What To Do If You Or Someone You Know Has Been Raped

No one expects to be in the position of dealing with the aftermath of an attack, so here’s what you need to know.

-Find a safe location away from the perpetrator. Ask a close friend to be with you for support.

-If you are still in the location where you were raped (for example, if it happened in your apartment or dorm room), don’t clean, straighten up, or remove anything.

-Report the crime to law enforcement, campus police, or a trusted school administrator.

-Don’t take a shower, wash your hands, brush your teeth, eat, or smoke.

-Preserve all evidence of the attack—don’t wash your clothing or sheets, etc.

-Write down all the details you can recall about the attack and the perpetrator.
Read more: What to Do If You or Someone You Know Has Been Raped - Cosmopolitan

Why Most Victims Don't Report Rape

College women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than the rest of the population, yet 95.2% of rapes on campus will never be reported, according to the Department of Justice. The National College Women Sexual Victimization study, which surveyed 4,446 women, found that many survivors don’t want to believe that something as horrible as rape could have happened to them, so they deny that it was rape. Others are afraid they’ll be ostracized by their friends if they accuse a fellow student. And some aren’t sure that the attacker meant to harm them—since most rapes covered on the news involve a scary stranger wielding a weapon, it may be hard to imagine that an assault taking place in your own dorm room by a guy you know is also considered rape.

Read more: Why Most Victims Don’t Report Rape - Cosmopolitan

How To Protect Yourself From Rape

The majority of college rapes happen during the first few weeks of freshman or sophomore year, and the first few days of freshman year are the riskiest, according to the Department of Justice. “Because incoming college freshmen are navigating an unfamiliar environment, it’s more difficult for them to identify potential dangers and protect themselves,” says Peter Lake, PhD, director for the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University and author of Beyond Discipline. A big part of being able to recognize a risky situation is listening to your gut when something feels off—for example, noticing if you get a sketchy vibe from a guy. But since nothing about the college scene is “normal” yet for newbies, they have trouble picking up on those subtle warning signals. Plus, most freshman haven’t formed strong friend groups yet, so they’re more likely to get separated from the pack at parties. Stay safe with these tips from RAINN (The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization:

1. Scope out your campus. Whether you’re walking home from the library or a party, learn the safest way back to your residence: a well-lit route where there are people around and/or blue light emergency call boxes (identifiable by a blue light, these phones will connect you immediately with campus safety officials).

2. Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, or even just uncomfortable, go with your gut—leave the frat party, tell the dude you were flirting with that you don’t want to go home with him, whatever. Don’t worry about what others think or whether you’ll hurt someone’s feelings; your safety comes first.

3. Use your cell phone as a safety tool. Make sure it’s fully charged before you go out, and if you find yourself in a sketchy situation—for example, a dorm party with a guy who gives you a bad vibe—shoot a quick text to a friend, asking her to pick you up. (Rapists target women who are alone.) Also, prior to heading out to parties, make a plan to meet up with your friends at a specific time and location at the end of the night, just in case your phone dies.



Read more: How to Protect Yourself From Rape - How to Avoid Rape on College Campus - Cosmopolitan


Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

South Carolina Sheriff: 'You Need to Protect Yourself'

By Joshua Rhett Miller

Published November 01, 2011

FoxNews.com

 

•  Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, above, made the suggestion at a news conference on Monday while detailing an attempted rape on Sunday at Milliken Park in Spartanburg.
  
  
  
  

A South Carolina sheriff is making the extraordinary suggestion that local women arm themselves following the attempted rape of a woman at a local park, saying, "you need to protect yourself."

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, the county's top law enforcement officer since 2005, suggested local women apply for a permit to carry a concealed weapon during a news conference Monday about the attack on Sunday at Milliken Park in Spartanburg.

"It just struck me wrong that we keep telling everyone 'trust us, trust us, trust us,' but in reality, you need to protect yourself," Wright told FoxNews.com. "If you are not a convicted felon or someone who causes trouble or don't have any mental issues, buy a weapon to protect yourself and get some good training."

Walter Monroe Lance, 46, of Spartanburg, was charged Monday with kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and grand larceny in connection with the attack. Lance was ordered held without bond, Wright said.

Wright suggested that had the unidentified victim been armed, perhaps with a .45-caliber handgun concealed in a fanny pack, she would have stood a better chance fighting off her attacker.

"If she didn't shoot the guy, she could have at least stopped him and made him leave her alone," Wright said. "You can defend yourself."

Wright said he was "tired of looking at victims" of crimes whose perpetrators are arrested multiple times and are later released without significant jail time. Lance, for example, had been arrested more than 20 times, he said, including for offenses like rape, battery and resisting arrest. Wright characterized him as an "animal" during Monday's news conference.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/01/south-carolina-sheriff-need-to-protect-yourself/#ixzz1cwU2YwnU


Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com