For Victims and Survivors

If you are sexually assaulted:

• Get to a safe place where you are no longer in harm.
• Understand that no one had the right to hurt you, regardless of how you dress or behave.
• Call the 24-hour Hudson County Rape Crisis Hotline if you would like an advocate to meet you at the hospital.
• A rape care advocate will listen without blaming you. He or she will offer you information, options, and support your choices.
• Seek medical attention for possible injuries, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and to chekc for pregnancy. if you are considering pressing criminal charges, medical staff will utilize a "rape kit" to collect forensic evidence. Evidence is best collected within 72 hours of the assault.
• If possible DO NOT shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, urinate, or change clothing, as crime evidence may be destroyed.
• At your request, a rape care advocate will accompany you during all medical and legal processes.
• Consider notifyingt he police.
• Consider getting counselling right away. Research indicates that rape victims who get therapy right after their assault are less likely to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Hudson COunty Rape Crisis Center offers free confidential individual and group counseling.

Rights of sexual assault victims:

• To be assured confidentiality.
• To have free choice about decisions affecting their life.
• To be told what legal and medical options are available.
• To be made aware and receive medical and counseling services whether or not a crime is reported to the police.
• Under New Jersey Law 52:4B-22, a victim should be told of their right to have a rape care advocate BEFORE
• Giving a statement to the police and BEFORE
• Undergoing medical treatment unless emergency medical attention is required. This allows a victim to choose if they want a trained advocate to assist them during some, or all, of the proceedings.
• Victims are entitled to receive medical services and counseling even if the crime is not reported to the police.
• Victims have the right to be treated with respect by all officals responding to their assault, and to be treated without prejudice regarding race, class, age, gender, sexual orientation, occupation, dress, or a lifestyle involving the use of drugs and/or alcohol.

How does sexual assault affect a victim's life?

Some victims of sexual asasult fought their offender and up battered, bruised, or wounded. Some have died in the struggle. Most victims are too shocked or frightened to fight back.

While many show no outward physical signs of the attack, some suffer with serious internal injuries and long-lasting psychological difficulties. Victims endure a range of painful emotions such as anxiety, humilitation, anger, guilt, and depression.

Often, victims are concerned about how others will react to the assault. they fear that no one will believe them or that everyone will balme them. They may be more withdrawn,a nd appetite or sleeping habits may change.

It is important for victims to talk about their feelings with someone they trust, such as a friend, family memeber, or better yet, a trained professional.

Breaking the silence of sexual assault can be the most important key to recovery.

The process of taking legal action:

There are two options to consider when one deiceds to take legal action:

1. Victims can talk to the police and pursue criminal charges,
2. and/or a victim can hire an attorney and sue the offender in civil court

Civil cases can be costly, but if the victim wins, the offender pays the victim a sum of money for damages caused by the assault. For more information regarding civil suits, contact a lawyer who practices tort law and request a free consultation.

Pressing criminal charges is the most common legal action victims take. This process begins when a victim gives arecorded statement to the police. It is important for the victim to discuss ALL details pertaining to the sexual assualt so :

• the police have direction in collecting evidence
• the prosecutor can assess the degree of the offense and file charges accordingly.

Once police investigate and believe that a crime has been committed, the offender is arrested and put in jail. Trials are often avoided because the offenders admit guilt, or thye accept a prosecutor's plea bargains and plea to a lesser crime for a lower sentence. Many court dates follow the offener's arrest if the offender please not guilty.

Victims do not have to attend most of these procedures. On rare occassions, victims are asked to testify at Grand Jury to establish that the case meets the criteria for trial. Victims may also be asked to be present when prosecutors select a jury for trial. Since the victim is the primary witness in sexual assault cases, victims may expect to testify. If the idea of testifying in court is intimidating, talk to a prosecutor and see what options are available. It helps some victims to know that a great deal of support is offered during this time. Prosecutors prepare victims to know what to expect in the courtroom, and rape care advocates will accompany victims during all legal proceedings to offer strength and encouragement.

For more information about court procedures in criminal sexual assault cases, contact the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at 201 795 6400 .

Hudson County Victim Witness program

This program keeps victims informed via mail about legal process in their case and notifies when their offender gets out of jail. This service also offers compensations for losses resulting from crimes(s), and may assist in expense accrued as a result of being a crime victim. victims must press criminal charges to be eligible, and fill out an application within days of the crime. For more informations regarding this program, please contact the Hudson County Victim Witness Unit 201 795 6508 .