confidential unless consent to reveal his/her identity is given or unless the court orders that the identity of the reporter be revealed.
• A person who reports has a right to hear form the investigating local department of social services confirming that the report was investigated.

Sexual Assault in the college setting can be a very confusing situation. Many people are not sure of what sexual violence/assault is or what their options are.

Sexual Assault is

A behavior is sexually violent if consent has not been given. Consent is not just permission, but permission that is intelligently and freely given. This means that if someone is being threatened or intimidated, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or is underage, that person cannot consent to sexual activity. Sexual violence can occur between total strangers or between people that know each other. Often times, perpetrators can be close friends, significant others, or even a family member. One thing to remember is that sexual violence does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or education level.

Sexual Assault on Campus Statistics

• 65% of attacks are under reported, making sexual assault one of the most drastically under reported crimes.
• 20-25% of women will be raped during their college career.
• 90% of women know the person who sexually assaulted or raped them.
• 75% of the time the victim and offender have both been under the influence of alcohol.
• 42% of women sexually assaulted in college tell no one about the assault.
• 5% of rape incidents are reported to the police.
• 10 times more rapes are reported to crisis lines than to the authorities.
• 42% of raped women expect to be raped again.

Sexual Assault and the effects on college-aged individuals

• 40% of rape survivors develop STD's as a result of sexual assault.
• 80% of rape victims suffer chronic physical or psychological problems over time.
• Rape survivors are 13 times more likely to attempt suicide than those who are not victims of crime. Rape survivors are also 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than victims of other crimes.
• In addition to physical and emotional damage, college students who have been victims of sexual assault suffer from a host of problems that can affect their academic achievement.
• In most cases, victims cannot perform at the same academic levels that they did prior to the attack.
• Sexual assault sometimes causes students to be unable to carry a normal class load or miss classes more frequently. This can often be a result of social withdrawal or a way to avoid seeing their attacker.
• In more traumatic incidents, victims leave the school until they recover, sometimes transferring to another college altogether.

What to do if you have been sexually assaulted?

• Call the RCASA 24-hour hot line for help at 540-371-1666
• Get to a safe place and contact someone you trust- a friend or family member
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible. STD's, pregnancy and injuries are all concerns for the sexual violence survivor. Evidence collection (to be used if you press charges) will also take place at this time. It is important that you do NOT bathe, douche, or change clothes after the assault in order to keep physical evidence in tact. (Evidence MUST be collected within 72 hours of the assault).
• Contact the RCASA hot line for support and crisis intervention. A Crisis Response Advocate can meet you at the hospital to help provide emotional support and information about your rights as a victim.
• Call the police and report the crime as soon as possible. If you are uncomfortable with reporting you may want to consider anonymous reporting.
• Keep in mind it is NEVER too late to seek help for sexual assault. Even if the violence took place years ago, you can still benefit from services at RCASA.

What to do if a friend has been sexually assaulted?

LISTEN

Be supportive and non-judgmental. Let the person express him/her rather than asking questions or immediately offering them advice.

BELIEVE

Try to be as accepting of the information they share with you. This is not the time to ask them many questions about what happened. Your job is to offer emotional support, not to justify the actions of the rapist or to question the victim’s story.

REASSURE

It is important that you do not add to the guilt that the victim is already feeling by blaming him or her. Let the person know that it is not their fault. Sexual assault is not about the physical act of sex. It is about one person's control over another person.

ENCOURAGE

Suggest seeking medical attention and calling the police. Urge him/her to call the RCASA hot line at 540-371-1666 for support and information. Do not try to make decisions for him/her- he/she must make their own decisions. The individual must try to regain control over their life and actions.

Links:

University of Mary Washington Health Center

Prevention programs cannot guarantee that you will never experience sexual assault.  However, you can most certainly reduce you risk by learning the facts about sexual assault through written prevention materials and educational programs.

“ Rape counselors and women who have been raped by acquaintances recommend that you run, not walk, from any man who displays any of these characteristics”:

• Emotional abuse (insults, uses belittling comments, ignores other opinions)
• Wants to control many elements of another’s life (how to dress, who friends should be, which movie to see or restaurant to eat at)
• Negative talk about women in general
• Jealousy for no reason
• Heavy drinking, drug use, or attempts at intoxicating others
• Agitation with one’s decision to not get drunk, have sex or accompany him to his room or apartment
• Refuses and gets angry about sharing the expenses of a date
• Uses physical violence, including grabbing or pushing
• Intimidation patterns (sitting too close, blocking your way with his body, speaking like he knows you better than he does, touching you without permission)
• Anger when unable to handle sexual and emotional frustration
• Displays of being smarter or socially superior than others
• A fascination with weapons
• Cruelty exhibited to animals, children or people he can bully

Individually they may not be significant but as part of a pattern or behavior these are considered warning signs of a potentially abusive person.

Tips On Risk Reduction:

• Let your friends know where you will be and when you expect to return
• Consider being with a group if you are dating someone for the first time.  Go out in groups several times before agreeing to go alone with someone.
• Use assertive communication.  Don’t rely on body language and hope your date gets the message
• If you say “no” and your date won’t listen, it is OK to be rude.  Yell, scream, run or whatever is necessary to maintain your safety.
• Have an alternative plan for transportation home. Have enough money for a cab or bus if necessary.
• Remember that accepting rides from someone you just met can be dangerous
• It is difficult to recognize the stages of sexual assault when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  You may miss an important “warning bell.”
• Avoid leaving your drinks unattended at parties, social gatherings or at dinner.  This will eliminate the opportunity for an offender to contaminate your drink with any easily accessible date rape drugs such as Rohypnol.

Elderly Risk Reduction

• Lock the door.
• Put on the chain or deadbolt lock.
• Close the curtains.
• Leave an outside light on at night.
• Leave an inside light on when you are coming home after dark.
• Use a peephole or window to see who is at the door before you open it.
• Never open the door to a stranger.
• Tell salespersons or repairmen to come back later (if you are home alone.)
• Do not ever say you are home alone.
• Hang up on obscene or annoying phone callers.

• If it is a person you don't know or don't know well.
• If the person says he/she has an appointment at your house, and you are alone.
• If the person says he/she has an emergency and needs to use the phone.

This chapter continues with tips for avoiding acquaintance rape.  It stresses that women have the right to set, communicate and be assertive about sexual limits. If a person ignores a woman’s wishes, acting quickly increase her chances of escape.

Tips on risk reduction and maintaining control:

• There is a better chance of identifying danger signals if sober
• Learn about a new date from friends and his previous dates
• Talk over the exact plans for the date in advance
• Share expenses on a date
• Take your own vehicle
• Set up a system with someone for a ride if stranded somewhere
• Take self defense courses
• Trust intuitive feelings, “vibes” or “voices”  (Very important because they are usually accurate sensors of danger).

Data for the study also pointed to ways to escape from assaults:

• Don’t quarrel with the rapist (it often leads to a complete rape)
• Yell and run (Crying and reasoning have some effect on assailant but they are greatly inferior).
• Try to remain calm
• Act quickly as soon as one feels the danger
• Fight forcefully if a decision is made to fight
• Talk to buy time until the situation changes, if necessary
• Feigning attacks of hysterics, vomiting, urinating or threatening the transmission of contagious disease have also worked
• Ultimately, however, each person needs to make their own decisions about what to in the potentially unsafe situations.

If a child, friend or associate tells you that they have been molested, raped or assaulted you need to let them know first that you believe them.  That is one of the most important things you will ever be able to do for them.

Next remind them, or tell them for the first time that they are NOT at fault.

Encourage them to call RCASA at (540) 371-1666.  RCASA will be able to help them figure out the next best step.

Educators and licensed care givers are mandated reporters.

What does that mean?  No “proof” is required, if a person has the indicators or has disclosed to you that they are being abused you must report it.

Child Protective Services in each locality:

Caroline County Social Services - (804) 633-5071

Fredericksburg City Social Services - (804) 372-1032

King George Social Services - (540) 775-0896

Spotsylvania County - (540) 583-7065

Stafford County - (540) 658-8720

Reports can also be made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1800-552-7096), seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
 

Male survivors of sexual assault are often a forgotten population. They are often unseen, neglected, and under served.  It is suspected they severely under reported.

Stereotypes and Myths

There are numerous myths and stereotypes that impact male victims’ ability to face their sexual assault. These include:

            Men are immune to victimization.

            Men should be able to fight off attacks.

            Men shouldn’t express emotion.

            Men enjoy all sex, so they must have enjoyed the assault.

            Male survivors are more likely to become sexual predators.

These stereotypes and myths can then lead to certain outcomes for male victims of sexual assault, including:

            Dramatic loss of self-esteem and belief in their masculinity

            Exaggerated self-blame

            Feelings of shame, guilt, anger

            Feelings of powerlessness, apprehension, withdrawal, and embarrassment

            Fears they won’t be able to protect and support their family

            Symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome

            Sexual Difficulties

            Self-destructive behavior (drugs, alcohol, aggression)

BARRIERS

 Male victims of sexual assault also may experience certain barriers to seeking support or services, either from friends and family or from organizations and institutions. 

SUPPORT            

It can be difficult for men to seek help for fear of how others will judge them.            Responses from friends and family can be damaging or not supportive. 

SAFETY 

Threats to the victim of a sexual assault or his family may have been made by the perpetrator. This can cause him to be silent.  In institutions, he may be forced to keep silent through implied and real threats both by the perpetrator and/or by others within the institution. 

PRIVACY 

He may resist reporting the sexual assault due to the need to repeat the story over and over again to the police, to prosecutors, and in court. He may be unwilling to share details of the assault in order to protect his family from societal judgment. 

SELF-BLAME 

He may blame himself for the attack because he was not able to fight the aggressor off. He may think that the assault was not rape because he became sexually aroused during the attack (i.e., he had an erection or ejaculated. This is a normal physiological reaction, NOT a sign of enjoyment.  

OUTCOMES 

Male sexual assault victims may experience a variety of outcomes that have an impact on their well-being.  

PSYCHOLOGICAL 

Sense of self and concept of “reality” are disrupted. Profound anxiety, depression, fearfulness and identity confusion may occur. Development of phobias related to the assault setting can happen, such as they could become hypochondriacs (imaginary ailments); paranoia and obsessive fear of bodily harm could set in; they could begin to withdraw from interpersonal contact and have a heightened sense of alienation; or stress induced psycho-physiological reactions could occur. Psychological outcomes can be severe for men because men are so socialized to believe that they are immune to sexual assault and because societal reactions to these assaults can be more isolating and stigmatizing 

HETEROSEXUAL MEN 

He may experience “homosexual panic” a fear that the assault will make him “become homosexual.” He may feel that he is less of a man 

RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships may be disrupted by the assault. Relationships may be disrupted by other’s reactions to the assault such as lack of belief or support. Relationships may also be disrupted by the victim’s reactions to the assault.