|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:53 pm
All of this information in this sticky was borrowed from the "Information and Resources" sticky in Lock_Shock_Barrel's guild Security Blanket (with her permission, of course). Table of Contents:Post 1: Self-Defense information. Post 2: Rape prevention and information/tips. Post 3: Support Lines/Websites.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:53 pm
Defense MechanismsYour Brain  Why is your brain a defensive tool? Your brain is your best weapon. It has been optimized by evolution to keep you alive. It is always with you, ready to be used, and you can exercise it without leaving your chair. Your brain creates your attitude, which is one of the most important survival characteristics you can possess. If you believe, deeply and truly, that you are worth protecting, and if you project that attitude to those around you, most criminals will simply leave you alone. The best self-protection for most crimes is prevention, and you can easily prevent many crimes just by being aware (using your eyes, your ears, and yes, your brain) of who and what is around you. If prevention fails, and you have to use some of the other tools and techniques here, your brain will automatically bring forth the physical moves you have practiced. A strong, survival-oriented attitude, coupled with some specific physical training is a devastating combination that will triumph over someone who tries to harm you. Martial Arts  Are martial arts good for self-defense? Martial arts are wonderful for exercise and confidence building, but we feel they are overrated for self-defense because they take so much time and work to master and maintain, some are ill-taught, and because police have found that defensive tactics and similar techniques are more effective "on the street." Another problem is having to "pull" strikes and kicks with a partner. You'll do on the street what you do in practice. Where can I learn more about martial arts? You can always google to find a martial arts location in your area, or you can call the police and ask them. You can always look in the yello pages of your local phone book as well. Martial arts can be relaxing too. It is not just a fighting technique. Unarmed fighting What is Unarmed fighting? Unarmed, or empty-handed, fighting is that done without any kind of weapon except your body parts. It differs from martial arts in that the best programs are designed specifically for women. An effective 20 to 25 hour course can teach you how to defend yourself, and render an assailant unconscious. Where can I learn more? Look in your local white or yellow pages under self-defense for Model Mugging, Impact, Bamm, or RAD (Rape Aggression Defense). There are also several studios with web pages, so a search engine should be able to turn up some useful hits. Look for a training program that is taught by women, and that includes "fights" with men wearing special protective gear so that you can hit, punch, and kick full force. Dogs Will a dog protect me? Dogs are wonderful companions, large ones are intimidating (to potential perpetrators) outdoors and in cars, loud ones a deterrent from behind a locked door, and most an excellent early warning system. Their superior hearing allows them to detect and warn of intruders long before humans might notice (a "furry alarm system"). Dogs can discourage potential attackers merely by their presence. Interviews with career criminals indicate that dogs are a factor in their selection of victims. Several women have reported people actively avoiding them on the street when accompanied by large dogs. Dogs can actively participate in the defense of their human companions, but not all dogs do this well. This may either be instinctive or trained. Training requires a substantial investment, both for the dog and the owner. If you have a dog, you should not count on it as your primary, or only, method of defense. ** Note: For the people who are afraid of dogs, Siamese cats can be trained like attack dogs, they were once used to protect temples. Alarms and whistles What are personal alarms? A personal alarm is a noisemaker, usually battery-operated, that makes a loud, piercing noise when it is set off. Lung powered whistles, often called "rape whistles" also fall into this noise-maker category. Why are personal alarms over-rated? Believing that someone will come to your rescue when you blow a whistle or set off a siren is a wonderful fairy tale. Don't fall for it. Not only are noise-makers and rape whistles ineffective at deterring crime, they are likely to do more harm than good, for several reasons. Counting on an alarm to summon aid means that you are depending on someone else to come forth to rescue you. That is, you are betting your life on the hope that someone will hear the alarm, and will respond, and will be capable of stopping the attack. That's a lot of 'ifs' that are out of your control. The act of activating the alarm or blowing a whistle can take anywhere from 2 to 20 seconds, but the outcome of an attack is usually decided within the first 8 to 10 seconds. So, if the noise doesn't work, you may be out of time, the loser, before you can try other options. Screaming can sometimes be effective, since the human voice has an impact that is quite different from a mechanical sound. But instead of just making noise, you could be doing much more constructive things that would decrease your likelihood of victimization, such as running away, kicking, striking effective blows, counterattacking with pepper spray, or reaching for a weapon. Stun guns and Tasers What are stun guns? Tasers? Stun guns are hand-held, battery-powered electronic devices designed to deliver an electric shock to an attacker. They are not guns in the traditional sense of the word. A stun gun has two metal contacts which need to be pressed against the attacker. Tasers (also battery-powered) propel two metal barbs over a distance of several yards. These barbs, connected to the hand-held unit by wires, are intended to attach themselves to the attacker. These wires are then electrified to incapacitate the assailant at a distance. These devices stop attackers by pain, rapid fatigue of their muscles, and/or overriding the body's neuromuscular system and disrupting voluntary muscle control. Are stun guns and tasers legal? It depends on where you live. In the United States, certain states and municipalities have laws which restrict the ownership or use of stun guns or tasers by people other than the police. Given the vast number of jurisdictions in this country, and the rapidity with which laws can change, it is necessary for each individual to research the laws of her own state and municipality. You could check with a lawyer, your police department, your state's attorney general, or perhaps a dealer of self-protection equipment. You should probably check with more than one of these sources, since experience has shown that incorrect and conflicting answers are common. Another option is to read the laws yourself. Copies of your state's statutes can be found on the Internet and in public libraries. Also, courthouses typically have law libraries which are open to the public. As an example, according to current Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 140, Section 131J, both Stun guns and Tasers are illegal for civilians to possess. Do they work? Based on manufacturers' and dealers' claims, one would think that these devices are remarkably powerful defensive tools which unfailingly stop assaults. Reality, however, sometimes falls short of marketing hyperbole. To be effective, the stun gun, a contact weapon, must be held in contact with the assailant for a number of seconds, or he must voluntarily break off the attack. Various stun gun manufacturers are coming out with new units with ever increasing claimed voltage. They still suffer from the traditional downsides, the principal of which is the necessity of having to hold the unit in contact with your assailant for as much as 5 or 6 seconds, during which time he will not exactly be cooperative. Other factors include battery strength, voltage, and the fact that you must be close to your attacker. There is a new generation of Tasers that have recently come onto the market. Law enforcement magazines and first person reports have been very positive with respect to the effectiveness of the new higher wattage tasers. While the "older" models had outputs in the 5 to 14 watt range (probably used in the much publicized Rodney King incident), these new devices have outputs up to 26 watts. Note that there are civilian and law enforcement versions. For instance, one Taser manufacturer limits civilians to their 18 watt model having a range of 15 feet, while the LE version's specs are 26 watts and 21 feet. There are many variables affecting the efficacy of these devices, including model, wattage, contact time, battery strength, and so on. The taser must be aimed at, and hit your attacker. You only have one, or at most two, sets of darts in a taser. Aerosol sprays What kinds of chemical defensive sprays are there? Older defensive sprays, often generically called tear gas, contained chemical compounds such as CS (Orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile) and CN (Chloroacetophenone). Today, the most popular, the safest and the most effective defensive spray is OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), also known as Pepper Spray. What is Oleoresin Capsicum (pepper spray)? Pepper spray is a natural derivative of hot peppers. The essence is extracted, combined with a carrier and propellant, and put into a spray canister. When it is sprayed into the eyes and face on an attacker, it is extremely painful, but it does not rely on pain for its effectiveness. OC causes physical effects even in people who are "feeling no pain." It makes the eyelids slam shut or spasm, causing hampered vision or even temporary blindness. When even a small amount is inhaled, it constricts the bronchial tubes, causing extreme choking and coughing, though it does not cut off breathing. It is usually effective on most people and animals, including the mentally ill and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Pepper spray comes in various concentrations, and various degrees of heat (measured in Scoville Heat Units, or SHUs). If you're going to get OC, you should purchase a product which has an SHU rating of 1 to 2 million or more. A 1% to 5% concentration is the best range. Sometimes concentrations higher than 5% do not atomize well, and are therefore less effective; also, they lengthen the recovery time beyond the usual 45 minutes or so, and there is no advantage to that in personal defensive situations. Pepper spray has been used by police and federal law enforcement organizations for decades, and it has an excellent safety and effectiveness record. It is probably the best "general purpose" self-defense tool that you can find, though nothing is 100% effective. The spray may not work on some violent, goal-oriented, people, and may not work fast enough to be effective against someone who is armed. Is OC spray legal? That depends on your locality. The legality of these products runs the gamut from anyone can buy it, to, as in Massachusetts, you need a license to purchase and possess it, to some locations where currently it's illegal no matter what. It is illegal under FAA regulations to have in carry-on luggage on any airplane, but it is OK to have it in checked baggage. For further information about this, please see the FAA Press Release APA 102-98. Since such policies can and do change, you should search the main FAA site to see whether there are any updates. Also,be sure that it is legal to possess at your destination. Where can I buy OC spray? This depends on the laws in your area. It can vary from the hardware store to a firearms store to a supermarket. Check the Yellow Pages for a firearms, sporting, or police supply store. Why do I need a class to learn to use it? Police carry OC spray, but they generally aren't allowed to until they take a class. You should have similar training if possible. Most failures of OC to effectively control a situation stem from the inappropriate application or use: too near, too far, or too much spray used. Training will show you how to avoid these mistakes. Proper use of OC is not like hosing a bug down with a can of bug spray! Persuader-Kubotan What is a Persuader (also called a Kubotan)? A 5 1/2" long cylinder made of plastic or metal which you attach your keys to. It can be used for pressure point manipulation, locks, or striking. Where can I buy a Persuader? They can be purchased from some hardware and firearms stores, mail-order, online, or at a class. Just because you have one, doesn't mean it can be used effectively without training. Firearms Ugh. I don't like guns! You are not alone. Don't let that keep you from learning something about them, however. Where can I get training? There are several different kinds of firearms training. There is basic safety and marksmanship training that everyone who has a gun needs, and there is more specialized defensive firearms training that is specifically for those who have guns for self-protection (as opposed to hunting, or sports). For basic safety and marksmanship, you can usually find good training quite locally. Regardless of what you might think of the NRA, they have created excellent introductory courses. You don't have to join the NRA to take these courses. Two courses that are quite good in theory are Home Firearm Safety, and Basic Pistol. Whether the courses are actually good in practice depends on who teaches them. You can ask the NRA for a list of certified instructors in your area, and try to pick out a woman if that would make you more comfortable, or you can go to a couple of local gun shops and ask what instructors they recommend, or you can call local firearms stores and gun clubs to ask whether they offer instruction. For defensive firearms training, it is wise to be very, very selective. There are a number of excellent, private gun schools around the country. Several of these that AWARE is acquainted with are (alphabetically): Defense Training International in Laport, CO, Firearms Academy of Seattle in Kirkland, WA, Gunsite Training Center in Paulden,AZ, InSights Training Center in Bellevue, WA, Lethal Force Institute in Concord, NH, and Thunder Ranch in Mountain Home, TX. Others are also very good. Additionally, there is a list of gun schools that appears from time to time on the Internet. How should I decide what kind of gun to get? If you are thinking of getting a gun, get training first. If that isn't possible, get training a soon as you get your gun. Owning a gun without getting the right kind of training is like owning a bathing suit without knowing how to swim -- you may look good, but you won't be able to save your own life in an emergency. The very best way to figure out what kind of gun is right for you is to go to a club or a course where you have the opportunity to shoot several different types and sizes of guns, so that you can learn about their differences, what they feel like to shoot, how easily you are able to handle them, and how accurate you are with them. Pinpoint accuracy isn't necessary for self-defense, but the better you can shoot in class the more confidence you will have in your ability to shoot under stress. Most gun magazines run frequent articles on the selection of a self-defense gun and also reviews of individual firearms. Note that not all articles may be completely objective, so get advice from several sources. Where can I learn more about firearms? There are several excellent books that tell you a lot about what you need to know if you have a gun. There is an excellent magazine called Women&Guns that has many articles about all aspects of firearms and many reviews of particular guns and other equipment. AWARE board members, one of them a lawyer, write some of these articles. Check out the magazine, including some material from back issues, at the Women&Guns website. Improvised weapons Once you know how to fight, you can easily improvise a weapon that will assist you. A pen, table knife, or any long thin object can double as a Persuader. An effective impact weapon can be created by dropping something small and dense (a cake of soap, an ashtray) into a sock, pantyhose toe, or shirt sleeve with a knot tied at the wrist. The range of potential improvised weapons is limited only by your imagination, but you should not depend on "found" weapons unless your usual tools are unavailable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:54 pm
Rape. Prevention.This will not prevent rape completely but it will help lessen chances. *Keep doors/windows secured with locks. *If walking or jogging, stay out of secluded or isolated areas and arrange to do the activity with at least one other friend, rather than alone. It is best to engage in activities during daylight hours. *Try to appear strong, confident, aware, and secure in your surroundings. *Keep car doors locked while driving, check back of car for intruders prior to getting in, and park in open, well-lighted areas. *On public transportation, sit near the driver or up front if possible; avoid sitting near groups of young men obviously associated with one another. *Consider taking a self-defense class, which can promote self-confidence and provide useful skills and strategies for different situations. *Carry items that can call attention to you if needed (whistles, personal alarms, etc.) *If an assault attempt is initiated, scream loudly and/or blow a whistle. *Do not hitchhike. If your vehicle breaks down and someone offers to give you a ride, ask the person to call for help while you stay locked in your vehicle. General Tips* Get Help! Even if there is not a scratch on your body, rape is an extremely serious trauma and a deep injustice. No one should go through the trauma of rape alone. You're probably going to need many kinds of help for at least a couple of months from friends, associates, and professionals. You deserve all the help you need, no matter what the circumstances of the rape. A common problem for rape victims is that it's very difficult to ask for help because the rape has made them feel ashamed, weak, and wounded. If you're finding it difficult to ask for help, here's what to do. Pick a special friend and ask that friend to help you find more help. Ask that special friend to help you think of other people who would be good for different kinds of help. Ask your friend to make the phone calls for you. You don't have to tell your support people everything. And the people you ask for help don't have to be experts on rape, and they don't necessarily have to be people you know well. Pick people whom your intuition tells you are smart and caring people. * Always have a support person accompany you to appointments, meetings, and discussions pertaining to the rape. Never go alone to deal with the rape, whether it's an appointment with a detective, a talk with your family, a routine visit to a victim assistance center, or a brief meeting with a landlord, boss, or teacher. Bring someone with you, no matter how minor the encounter. In fact, it's a very good idea to have someone at your side even when you're making phone calls about the rape. Here are some of the reasons it is so important that you as a rape victim have someone accompany you: There is still a very strong tendency in our society for people to blame, disbelieve, or ostracize rape victims. Having a support person at your side is your absolute best protection against abuse by others because the person at your side is a witness to the other person's actions. Having someone at your side steadies you and makes you feel strong. Even at seemingly insignificant encounters, such as asking a teacher to postpone a test because you were raped, you can be suddenly thrown off balance if the person's response is cold and unsympathetic. Being with a friend on these occasions not only serves to prevent these kinds of responses, it also protects you from being completely devastated and thrown off balance if they occur. The person who accompanies you can help you remember information, and help you remember the questions you wanted to ask. The person who accompanies you can and should take notes. Having your support person take notes is an additional means of preventing abuse. Having support persons accompany you to appointments and meetings regarding the rape keeps these people informed and engaged in what you're going through. Because they know what you're going through, they can better support you in the future. Again, the person you choose to accompany you doesn't have to be an expert on rape. Your support person also does not have to be the same person who accompanies you on every occasion. In fact, it's a good idea to have different persons accompany you so no one person becomes overly stressed. * Treat your support persons well. Remember, the friends who are helping you are also probably feeling very upset and frightened by what you're going through. They probably feel at a loss for exactly what they should be doing, and helpless that they can't solve it all for you. So here's some things you can do that will help your support person be better able to help you. Always be very clear with your friend exactly what it is you would like them to do. Tell them you know they can't solve it all. Stay in good communication with the people who are helping you. Thank them repeatedly for standing by you. And do remember, one person can't do it all. If you see that your friend is getting overwhelmed, ask your friend to help you find someone else to help, too. * Get all your questions answered as soon and as accurately as possible. Unanswered questions create intense anxiety for rape victims, and the last thing you need is more anxiety. Here's an example. The day after making a police report, a rape victim realizes the officer didn't tell her what's going to happen next. As the hours pass she becomes increasingly anxious. Are they going to arrest him? Am I supposed to be doing something else? Is a detective going to call me? When is the detective going to call? Instead of suffering with the anxiety of these questions it's crucial that you get the answers as soon as possible. Throughout the time of dealing with the rape, you're going to have all kinds of questions like this going through your mind. Get your questions answered as soon and as accurately as possible. Don't feel ashamed or shy about asking. You have a right to get complete and detailed answers to all your questions. Asking lots of questions of the authorities you deal with is also helps prevent abuse from the authorities. It lets them know you're paying attention. If you don't feel satisfied with the answers you get, call the person's boss, call another official, a victim advocate, or call someone on the next shift. But don't suffer the anxiety of unanswered questions. If you feel too overwhelmed to make the calls, ask a friend to make the phone calls for you. In fact making phone calls and helping you get accurate information is a good example of the kind of thing you can ask a friend to do. * Establish Solid and Reliable Telephone Communication. Making sure you have good and reliable telephone communication is critical to your safety, critical to getting a good response from authorities, and it is essential to preventing isolation. Leave complete phone messages. Most of the phone calls you make are going to be answered by voice mail or message machines. Leave complete information about what you want and complete information about how and when the person can get back to you. Take a minute before you get on the phone to think about what you want to say ahead of time. If you don't have a message machine. Try to get one. Or, make arrangements with a reliable friend so that people can leave messages with her or him. Stay in close communication with the people who are helping you. If you don't speak English, don't hesitate to leave messages in your own language. Officials are required to get your message translated. Be sure and speak very slowly and clearly since the person listening to your message may not speak your language perfectly. For more information on what to do if you don't speak English, see Special for Immigrant Women. * Keep a Notebook. It's virtually impossible to keep track of all the information, names, phone numbers, case numbers, appointments, and legal terms, that will come flooding over you as you deal with the rape. The only way to keep these things from spinning out of orbit is to keep them written down all in one notebook. Writing everything down in a notebook will also give you a good sense of security and control. In addition to keeping track of information, use your notebook to write down questions you want to ask and points of information you want to remember to tell others. And when you're in a meeting or interview, have your support person take notes for you. * Prepare a two minute summary of your case. The intense emotions you feel following a rape can overtake you unpredictably, especially when you are talking with others about the assault. When this happens your communication can easily become fragmented, frantic, and incoherent. These emotional swings and frantic communication following a rape are completely normal. And they should also be understandable to others. The problem is that many people are unable or unwilling to deal with the intensity of these emotions. They stop listening to you right at the time when you most need to be heard. So here's a suggestion that can help you immensely. Write a two or three minute summary of your story. Make this summary as professional as possible. Then read over your summary every time before you get on the phone or go to meetings pertaining to the rape. It will help put you in a frame of mind where you can communicate factually and coherently about the rape. You will be amazed how much more seriously officials will treat your case when you can present your story coherently. * Take time to think things out and prepare before getting on the phone or walking into a meeting that deals in any way with the rape, whether with family, associates, or officials. In addition to going over your one paragraph summary of the rape, here's a brief check list that you can use to prepare for talking with others about the rape: What is the main point(s) I want to communicate? What is the main result I want? What are the main questions I want to ask? What emotional tone do I want to communicate? What is the most likely obstacle I could encounter? What is my best argument to overcome the obstacle? Write down your thoughts and questions, and always have a pen and paper ready to take notes. Go over the list and your answers with your support person. The best way to do all this is to take 15 minutes before any meeting or take 5 minutes before any phone call and focus on exactly what you want to accomplish. Doing this gives you control and keeps you from being thrown off balance by other people's responses. It also greatly increases the chances that you'll get what you need from your interactions with others. * Never make final, on-the-spot, decisions on important matters on the phone or in meetings. Ask questions, and then tell the person or official that you're going to think it over and that you'll get back to them. Officials often try to pressure victims into making quick, on-the-spot decisions. They often do this in order to pressure you into decisions that you wouldn't make if you had time to think about on your own. You can easily protect yourself from these pressures by always telling the person you will think it over and give them a call with your decision the next day. * Don't rely on work officials, school officials, church officials, union officials, or housing officials to handle or investigate your rape. In the first place, these people have little or no experience in the investigation of rape and they will almost certainly make a disastrous mess of your case. Often they will so mishandle witnesses and evidence that they damage the possibility of a successful criminal investigation. Second, none of these officials have the power or authority to carry out a criminal investigation of the rape, nor do they have the power to arrest. Most important of all, bosses, school officials, church officials, union officials and housing officials likely have a serious conflict of interest in your case, and that conflict will heavily favor the rapist. These officials usually have a strong interest in wanting to cover up the fact that a rape occurred in their institution. And you, the victim, can easily be sacrificed to the cause. If the rapist is a coworker, class mate, or church associate, and you need the organization to act to remove the rapist, use the police and courts to develop the evidence needed for removal. * If you are the parent of a victim of child sexual abuse or a mandated reporter of child abuse, DO NOT rely on Child Protective Services to investigate. Report the case to police. Child Protective Services (called Child Welfare Agencies in some states) do not have the authority, nor are they trained, to carry out criminal investigations, nor do they have the power to arrest. Child Protective Services have only one power and that is the power to remove children from the home. And they are free to exercise this power at the lowest threshold of evidence. It is far too easy for a Child Protective Service worker to turn their investigation against you (the parent) and accuse you of not protecting the child from the abuser. And with that approach, they can take your child from you with the most minimal level of evidence. This practice is common throughout the US. It is arbitrary. And far too often it is extremely unjust. Until Child Protective Services around the country stop these unspeakable and arbitrary practices, we can only advise you to stay as far away from them as possible. If you think your child was sexually abused, or if you are a teacher, health worker, or other mandated reporter who suspects child abuse, report directly to the police and not to Child Protective Services. * If you wish to report a rape or child sexual abuse report directly to the police. Rape is a violent crime. The police are the only agency in society who have the power and authority to carry out a criminal investigation, to make an arrest, and to put the perpetrator under control. To be sure, the attitudes and response of police are not perfect yet either. But at the very least, police have the power, authority, training, and experience needed to do the job right. * Be vigilant when dealing with the criminal justice system. Because the response of the criminal justice system is so important to rape victims, and because the system isn't perfect by any means, we devote a whole section (see Part III below) for helping you get the best response possible from the criminal justice system. Gotten from The Women's Justic Center There is even more great information there
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:55 pm
Support Lines/Websites
Websites. The Women's Justice Center has developed several guides for rape victims and for those who wish to help them. The guides focus on information that will help victims get support, protection, and justice in the aftermath of rape or sexual assault. (Available in English and Spanish) AdvocateWeb is a nonprofit organization providing information and resources to promote awareness and understanding of the issues involved in the exploitation of persons by trusted helping professionals. Crisis Lines Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)1 800 656 HOPE Rape Crisis Centers (Massachusetts)1 800 870 5905 National Domestic Violence Hotline (24 hour) 1 800 799 SAFE Stop It Now1-888-PREVENT Deaf and Hard of Hearing (24 Hour)1 800 759 8331 TTY PIN: 8779516528 1 800 787 3224 National Child Abuse Hotline (24 hour) 1 800 422 4453 Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project (24 hour) 1 800 832 1901 Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men (24 hour)1 877 643 1120 access code 0757 e-mail: help@noexcuse4abuse.org New York City Anti-Violence Project(24 Hour Bilingual GLBTH) 1 212 714 1141 The Rape Crisis Center of Souther Nevada (24 Hour)1 702 366 1640
Safe Horizon1 800 621 HOPE State Coalitions (some of which do national activism) Alabama Coalition Against Rape - Montgomery, AL (333) 264-0123 Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) - Juneau, AK(907) 586-3650 Arizona Sexual Assault Network (AzSAN) - Phoenix, AZ(602) 258-1195 Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Clarksville, AR(501) 754-6869 CALCASA Rape Prevention Resource Center - Sacramento, CA(916) 446-2520 Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Denver, CO (303) 861-7033 Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS) - East Hartford, CT(860) 282-9881 Contact Delaware - Wilmington, DE(302) 761-9800 DC Rape Crisis Center - Washington, DC(202) 232-0789 Florida Council Against Sexual Violence - Talahassee, FL(850) 297-2000 Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault (GNESA) - Atlanta, GA(404) 659-6482 Sex Abuse Treatment Center - Honolulu, HI(80 cool 535-7600 Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence (ICASDV) - Boise, ID(20 cool 384-0419 Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) - Springfield, IL(217) 753-4117 Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Indianapolis, IN(317) 423-0233 Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) - Des Moines, IA(515) 244-7424 Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence - Topeka, KS232-9784 Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs - Frankfort, KY(502) 226-2704 Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA) - Independence, LA(504) 747-8815 Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Augusta, ME(207) 626-0034 Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Arnold, MD(410) 974-4507 Jane Doe Inc./MCASADV - Boston, MA(617) 248-0922 Michigan Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence - Okemos, MI(517) 347-7000 Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Minneapolis, MN(612) 313-2797 Missouri Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Jefferson City, MO(573) 636-8776 Montana Coalition Against Domesti Violence and Sexual Assault - Helena, MT(406) 443-7794
Nebraska Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Coalition - Lincoln, NE(402) 476-6256 New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence - Concord, ND(603) 224-8893 New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Trenton, NJ(609) 631-4450 New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs - Albuquerque, NM(505) 883-8020 New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Albany, NY(51 cool 482-4222 Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence - Henderson, NVP.O. Box 530103 Henderson, NV 89053 (702) 940-2033 NCCASA - Raleigh, NC(919) 676-7611 NDCAWS/CASAND - Bismarck, ND(701) 255-6240 Ohio Coalition on Sexual Assault - Columbus, OH933 High Street, Suite 120B Wothington, OH 43085 (614) 781-1902 Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Oklahoma City, OK (405) 848-1815 Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence - Salem, OR(503) 365-9644 Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) - Enola, PA(717) 728-9740; 1-800-692-7445 The Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center (SATRC) - Providence, RI(401) 421-4100 South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault - Columbia, SC(803) 256-2900 South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Pierre, SD(605) 945-0869 The TELLUS Center, inc. - Morristown, NJ(973) 223-4483 Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence - Nashville, TN(615) 386-9406 Texas Association Against Sexual Assault - Austin, TX(512) 474-7190 UCASA - Salt Lake City, UT(801) 322-1500 The Virginians Aligned Against Sexual Assault - Charlottesville, VA(804) 979-9002 Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Montpelier, VT(802) 223-1302 Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs - Olympia, WA(360) 754-7583
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services(304) 366-9500 Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Madison, WI(60 cool 257-1516 Coalition Against Violence & Sexual Assault - Laramie, WY(307) 755-5481
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:42 pm
well it seems you covered it all. and also ladies remember don't go out late at night, or atleast have a friend along, soone who could possibly fight for you, or have some sort of large club to beat the holy hell out of anyone who messes with you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:32 pm
I'm not sure if this applies to the USA, but in Canada, if you go in to a hospital after being raped and tell them you need to be treated for sexual abuse and ask them not to tell anyone, they will simply treat it as a medical emergency and no police or family or anyone will be called.
Just an little fact that people should know, since a lot of people don't go to hospitals to be treated after rape because they think it means they will have to press charges or report the issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 2:07 am
Yukito Yu I'm not sure if this applies to the USA, but in Canada, if you go in to a hospital after being raped and tell them you need to be treated for sexual abuse and ask them not to tell anyone, they will simply treat it as a medical emergency and no police or family or anyone will be called. Just an little fact that people should know, since a lot of people don't go to hospitals to be treated after rape because they think it means they will have to press charges or report the issue. Very good point. Hospital privacy laws. Filing a report with police does not obligate you to prosecute, so DEFINITELY report it, as it doesn't obligate you to go to court or anything, but therefore it IS on file. Medical attention is important even if there are no obvious physical injuries, espeically to collect DNA samples and test for STDs. If you do choose to go to court, you have undeniable evidence. A few more tips as well... I saw this on the news. Some rapists were actually asked what they look for in victims, so these are things to avoid: * Long hair. Obviously, you're not going to want to chop off all your hair just in case, but consider updos or things that are HARDER to grab a hold of. If anyone's ever grabbed your hair and pulled, you know it's really hard to not just be at their mercy. *Spaghetti strap shirts. A lot of times, if someone is specifically looking for someone to rape, they're looking for easy to break, cut, or tear clothing. Tiny tank tops with thin straps come off very easily. Same goes for very short skirts which they wouldn't even NEED to take off, and obviously very baggy-around-the-wait pants that would come off with the slightest tug. *Being alone. This is obvious. Try to avoid walking by yourself. If you don't have a choice, try to stay in plain view of plenty of traffic, whether foot or car, even if it means taking a longer route. Children are usually a deterrant, actually, because in addition to subduing the woman, a would-be rapist would have to subdue and silence children as well. Nikolita already covered pets. *Being obviously distracted. Talking on your cellphone, reading, sitting with your eyes closed, or even carrying tons of bags so your arms are full, fumbling through your purse looking for your keys... all of which make you a target. Always look around and keep your head up. One big things the rapists mentioned was eye contact. If someone made eye contact with them, that means the KNOW they've been seen, and people usually make note of where other people are once they've seen them. It also means you can give a general description, even if it was just a glance. So make eye contact with everyone you see. You can smile or say hi if you like to make it less weird, but acknowledge that you see anyone around you. *Going straight to your house with someone following you. Bad idea. If you think someone is following you, make some abrupt turns, even nonesensical ones such as crossing the street, walking down a block, crossing again and going back the way you came. That makes it pretty obvious if you're being followed or not. If you are, go into a store, or some WELL POPULATED building and call the police. You could also stop, turn and look at the person following you, can pull out your phone to call the police, but a determined attacker may take this as his signal that if he's going to do something, he needs to do it NOW. Only do this if there are plenty of people where you are. These are some other prevention tips in addition to Nikolita's: *Make sure you have a lock on your BEDROOM door, and a phone in the room, preferably cordless. If you have a cellphone, charge it in your room at night as well. If you think you hear someone breaking in, immediately lock your bedroom door and call the police. You may want to hide in your closet to muffle the sound as well, so no one comes looking for you. One thing to be careful of is if you telephones in the main parts of the house have lights that signal when the line is in use, although it could make a would-be rapist or robber leave, knowing the police are being called. *If anyone ever pulls over and asks you for directions, makes sure you are a GOOD distance from the car. Try for at least 8 feet. If you need to back up and don't want to look really paranoid, you can pretend to be looking down the street to get your bearings and take steps away from the car to do so. If someone tries to have you look at their map, extend your arm fully, and stay back enough that they need to do the same. If you feel uncomfortable, just say that you don't know or don't remember, and keep walking. *FIGHT! Make a scene! If you are afraid of being raped, don't be afraid to hit, shove, punch, kick, go for the crotch or face - anything you want to do. Be loud and violent. Draw attention. It is shown that women who fight back immediately usually are NOT raped. Feel free to break windows, kick trashcans, anything you need to do to get the attention of other people. You will NOT be charged with damages if you were doing it for this reason. Also, grabbing onto someone who is walking by or even a CAR that is stopped at a light IS acceptable! You WANT to draw any and all attention you can. Studies have found that yelling, "FIRE!" is MORE effective than yelling 'help' or 'rape'. Everyone knows how to fight a fire. Not everyone knows how or is willing to respond to rape or robberies. While you do want to hurt the person, it is NOT your main goal. Your main goal is to get AWAY. *Be aware of your personal space. Rapists often test a potential victim by judging how that person will react - passively or assertively - when her personal space is invaded. Act alert and confident in public with your head up and a brisk walk. Practice a strong assertive look in the mirror until you look convincing. This goes along with making sure to make eye contact and not be distracted. *If you feel you must respond to a stranger who speaks to you, do so simply but firmly and don't stop walking. No one should need to be closer than three feet to be heard, and no stranger should need to touch you. Keep moving toward your destination, and don't get so involved in listening to what he's saying that you aren't aware of what he's doing. Okay, I'm done for now. I know this looks like a LOT, but honestly, I can tell you I do all these things. It isn't hard. The main goal is to not let yourself become a target in the first place by being assertive, aggressive when need be, and most importantly, taking the neccessary precautions to reduce your risk significantly. LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION. If anything ever feels wrong, remove yourself from the situation. If you drive, I'm sure there's been times you've turned the down the wrong street on a familiar road, or gotten into a different lane for no reason. This is your intuition, and it is your best friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:35 am
Pretty informative and concise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
