Sexual Assault is a Crime of Violence

Sexual assault is a crime which can happen to anyone.  Sexual assault is any sexual conduct with another individual which occurs by force, the threat of force, manipulation, and without consent.

Many sexual assault survivors also have been victims of sexual abuse as a child or teenager.  If this has happened to you, help is available.  It is never too late to talk about it in a safe, non-judgmental setting and begin the healing process.

What Can You Do If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted?

  • Go to a safe place
  • Call a friend, family member, or the sexual assault crisis line for support
  • Seek medical help.  Get an emergency medical exam for treatment of injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and existing pregnancies. 
  • If you bathe, change clothes, or otherwise clean up, you may destroy evidence that can be used to prosecute the perpetrator in the event you pursue criminal charges.

Purpose of DVCC's Sexual Assault Survivors' Support Group

  • To provide emotional support for survivors of sexual assault which is nonjudgmental and sincere.
  • To reduce isolation and provide and opportunity to meet other survivors who have shared their experiences.
  • To provide survivors the opportunity to join together and to give a collective meaning to their experience. 
  • To provide an environment where experiences are validated and confirmed, and to provide opportunities for safe attachment.
  • To promote positive self-esteem and to counteract self-blame.
  • To provide an opportunity to promote self-dependency and empowerment.
  • To provide a caring environment in which grief is shared.

What Can You Do If Someone You Know Has Been Sexually Assaulted or Abused

  • A survivor of sexual assault has been made to feel helpless, powerless, and out of control by the perpetrator.
  • You can best help by offering emotional support, listening, and allowing the survivor to make choices concerning their welfare and issues related to the assault or abuse.
  • The survivor will need your understanding, not your advice or judgement.
  • Refer the Sexual Assault Survivor to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center:

Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
701-852-2258 or 1-800-398-1098 
24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Line  701-857-2500