Frequently Asked Questions
I am a victim/survivor of sexual assault, where can I get help?
Contact your local rape crisis center. From anywhere in the U.S., call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN – http://www.rainn.org) at 1-800-656-HOPE and you will be automatically connected to your local rape crisis center. Outside of the United States, you can check the listing on RAINN’s website - http://www.rainn.org/rccs.html or try Hot Peach Pages, a listing of hotline numbers around the world - http://www.hotpeachpages.net/index.html .
I need to refer a survivor to a rape crisis center other than my own?
Contact the state coalition where the center is located. A listing of all state and U.S. Territory coalitions can be found at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center - http://www.nsvrc.org/resources/orgs/coalitions/index.html . Most state coalition web sites have links to the centers in their state, or you can just call.
How do I order a CALCASA Publication?
Obtain the CALCASA Catalog via phone – (916) 446-2520, via fax (916) 446-8166, via email – info@calcasa.org or download a copy from our website http://www.calcasa.org/pdfs/publicationsorderform.pdf. Simply return the complete Order Form with payment and the publications will be sent to you.
What is the Statute of Limitations for rape in California?
The statute of limitations in California is based on the potential sentence of the crime, for example, crimes punishable by the death penalty have no statute of limitations. Because of this, it is very difficult to accurately predict the statute of limitations for a particular survivor since it depends upon which crimes the prosecutor would charge in their case. The only way to accurately tell whether or not a statute has expired is to report the crime. There is no statute of limitation for reporting a crime to the police, so a survivor may do so at any time. Even if the statute has expired, a survivor may be contacted if their case is connected to other subsequent cases.
The district attorney did not file charges in my case. What are my options?
This is a very disappointing and difficult experience for survivors. A conviction in the criminal justice system is a common expectation of survivors and they often struggle with very strong emotions in the aftermath of their case being dropped.
First of all, know that this is not an uncommon experience. Many sexual assaults that are reported to police do not result in a criminal prosecution. In the vast majority of cases, lack of evidence is the reason why the cases do not go forward, NOT a disbelief in the account given by the victim/survivor. Contact the detective or district attorney who handled your case and ask for a detailed explanation of the case disposition. A rape crisis center advocate can assist you in this process and accompany you to an in-person meeting with the investigator or district attorney.
It is also important to know that district attorneys have wide discretion in determining whether or not to file charges in a criminal matter. If you disagree with their decision, talk with your rape crisis center advocate and consider writing a courteous letter requesting reconsideration of your case, copy the letter to the elected District Attorney for the county. This does not often lead to a change in the case disposition, but it is worth it to express your feelings and experience of the criminal justice system.
Finally, know that few survivors receive ultimate healing from the criminal justice system. Even with a conviction, many survivors feel surprisingly incomplete at the end of a trial. Healing from a sexual assault is a difficult and time-consuming effort. Fortunately, there are many ways to heal besides the criminal justice system. Consider counseling, art therapy, journaling, dance therapy, volunteering, or any way to take care of yourself.
Where can I find information about sex offenders in my neighborhood?
The newest way to check on sex offenders registered under Megan’s Law is to search the following website - http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/ . You can search by zip code or by name. You can also contact your local police department. They typically have very accurate information since they are responsible for monitoring registered sex offenders in your community. Please be aware that only a small percentage of all sex offenders are registered in California. In order to be in the database, an offender must have been convicted of a sex crime and required by law to disclose his or her criminal background. This means that many sex offenders are not registered since they do not fit this criteria. The best way to stay safe is to be aware, be assertive, and trust your instincts. The California Attorney General has many good suggestions on “How to Protect Yourself and Your Family” at http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/protect.htm . The website also has an excellent Frequently Asked Question section - http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/faq.htm#2 .
Where can I find information on sex offender treatment?
An excellent resource for abusers, potential abusers, or anyone who cares about stopping child sexual abuse is Stop It Now – www.stopitnow. Stop It Now operates a hotline for those who are at risk of sexually abusing someone. They also have a list of Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse - http://www.stopitnow.org/warnings.html .
For treatment providers, contact the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers - www.atsa.com or (503) 643-1023.
For research and trends in sex offender treatment contact the Center for Sex Offender Management - www.csom.org . This is a national organization that collaborates with many rape crisis centers. Some myths and facts about sex offenders are available - http://www.csom.org/pubs/mythsfacts.pdf . The California Coalition on Sexual Offending - www.ccoso.org is the statewide organization of sex offender treatment providers.
The FBI's Sex Offenses and Offenders report gives an excellent picture of incarcerated offenders - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/soo.pdf . David Lisak, PhD., has researched perpetrators on college campuses, "The Undetected Rapist" - http://www.legalmomentum.org/njep/PDFdocs/undetectedrapist.PDF
Where can I find rape prevention education curricula?
Contact CALCASA’s Rape Prevention Resource Center Library – (916) 446-2520 or library@calcasa.org or check out CALCASA’s publications. There are many curricula available online as well:
• “Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Curriculum: A Comprehensive Guide for the Classroom Teacher or Community Educator” – City of San Diego - http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/police/pdf/curriculum.pdf
• “A Place to Start: A Resource Kit for Preventing Sexual Violence: Sexual Violence Prevention Online” – Minnesota Department of Public Health - http://www.health.state.mn.us/svp/book1toc.html
• “Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook for Community Action” – National Center for Injury Prevention and Control – Download or order a free copy – Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/bestpractices.htm
• “Toolkit to End Violence Against Women” – The National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women – http://toolkit.ncjrs.org
• “Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention – National Center for Victims of Crime - http://www.ncvc.org/
• “Drawing the Line: A Guide to Developing Effective Sexual Assault Prevention Programs for Middle School Students” - http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/drawingtheline/
Where can I find the latest research on rape prevention education?
Contact CALCASA’s Rape Prevention Resource Center Library – (916) 446-2520 or library@calcasa.org or check out CALCASA’s publications. Also check out the following resources:
• National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center - http://www.vawprevention.org/
• Violence Against Women Network – www.vawnet.org
• National Institute of Justice Update: “Evaluation of Violence Prevention Programs in Middle Schools” - http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/midschls.pdf
• “Effectiveness of a Sexual Assault Education Program University of Arizona – Power Point Presentation –Literature Review http://www.u.arizona.edu/~sexasslt/arpep/pdfs/longitudinalevaladhs.pdf
• “Rape Prevention Education: Towards closing the gap between theory and practice” – Conference presentation – University of Arizona http://www.u.arizona.edu/~sexasslt/arpep/pdfs/cdc52000.pdf
• “Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault” - http://www.vaw.umn.edu/documents/vawnet/arprevent/arprevent.html
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