1. Spring 2012 PAAVE/CARE Training

2.  What is S/A?
 Research and Stats
 Myths & Facts
 Confidentiality
 Victim Centered approach to interviews &
reporting
 SANE Exam
 Effects on Victims
 Resources for reporting & healing

3.  In 2006, there were 272,350 incidents of rape
and sexual assault (NCVS) in USA
 Women 14+ w/ cardinal knowledge
 14% of undergraduate women report sexual
assault during college (Campus S/A Study)
 2 out of 10 rapes on college campuses are
committed by strangers

4.  2008 – 1307 rapes reported to lawenforcement
 LVMPD received more than 3200 reports of SA
during the first quarter of 2009, this includes all sex
crimes and kidnapping
 State as a whole has a 32% clearance rate
 1319 incidents:
58% - insufficient ev., victim recanted, uncooperative, no contact, or unable to ID
9% unfounded
2% zeroed or other
7% open or submitted
1% handled by other jurisdiction
8% closed by exception, leads exhausted, suspended
1% denied by DA or dismissed
14% closed by arrest, summons or warrant issued

5.  Victim and suspect don’t know each other
 Weapon was used
 Signs of injury r atruggle are present
 Victim is hysterical
 Victim has never reported before
 Suspect is not likeable
 Victim actively participate in investigation
 Victim never changes their account of what
happened
 Victim is certain about the details of the assault

6.  Who commits the crime of sexual assault?
 How does force happen?
 What kind of injuries occur?
 How does a victim react?
 Who are victims?

7.  Very few victims report immediately
 Many victims have a number of factors that
limit their perceived credibility which is
perceived to be atypical of ‘real victims’
Who are victims?
- Vulnerable populations
- 16-24 year olds most likely to report, male
and females…

8.  NRS 200.366 defines sexual assault
 Other crimes include SSS
 These crimes often do not occur alone; DV,
Strangulation, kidnapping, robbery
 New Legislation – Strangulation and SA
Protection Orders

9.  “A person who subjects another person to sexual
penetration, or who forces another person to
make a sexual penetration on himself or another,
against the victim’s will or under conditions in
which the perpetrator knows or should know that
the victim is mentally or physically incapable of
resisting or understanding the nature of his
conduct, is guilty of sexual assault”

10.  Between 28-42% of secual assaults are
reported
 Only 32% of those reported restult in an
arrest
 100 S/A = 28 reports = 9 arrests
 91% of all sesual assaults result in no action
taken against the suspect

11.  What is Real Rape?
 How do we judge victims?
 How can that judgment affect how we serve
survivors?
 Media portrayal of rape accusations show us just
how easy it is to believe the suspect’s accounts
and discount the victim’s statements

12.  Perpetrators – how do we know a person is a
sex offender?
 Society often provides excuses
 Engage victim and gains trust
 Knows what they are doing is wrong but justify
their actions
Ctr for Sex Offender Mgmnt
look at reasons for perpetration – opportunistic,
pervasicely angry, sexual gratification, vindictive
Anger –power - sadistic

13.  Non- Stranger Suspect
 False Reports
 Kanin/Lisak study

14.  Confidentiality is provided to victims under
NRS.178.5691
 Specifically recognizes the need for privacy
on SA cases in 200.377, they further recognize
the state has compelling interest in ensuring
that sexual assaults are reported

15.  Victim Cooperation is necessary
 Victims should be the center of the
investigation
 Decisions are based on impact on victim and
with the victim’s knowledge
 Work as a team

16.  Requires on to confront one’s own preception
regarding sexual violence issues
 Establishes and reinforces a standard of care
and treatment of survivors
 Affects the perception of the services’
effectiveness to ensure response
 Improves quantity and quality of reporting
 How responders react affects victims
receptivity to medical treatment and to
provide information/coperation

17.  Performed at UMC
 VAWA 2005 mandates that victims may not
be charged for the exam and that it does not
require a police report
 Exams can be conducted up to seven days
after, and for best result, within 72 hours

18.  Triage
 Medical Forensic History
 Photography
 Exam and Evidence Collection
 STI evaluation and acare
 Pregnancy Risk Evaluation and Care

19.  What are the common drugs associated with
DFSA?
 Only 39% of reported cases are DFSA
 Most of these cases the victim willinigly took
the drugs or alcohol
 Focus should be on the prepetrators’
behavior

20. Go to a safe place
Seek medical attention immediately. University Medical Center (UMC)
is the only hospital that will do a rape kit. You may be injured more
seriously than you realize. Medical evidence will be needed if you
decide to press charges.
Call University Police (895-3668) or CALL 911. Reporting is not the
same as pressing charges.
Call the Counseling and Psychological Services (895-3627).
Do not blame yourself-you are the victim of a crime.
Do NOT bathe, shower, douche, or change clothes until you have
talked with the police or nurse. However, if you have already done these
things, please do not let his stop you from seeking medical care. If you’ve
changed clothes , place the clothes you were wearing in a paper bag and
them to the hospital with you.
Remember you may have an advocate to help every step of the way

21.  Affected by victims background
 Some behavior may appear counterintuitive
 (not fighting back, mot reporting, continuing
to see the assailant)
 Most victims report heightened fear,
avoidance, re-experiencing the crime, and
bypervigilance.
 Physical and Emotional reactions

22.  Can be short or long term
 Cutting/self-mutilation
 Eating disorders
 Depression
 Alcohol and substance abuse
 Re-entrance in to violent relationships
 PTSD
 Academic Career
▪ Shorter Class Load, Not graduating on time, missed
assignments, avoiding perpetrator at school

23.  Cultural Norms and Social Interactions guide
human behavior
 Victims must come to their own
understanding about how or why the rape
happened so they can integrate this into their
psychology
 Micro – within the victim, impacted by Macro
systems

24.  Expressed – openly displays emotion, may be
agitated, restless, talk, cry, shout, swear, or
laugh
 Controlled – emotions are contained, most of
the survivor’s energy is directed toward
maintaining composure. They may sit calmly,
be detached, logical, downplay their fear,
sadness, anger or anxiety