Prevention & Education Services

The goal of the Education & Prevention Program is to provide children and adults with instruction on rape and child abuse awareness, self-defense, personal safety and prevention skills in order to decrease their vulnerability to assault and abuse.

Surprisingly most people do not know the definition of sexual assault nor their rights should they be assaulted.

• Sexual assault is any sexual contact that occurs without the victim's consent.
• Consent may be absent due to force or fear of force, or because the victim is incapable of giving consent.
• Sexual assault is not a crime of passion. Sexual assault is a violent crime where sex is used as a weapon.
• Rape is an act of violence, power and control.
• Anyone can become a victim of sexual assault - women and men, teens and children, young and old. It is a community problem.
• Victims of sexual assault are NEVER to blame. Even if a victim uses poor judgment, no one deserves to be sexual assault.

• Teens 16 to 19 were three and one-half times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
• 68% of rapes occur between the hours of 6 pm and 6 am.
• 51% of the sexual assault cases studied in the Women's Safety Project survey were committed against young women between 16 and 21 years old.
• 80% - 90% of violent crimes against women are committed by someone of the same racial background as the victim.
• According to 2000 Crime Clock calculations there is one forcible rape every 54 minutes in the state of California and 1 forcible rape every 6 minutes nationwide.
• Sexual abuse is the most under-reported crime in the United States. Researchers estimate that as few as one in ten cases are reported to authorities.
• The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of whom do not report the offense.
• In California there were 9,785 forcible rapes reported to law enforcement in 2000. 83.8% were completed rapes and 16.2% were attempted rapes. Trends indicate that from 1995 to 2000 the number of reported forcible rapes overall had decreased 13.7%, however, the rate of reported forcible rapes for 2000 represented an increase of 2.5% from the number reported in 1999.
• In 2001, nearly 33,000 Californians sought crisis intervention services from 92 rape crisis centers across the state.
• An estimated 302,100 women and 92,700 men are forcibly raped each year in the United States.
• Around the world at lease 1 woman in every 3 has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Most often the abuser is a member of her own family.
• According to a study conducted by the National Victim Center, 1.3 women (age 18 and over) in the United States are forcibly raped each minute. That translates to 78 per hour, 1,871 per day, or 683,000 per year.
• Overall crime figures for the state of California from January to June 2000 show a 9.7% increase in the number of reported forcible rapes when compared to the same period in 1999.
• Last year more than a half million Californians attended a rape prevention or community education program sponsored by rape crisis centers.

• Know your home and car safety. Keep doors and windows locked. Over 50% of rapes occur in the home.
• Don't give out unnecessary information on the phone.
• Know your environment. Be aware of where you are.
• Communicate assertively. You have the right to say "NO" to anything which causes you discomfort.
• Trust your intuition. If you feel like something is wrong - it is.
• Be aware of power differences when alone with someone, even if it's someone you think you trust.
• Use assertive body language. Walk as if you know where you are going.
• Don't be afraid to yell or call for help, if necessary. Call attention to your situation.
• Be aware of alcohol/drug use. Over 65% of sexual assault incidents involve the use of alcohol/drugs by one or both individuals.

Many of the people we see at the Center Against Sexual Assault come to us weeks or months after the assault occurred and many are never reported. A typical scenario is when teenagers go to a party and find themselves in a dangerous situation. The person they came with leaves and they are left without a ride home, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This makes them an easy target. There is a high relationship between alcohol, drugs and date/acquaintance rape. Alcohol impairs your judgment and lowers your inhibitions. Ditching parties are another example of kids in a vulnerable situation. No one knows where they are and what's worse they are more afraid of their parent's anger at finding out, than of what could possibly happen to them. For example, three students out for a good time don't realize their drinks are being drugged, only to awaken hours later undressed, with the sensation that something horrible has happened. This is the typical drug facilitated rape. When at a party never leave a drink attended. A few ways to avoid these high-risk situations is to go out on double dates, or in groups. Carry extra money for a phone call or cab fare. Socialize with people who share your values.

Indicators Of Dangerous Dating Behaviors

• People who do not listen,
• People who ignore your wishes or boundaries,
• People who pressure you to do something you don't want to through guilt,
• People who are overly jealous and possessive,
• People who drink heavily or use drugs,
• People that do not respect and do not see you as their equals.

Awareness Is The Key To Prevention
It won't eliminate your chances of being assault, but will reduce them. Trust your instincts, they are usually correct. Always lest someone you trust know where you are. Take a self-defense class that includes awareness, assertiveness and physical techniques, it will help to empower and minimize your changers of becoming a victim.

Get to a safe place and call the police. Do not shower, bathe, douche, wash your hands, brush your teeth, or use the toilet. Don't change or destroy clothing. Don't straighten up. If you do, you may destroy important evidence. This ensures the best possible evidence collection.

The police will then contact the hospital and local rape crisis center. An advocate from CASA will meet you at the hospital to give immediate support and helpful information to cope with the trauma. If the victim seeks professional help immediately after the rape, he/she will be less likely to suffer from symptoms of rape trauma syndrome which includes emotional shock, disbelief, shame, fear of being alone, fear of being around other people, anxiety, depression among others. Last, but not least, know that it is not your fault. You are not alone and there is help available.