Sexual Assault
Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault- adult
women and men, children, teenagers, people who
are mentally and physically disabled, and the
elderly- regardless of race, gender, sexual
orientation, or economic status. Sexual assault is
a violent crime, not a sexual one. The assailant
uses sex to inflict violence and humiliation on the
victim and exert power and control over him or
her. Sexual offenses can include several crimes:
sexual assault, incest, sexual harassment, child
sexual abuse, marital rape, indecent exposure,
pornography, and voyeurism. Offenders may be
strangers to their victims, but in the vast majority
of cases the offender is known to the victim and
may be an acquaintance, a partner, a spouse, or
other family member.
What is Sexual Assault?
Under RSA 632-A, there are three levels of
sexual assault:
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault
is defined as sexual penetration, however
slight, into any opening (vagina, mouth, or
anus) against a person’s will (without consent)
or when the victim is physically helpless to
resist. It is a felony punishable by up to 10 to
20 years in state prison. A person is also guilty
of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault without
penetration when he or she touches the
genetalia of a person under the age of 13 for
the purpose of sexual gratification.
Felonious Sexual Assault
is often referred to as the “statutory rape
law” involving relations with someone between
the ages of 13 and 16. The legal age of consent
in New Hampshire is 16. Felonious Sexual
Assault also includes sexual contact, short of
penetration, with a person under 13 years old.
It is a Class B felony and is punishable from
3½ to 7 years in state prison.
Sexual Assault
is sexual contact with a person 13 years
old or older for the purpose of sexual
gratification. It is a misdemeanor punishable
by up to one year in the house of corrections.
http://sudoc.nhsl.lib.nh.us/rsa/LXII.htm
February 11-17, 2007
A Snapshot of Sexual Assault in
New Hampshire
A 25-year-old woman who was sexually
assaulted when she was a freshman in
college, as part of a fraternity initiation,
started attending a support group. She has
not told anyone about the assault until now
and has just begun treatment with a
therapist.
A woman called the support line to inquire
about support groups for male survivors of
childhood sexual abuse. Her boyfriend has
been in individual counseling for several
years and is now ready to talk with male
peers who have been in similar situations.
A professor called the local crisis center to
ask for assistance in how to support a
student. The student has not been attending
A mother of a survivor of stranger rape,
reported to the crisis center that her
daughter was drugged and raped over the
weekend. Her daughter was diagnosed with
clinical depression and has been unable to
get out of bed.
A survivor requested assistance from a
university crisis center to gain academic
relief.
Education advocates provided training, “Got
Respect: Healthy Relationships” to college
campus Wellness Educators.
A call was received regarding concerns about
sexual abuse due to inappropriate sexual
contact between 4-year-old boys.
A woman in her mid-30’s attended a final
restraining order hearing to request
protection from her ex-husband who was
charged with domestic assault. While on bail
condition he broke into the home and raped
her at gun point.
A referral was made regarding a college-aged
man who was sodomized by a group of other
men at a party. He refused medical treatment
and is very weary of police involvement.
An 18-year-old woman reported sexual abuse that
happened to her as a young child. She chose to
report the abuse in order to support her sister,
who was abused by the same relative.
A 14-year-old reported his mother watches
pornographic movies with him.
Crisis services were provided to a father whose
son was sexually assaulted and information on
therapy and other services were provided by an
advocate. The father called back and further
support was provided.
How Can You Help?
• Volunteer at your local • Contact your state and
crisis center. federal representatives and
• Donate to your local crisis urge them to support
center. Contact their office legislation that strengthens
the laws on sexual assault,
number to see how you can funds programs to help
best assist them. survivors of sexual assault,
• Contact media outlets and and raises awareness about
complain when the use the scope and severity of the
sexually exploitive imagery crime.
in the name if selling us • Speak up when you hear
products or providing someone make sexually
“entertainment.” derogatory, abusive, or
• Attend sexual assault harassing remarks.
awareness events in your • If you think a friend or family
community to voice your member has been sexually
support for survivors and assaulted talk to them, listen
for efforts to end sexual to them, believe them, and
violence in our society. offer your full support.
If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted
First, get to a safe place. Call the police, a
sexual crisis center, or a friend.
Do not change your clothes, bathe, douche, or
wash away any evidence.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency room to
be examined and have necessary medical and
legal evidence collected. A Forensic Sexual
Assault Medical Exam is available at any New
Hampshire emergency room within five days of
the assault. If you are afraid to go to the
hospital alone, an advocate from a local crisis
center can meet you there. The hospital will
also contact the police, but you are not required
to talk to an officer unless you want to.
specially trained to provide comprehensive care to sexual
assault survivors, who demonstrates competency in
conducting a forensic examination, and the ability to be an
expert witness. The SANE program mission is to avoid
further trauma to all sexual assault survivors entering the
health care environment by providing a compassionate and
sensitive approach, a timely medical/forensic examination
with complete evidence collection, appropriate referrals for
follow-up care and counseling, and testimony in court when
necessary. More than 50 Registered Nurses and advanced
practice providers have completed the required training to
become SANEs, and most New Hampshire hospitals now
have SANEs on staff.
If you suspect you were assaulted with the aid of drugs
which can render you unconscious and leave you with little
or no memory of the assault or the perpetrator, be sure to
tell the emergency room staff. They can test your blood and
urine for traces of these drugs, which can be slipped into a
drink and are generally tasteless, odorless, and colorless.
Symptoms of these drugs include feeling more intoxicated
than you normally do when drinking the same amount of
Bring a change of clothes with you to the hospital.
Any clothes worn at the time of the assault may be
collected as evidence.
If, for any reason, you choose to not contact the police
or go to an emergency room, and also if you do, you
can seek help and support of your local crisis center.
Confidential support and information are available 24
hours a day from crisis centers across New
Hampshire. Advocates are available to talk to anyone
who has been affected by sexual violence and abuse
whether it happened today or many years ago. Your
local crisis center can provide emotional support and
explain options and services available to sexual
assault survivors or their parents, partners, or
friends. Information you give to a crisis center is
confidential and will never be given out without your
expressed written permission.
Sexual assault is an act of violence and a crime. Being sexually
assaulted by someone you know does not make the crime any less
serious or traumatic and may have a longer lasting negative effect.
In fact, there may be additional trauma associated with sexual
assault by someone you know due to the violation of trust, shared
social space, and common friends. The vast majority of sexual
assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
Common fears among sexual assault survivors include worrying
that the attacker will come back, fear of being alone or of crowds,
and concerns about family and friends finding out about the attack.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered victims may also fear
seeking help after an assault out of concern that their report will be
taken less seriously or ignored because of the victim’s sexual
orientation. Male victims of sexual assault may worry that they will
be considered less “manly” if they report the assault. Anger,
frustration, and feelings of powerlessness and helplessness are
common feelings among survivors of any age, gender, or sexual
orientation. Reactions to the assault can also include
embarrassment, guilt, numbness, suspicion, denial, obsessions
with the assault, aversion to touch, and the disruption of a normal
sex life.
Healing from sexual assault begins when the survivor is able to
Know that you have done nothing to provoke or cause the
assault or the abuse. Sexual assault is always the
perpetrator’s fault, not the victim’s.
Join a support group. Your local crisis center can refer you
to a support group for sexual assault survivors of a qualified
therapist in your area. Talking with someone who can relate
to your experiences can be a great help.
Develop a support system. Keep in touch with friends who
are understanding and supportive. Know that you can speak
to someone at a sexual assault crisis center any time, day or
night, 365 days a year.
You may experience symptoms of stress and trauma such as
rage, terror, an inability to trust anyone, depression,
changes in sleeping and eating patterns, substance abuse,
exhaustion, or frequent crying spells. You are not going
crazy! Your mind and body are simply reacting to the
tremendous stress caused by a sexual assault. Talking to a
counselor or an advocate at a crisis center who is trained to
Jennifer Frank
Special Investigations Officer
University Police
x 2330
What is the Special Investigations and Victim Services Program?
The Special Investigations and Victim Services program was designed to assist
women who have been victims of violent crime.
The special investigations office employs a dual-trained official who has specialized
in victim advocacy and law enforcement. The main objective of this specialized
position is to assist victim’s through the criminal justice process providing
referrals to community agencies, and information to victim’s during their difficult
time.
By assisting victims in this way the bond between victim, justice system, and the
community is strengthened. Victim’s who feel supported, informed, and part of the
process make better witnesses. This ensures prosecution can present the strongest
case possible. With this closure victims often are made to feel whole sooner and
recover from the personal tragedy faster.
While being responsive to victims after the crime is important. Understanding that
the best way to help a victim is by preventing them from being one is key. So the
other major effort of this program is extensive outreach and education
programming. These efforts are collaborated with WSGR to promote a well
rounded community response to violent crime.
If you or someone you know
has experienced sexual
assault and would like
information on options,
referrals for services, and
support contact the crisis
center nearest you by
calling
1-[phone removed].
Created by:
Ryan Rush
Community Advisor
Plymouth State University
From the 2013 version of the site. Details, prices and links may be out of date, so check them against your own campus policies.