VICTIM ADVOCATES

Victim advocates are often available on a 24-hour hotline, from a rape crisis center or other victim services organization, so you can reach them at any time.

Victim advocates can also go with you to the hospital or police department if you decide to get medical help or report your sexual assault to police. You don’t have to be alone.

Victim advocates can also explain your rights and connect you with other services.

Crime Victim Compensation can reimburse you for any financial losses from the sexual assault. This can include missing or damaged property, missed work, termination of a rental agreement, or costs for medical care or counseling.

There are some requirements for Crime Victim Compensation and a victim advocate can help you find out if you are eligible.

Victim advocates can help you file for a restraining order against the person who assaulted you if that option is available.

Restraining orders go by different names (including orders of protection or protective orders), but their purpose is to protect you from someone you have had a close personal relationship with who might cause you harm. They are issued by the court to prohibit a person from illegal behaviors like stalking, threats, assault, destroying personal property, or contacting you by phone, mail, or in person. Restraining orders can also include “stay away orders,” specifying that the person cannot visit your home, school, or workplace, or get within a certain distance of you.

Victim advocates can often connect you with counseling services, which may be free, or you may pay for them at a reduced rate based on your annual income.

Counseling can help you explore your feelings as a result of the sexual assault and start on the path toward healing.

There may be other rights that you have related to work, school, housing, or immigration.

This can be very complicated, so victim advocates are the best people to ask about these.

Victim advocates can generally keep what you tell them confidential (just between the two of you). You can ask what they can and cannot keep confidential.

However, there are some situations where victim advocates (or others) might be required to report your sexual assault to police or other authorities. This is called mandated reporting.

In many states, victim advocates must report any abuse of a person who is under age 18 or someone who is over 18 but limited in their ability to take care of themselves because of their age or disability.

For more specific information for people who are under 18 or 18 years or older, please read below.

If you are under 18 years old, there are certain people who are legally required to report to authorities if they think you were sexually assaulted, or physically abused. These mandated reporters include advocates, teachers, coaches, legal guardians, doctors, and nurses.

Whether or not they have to report might depend on your age and relationship with the person who assaulted you, and whether they might continue to hurt you. For example, you could be hurt again if the person lives with you, or if they are a teacher or coach who you see regularly.

If someone reports your sexual assault, police may start an investigation and take action regardless of whether you want that. A lot depends on your age, state laws, and what happened to you.

It can be very helpful to talk with a victim advocate. But if you are worried about your sexual assault being reported, you can do two things when you call:

• Don’t tell the advocate you are the one who was sexually assaulted, or
• Don’t tell the advocate your name or age.

That way, they won’t have enough information to report your sexual assault.

If you are over 18, victim advocates do not typically have to report your sexual assault to authorities. But there are some exceptions. For example, victim advocates may have to report your assault if you are limited in your ability to take care of yourself, because of your age or disability.

If someone reports your sexual assault, police may start an investigation and take action regardless of whether you want that. A lot depends on your age, state laws, and what happened to you.

It can be very helpful to talk with a victim advocate. But if you are worried about your sexual assault being reported, you can do two things when you call:

• Don’t tell the advocate you are the one who was sexually assaulted, or
• Don’t give the advocate your name or other identifying information.

That way, they won’t have enough information to report your sexual assault.

If you decide to contact a victim advocate, you can do so in the city or county where the sexual assault occurred, or somewhere else. For example, if you were sexually assaulted while you were away from home (on vacation, at school, on a work trip), you can contact a victim advocate in your home city.

You can talk with a victim advocate by calling RAINN, the national sexual assault hotline, at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Or you can search for victim advocacy centers by state or zip code. Just go to the RAINN website, which also offers helpful information about healing, safety planning, and talking to loved ones about sexual assault.