Helpful Info:

I saw this information over at Holly's Fight for Justice Blog.

I think young women need to be taught these things.

When dose rape occur?

When you least suspect it, like in the company of a trusted friend.
When your guard is not up like when your sleeping, ill, on medication, drunk, or cannot physically defend yourself. Anytime, anywhere, alone, or in a group.
Institutions like jail, juvenile hall, etc.

Who gets raped?

Male and female; infants, children, teens, adults, handicaped, and the elderly.

Have A Plan

1. Always tell your family or friends where you are going and with who, giving them as much information as possible about the person, like their address, Lic. plate number, make model of vehicle, phone number, place of employment, where born, stuff like that so in case something bad dose happened your friends and family will be better equipped to inform the police about the possible suspect.

2. Mace, throwing an object, making a loud notice, can in an instant give you a second to run to safety, but that doesn't always work as every circumstance and every perpetrator is different, as some perpetrators become more violent the more you resist, but at least have a plan.

3. If you go out to parties take a trusted proven friend with you so can take care of each other, and try not to go to the restroom alone, as some perpetrators look for opportunities there too.

4. If you don't have a dad or brothers, try not to tell people that, in fact telling them that your dad is a cop, or that you have a lot of brothers can be a deterant in some cases.

5. Anytime your at a party, bar, or any place, be especially aware of your drink, your food, your medication, even your cigarettes, try never to leave such items unattended even just for a little while, as that is all it takes for someone to drug you, and to create an opportunity.

What do you do if you are raped?

1. GET SAFE

If the rapist knows where you live call a trusted relative or friend, and go to their house and make sure that the perpetrator doesn't follow you there.

2. REPORT

If you were raped don't shower, wash your hands, brush your hair, or even brush your teeth, as your body is a crime scene. Call the police and your local rape crisis center, they are there to help you, even if the rapist is a family member or someone known to you. You can ask the doctor who is to collect the evidence for a sedative to help you go through the process easier. Make sure you get an HIV test to prove you are not currently infected with HIV, if the rapist transmitted HIV to you it will show up in about 3 months or more, ask many questions, document everything.

Male victims and victims who have been abused since childhood will tend to have greater difficulty reporting this type of crime than others, nevertheless it is advisable to talk to someone about it even if you decide not to reveal your identity at that particular time. But know that by bypassing an official report the perpetrator is likely to attack someone else, and should you change your mind in the future the police will not have the DNA evidence needed to prove your case.
Another good reason to report rape is in case you get infected with the HIV virus, which can take up to 3 months for medical professionals to confirm. Should you become infected due to the rape, you might be able to charge the rapist with a manslaughter paticularily if he knew he was HIV positive, you might also be able to sue him in civil court as well.

3. GET EMOTIONAL HELP

After an attack it's very important to get all the emotional support you can, wether you have reported the incident or not, you need to take care of your self. Call up your local rape crisis center for counseling, seek out a therapist or check out local support groups. Remember that no matter how careless, trusting, attractive, timid, or drunk you were, it's Not Your Fault!
RAPE IS A CRIME!

PRISONER RAPE

Since President George W. Bush signed into law the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 on September 4, 2003, there is hope is on the horizon for thousands of youth and adult victims of prisoner rape.

Counseling Therapists

If your a survivor please know that personal therapy is crucial to your well
being and recovery. Free counseling is available in USA through a non-
profit organization called VOCA.

Call your local rape crisis center to locate a VOCA counseling center near you.
USA Search http://www.rainn.org/counseling.html
or call the hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE

International Search http://www.rainn.org/rccs.html
Or see International Hot Line Phone Numbers