Sexual Assault
Our agency offers free, confidential, and comprehensive services for victims or survivors of sexual assault and rape.
If you need help, we are here.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is any form of forced or coerced sexual activity, including, but not limited to: rape, incest, child sexual abuse, ritual abuse, stranger rape, date/acquaintance rape, partner/marital rape, sexual harassment inside and outside of the workplace, exposure, and voyeurism.
Sexual assault includes situations in which a person may be drunk, high, unconscious, or has a disability and cannot consent to sexual activity.
Sexual assault also includes coercion beyond agreed upon terms in sex work.
Sexual assault may occur on a date, between friends, partners, strangers, or clients.
Sexual assault happens to and is committed by people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Sexual assault is NEVER the fault of the survivors
What is rape?
Rape is a form of sexual violence, but not all sexual violence is rape. The term rape is often used as a legal definition to specifically include sexual penetration without consent. The FBI defines rape as “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
What is force?
Force doesn’t always refer to physical pressure. Perpetrators may use emotional coercion, psychological force, or manipulation to coerce a victim into non-consensual sex. Some perpetrators will use threats to force a victim to comply, such as threatening to hurt the victim or their family or other intimidation tactics.