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Serving crime victims in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, and Redwood Counties of Southwest Minnesota since 1981.
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New Horizons Crisis Center Outreach Office at Southwest Minnesota State University
Click Here to Read the 2007 Annual Report
New Horizons Crisis Center has an outreach office located on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. The SMSU outreach office is designed to provide services to the SMSU campus including students, faculty, and staff. The SMSU outreach office is located on the SMSU campus: Southwest Minnesota State University Attn: New Horizons Crisis Center 1501 State Street, ST 152 Marshall, MN 56258 Phone: 507-537-6817
Office Hours
The SMSU outreach office is typically open Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm. However, the program director may be out of the office due to meetings, educational presentations and other obligations. During school breaks and over summer vacations the SMSU outreach office has limited hours. If you would like to set up an appointment or find out when the SMSU outreach office is open, please call 507-537-6817.
* If you are unable to reach the SMSU outreach office and you need immediate assistance you can contact the main office at 507-532-5764 or stop by the main office at: New Horizons Crisis Center 109 S. 5th Street, Suite 40 Marshall, MN 56258
Programs
Child Abuse, General Crime, Sexual Assault, Supervised Visitation, Crisis Nursery and Education & Outreach.
Our services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL to crime victims and their loved ones. We serve Men, Women, & Children of All Ages in Lyon, Lincoln, Murray, & Redwood Counties.
Center Services include: 24-Hour Crisis Line Individual Support Crisis Intervention & Counseling Medical Advocacy Reparations & Restitution Assistance Legal/Court/Law Enforcement Advocacy Child Care for Families in Crisis Educational Presentations Resources & Referrals
Education & Outreach
New Horizons Crisis Center staff is available for in-services and trainings on topics relating to crime and/or agency services.
Our presentations are great for for classes, (health, social work, psychology, sociology, education, criminal justice, etc.), clubs, faculty/staff, residential halls, orientation, athletic groups, etc.
To schedule SMSU presentations or in-services contact the SMSU Program Director.
To learn more about all of New Horizons Crisis Center Education & Outreach possibilities click Education & Outreach
Resource Library
Do you have a paper, presentation, or other school project that relates to victims services? New Horizons Crisis Center and the SMSU outreach office have resource libraries with crime victim information. We have books, brochures and other reference material about various topics, including:
Alcoholism Boundaries Bullying Child abuse Dating Violence Eating disorders Harassment Incest Internet/Online safety Mental Health Murder/Homicide Parenting Self-help Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment
Volunteer Opportunities
Many of New Horizons Crisis Center’s volunteers are SMSU students. Volunteering is a great way to gain valuable experience in the social services field and is also a way to give back to your community.
We utilize our volunteers on the SMSU campus to:
For more information on volunteering click Volunteer Opportunities
Sexual Assault Handbook
About Sexual Assault: Historically The Minnesota Sexual Conduct Law Consequences for the assailant Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Substance Related Sexual Assault Rape and Alcohol: The Connection Myths and Facts about Sexual Assault and Alcohol Abuse Sexual Assault: Medical Considerations Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Statistics show that sexual assault, particularly acquaintance rape, happens on all campuses and in communities of all sizes. New Horizons Crisis Center is committed to preventing sexual assault and making your environment conducive to learning. This handbook covers issues of sexual assault, including its effect of victims, and how to prevent sexual assault from happening.
About Sexual Assault: Historically Sexual assault is a crime. It is an act of violence perpetrated primarily by men against women but it can happen to anyone regardless of gender, age, strength, or size. Until the current wave of the Women’s Movement began about 20 years ago, sexual assault was never discussed. Although many assaults occurred, attitudes were a lot different. People did not talk about it, so the survivors of this “crime that didn’t happen” were alone and isolated as they struggled to heal from the trauma. If survivors chose to pursue their right to justice through legal action, they often experienced a second victimization and were told it was their fault for “asking for it” or “putting themselves in risky situations”.
The Minnesota Sexual Conduct Law Through the efforts of women’s organizations nationwide, many states have revised their laws concerning rape and other sex related crimes. In Minnesota, criminal sexual conduct is classified into five degrees depending on the degree of force or coercion and nature and extent of injury to the victim, and is based on whether penetration or sexual contact occurred. Sexual conduct laws also pertain to (Additionally, there are laws pertaining to stalking and harassing phone calls.) The law stipulates that the victim’s testimony need not be corroborated. It also provides that the victim need not prove resistance. Medical costs arising from examining the victim for purposes of gathering evidence is paid by the county in which the offense was committed. With rare exception, evidence of the victim’s prior sexual behavior is not admissible in court.
Consequences for the AssailantPerpetrators give the following excuses for why they committed rape:
“I didn’t think it was any big deal. It was just sex.” “She wanted it as much as I did.”
But criminal sexual conduct is a “BIG DEAL” and if you are convicted, it can have serious consequences including:
Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault
Myth: The primary motive for rape is impulsive sexual desire.
Fact: Studies show that the major motive for rape is power, not sex. Sex is used as a weapon to inflict pain, violence and humiliation. The rapist appears to have a normal personality with an abnormal tendency to be aggressive and violence. Between 2/3 and 3/4 of sexual assaults are planned in advance.
Myth: Women ask for rape by their manner of dress or flirtatious behavior.
Fact: No woman deserves or wants to be raped regardless of her appearance or behavior. Since rape is a crime of violence rather than sex, rapists choose their victim without regard to physical appearance.
Myth: Rape is a rare occurrence.
Fact: Every minute in the US, there are 1.3 forcible rapes of adult women; 13% of adult American women have been victims of at least one forcible rape in their lifetime. A study done by the National Institute of Justice in December, 2000, indicated more than 350 rapes may occur on a campus with a population of 10,000 female students.
Myth: Sexual assault only happens to young women who get raped by men.
Fact: Rape can happen to anyone. People from two months to 97 years have been raped. Men can also be victims. Same sex assault occurs as well. Men are more likely than women to be a victim of same-sex assault. Male assailants are typically heterosexual and motivated by a desire to humiliate, hurt and degrade the victim. If a man is sexually assaulted it does not mean that they themselves are homosexual. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted.
Myth: If women were more cautious in avoiding strangers, they would not be raped.
Fact: In a study released by the National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, only 22% of rape victims were raped by a stranger or someone they did not know well. 9% of victims were raped by husbands or ex-husbands, 11% by fathers or stepparents, 10% by other relatives, and 29% by non-relatives, such as friends or acquaintances.
Myth: Rape only happens in big cities.
Fact: Although there are a large number of reported assaults in urban areas, rape happens in all communities no matter how small.
Myth: The criminal justice system is fair and impartial in handling criminal sexual conduct cases involving people of color.
Fact: Efforts are underway to root out institutional racism in the criminal justice system. However, men of color accused of rape are still more likely than other accused rapists to be found guilty and incarcerated for longer periods. They also receive more media publicity especially if the victim is white. FBI statistics show that most rapes involve an assailant and the victim of the same race; 3% involve black men and white women and 4% involve white men and black women. When reporting an assault, women of color may find it more difficult to be believed or taken seriously because of institutional gender and racial bias.
Myth: Women often falsely report rape to gain attention or get somebody in trouble.
Fact: FBI studies indicate that only 2% of all rape reports are false. This is the same rate of false reporting as for other crimes, such as burglary. It is more likely that a sexual assault goes unreported.
Myth: Nobody can get away with rape anymore. It’s easy to prosecute rapists.
Fact: Assailants can and do get away with rape. Unfortunately, less than 40% of reported rapes result in arrest, and even fewer result in convictions. The more victims we support in reporting the crime, the greater likelihood that prosecuting will increase.
Myth: Victims of sexual assault are always bruised and visibly shaken. Otherwise, it is not a REAL assault/rape.
Fact: Victims show no one set response to sexual assault. Some may cry or express great distress; others may be calm and controlled. These reactions to rape trauma are all normal. Physical injuries are not part of every sexual assault.
The threat of physical harm and the surprise of the attack can immobilize a person with fear.
Date rape, a type of acquaintance rape, has recently emerged as a widespread phenomenon. In a groundbreaking study done in 1985 by Kent State psychologist, Mary Koss, it was found that more than 50 percent of women students surveyed had experienced some form of sexual aggression. One in eight women had been raped, although many did not use the word rape to describe the experience. Of the men surveyed, almost 1/3 admitted to using some degree of force to obtain sex. In one study, 51% of college men said they would rape if they were reasonably certain they could get away with it. Research studies have found that from 15-20% of college women have been raped and that another 20-25% have been victims of attempted rape (Koss & Oros, 1982).
Define and communicate your sexual limits. It is your body, and no one has the right to force or coerce you to do anything you do not want to do. If you do not want someone to touch you, you can say, “I don’t like that,” or “Back-off” or “Stop, or I’m leaving.” You don not owe the other person an explanation of why you are not willing to participate in sexual activity. You do not owe your date a good night kiss or sex, regardless of who picked up expenses.
Give clear messages. Say “yes” when you mean “yes” and say “no” when you mean “no.” Enhance assertiveness skills by articulating your opinions and setting boundaries in everyday situations. Practice saying ”no” when friends make unreasonable requests. Do not go out with somebody just because you do not want to hurt his or her feelings.
Trust your intuition. If you feel you are being pressured, you probably are, and you need to respond. If a situation feels bad, or you start to get nervous about the way your date is acting, confront the person immediately or leave the situation.
Be aware that alcohol and drugs are often related to acquaintance rape. Alcohol is used as an excuse for inappropriate and illegal acts. Friendliness is more likely to be misperceived as a “come-on.” Alcohol reinforces traditional sex role beliefs, such as “no” really means “yes.” Alcohol compromises your ability (and that of your date) to make responsible decisions. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink responsibly. Use the “buddy system.” If you go to a party with friends, agree ahead of time that you’ll all leave the party together.
Even if a person is under the influence of alcohol and they are sexually assaulted it is not their fault. Also, many people are afraid to report assaults because of underage drinking. Typically, police and parents are far more concerned for your physical and emotional well being after a sexual assault, then they are about minor consumption.
Don’t fall for such lines as, “You’d do it if you loved me” or “you know you want to”. Refuse to be manipulated. If someone really cares about you, they will respect your feelings and wishes.
Dating and Relationships
Although love at first sight is a romantic notion, true intimacy develops over time. There is a tendency for couples to overlook potentially serious issues in the early stages of a new relationship. This is especially true when there is strong physical attraction. It’s impossible to know for certain whether a relationship will work out, but there are qualities to look for when seeking a relationship that is fun, rewarding, and meaningful:
MUTUAL FRIENDS AND COMMON INTERESTSMeeting people through classes, organizations, sports, work, religious affiliations and volunteerism is more apt to lead to lasting friendships than chance encounters at parties or bars.
RESPECT AND EQUALITYSensitive partners respect each other’s core values and life goals. Attitudes about sexual intimacy, birth control, safer sex, and monogamy are also important to discuss with your partner. Shared decision-making helps ensure that both partners are heard and valued.
OPEN COMMUNICATIONHonest expressions of hopes, fears, dreams, and expectations is vital to closeness. Love, empathy and encouragement promote a sense of well being. Problems are solved through compromise and negotiation. Interdependence reflects a balance between time together as a couple and time alone.
Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship Virtually all relationships have good times and bad times. However, some problems are more serious than other and can hurt you emotionally and physically. The following behaviors may signal serious problems that are likely to get worse without interventions:
Seek professional counseling or assistance from a domestic violence program if you are experiencing any of these behaviors OR if you are treating your partner in this way. Doing nothing will not make the problem go away. You cannot change another person, but can get help yourself. Feeling sorry for an abusive partner because he or she is under stress or was abused as a child is not a good reason to stay in a relationship; the cost will be your own safety and self-esteem. You did not seek an abusive relationship. You are not “co-dependent.” Because of his or her Jekyll and Hyde personality, it’s possible for anybody to be initially attracted to an abuser. You are in a relationship where you do not have respect or equal power.
When deciding whether to date people you meet, first spend some time finding out their views on women, equality, violence, and relationship expectations. Date rapists and batterers are especially likely to objectify women, discount their opinions and refuse to take “no” for an answer. They ignore what you say, talk over you, and pretend not to hear you. They do not respect women and feel entitled to sex. Your wishes do not count. They believe men should have the upper hand. Verbal abuse usually precedes physical abuse.
A person who is prone to sexual or physical violence is motivated by a desire to appear powerful and in control. This facade masks fear, shame, insecurity, and inadequacy. Violence is a learned behavior that is promoted in a society that has historically condoned violence toward women, children, and oppressed peoples. Domestic abuse can have deadly consequences.
Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse. Domestic violence and sexual assault can happen between couples of every race, age, class, ability, spiritual affiliation and affection preference. Gay and lesbian relationships are not immune from these problems. For a long time, this crime was shrouded in secrecy, leaving many survivors isolated and alone. Perhaps as many as 25% of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships are abusive, according to the Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council in Minneapolis.
In addition to the services available to all sexual assault victims, there are programs that specifically address concerns of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender survivors:
Rape is Never OK
It is never OK to force yourself on someone else, even if:
ASK—DON’T ASSUME. If at any time you have doubts about what your partner wants, STOP AND CLARIFY!
Do not assume a desire for affection is the same as a desire for intercourse.
Not having sex or not “scoring” does not mean you have been rejected. It is OK not to “score”.
The fact that you were intoxicated is not a legal defense to rape. You are responsible for your actions, whether you are sober or not.
Whenever you tell or laugh at a sexist joke, you are contributing to the “rape” culture. Confront sexist, racist and homophobic jokes when you hear them.
Intervene when you witness someone being insulted, put down, or sexual assaulted.
Prevention Measures
Awareness is one solution to the problem of rape. Prevention is another. There are many, many practical things you can do to protect yourself.
While these many options are available to you, we would like to say that we support you whether or not you practice them. We all forget. None of us can be completely aware all the time. Ultimately we could argue that we should not have to take precautions. We have a right to be out in the world at any time, day or night, without being assaulted. However, we also need to acknowledge the reality of violence in today’s society.
We should be careful not to judge ourselves or others harshly if they do not do things “according to the book”. How you choose to handle the situation must be decided according to your own best judgment. In Your CarKeep doors locked. Have your keys in your hand ready to unlock your vehicle. Before getting in, make sure no one is hiding in the car. Look around to make sure an assailant is not hiding nearby before opening the door to your car or home.
Sound the horn if there is trouble. Short bursts on the horn will attract more attention than “leaning“ on the horn.
Keep your windows rolled up and doors locked when driving.
Try not to park in dark uninhabited areas.
Use caution when talking with a stranger outside your car. Crack your window open slightly and leave the door locked. Never pick up hitchhikers.
If you are being followed by another car, try to note the license plate number and drive to the Law Enforcement Center or an area with people around and dial 911. Do not go home!!
If you have mechanical problems, stay in your car with the doors locked. Crack your window slightly and ask passing motorists to call the Highway Patrol or service station. Invest in a cellular phone if you travel frequently or long distances.
When coming to campus, call Campus Security for an escort before arriving on campus and have an escort meet you in the parking lot. DO NOT exit the vehicle until the escort arrives.
Be aware of your surroundings while walking to your vehicle. Look around and be alert!
On Campus Take self-defense courses that stress physical resistance tactics—kicking and blocking.
Familiarize yourself with security services available to you—phones, escort services—and use them.
Avoid short cuts through deserted places.
Walk with a friend—leaving night class or walking around campus—especially at night.
Be careful in giving your address, telephone number or name to someone you do not know. Remember that these things are all listed on your check blanks.
Wearing headphones increases your vulnerability. It is important to observe and hear what is happening around you.
Immediately call Campus Security or the Police if you observe someone peeping in windows or exposing him or herself. Do not confront the person yourself. Wait for an officer to arrive.
Document harassing and obscene phone calls. Report this to Residential Life or Campus Security.
At HomeKeep lights on in all entrances and halls where you live. If a light is found to be burnt out in a residence hall, request to have a new one put in.
Always find out who is at your door before opening it. Consider having a peephole installed. If the person claims to be a service person, put on your chain lock and ask for identification through the crack or ask for a card under your door. If you are alone and not expecting anyone, answer the door calling “I’ll get it, Bill!”. If you are not expecting a service person, call your apartment manager to verify the ID and the need for a service call.
If there is a suspicious person on an elevator, push the button for the next floor and get off as soon as the elevator stops. If you are concerned at all, do not get on.
Lock your door—even if simply going to the restroom down the hall or visiting neighbors.
Have your keys ready upon returning home before you get to the door.
Dial 911 if someone is attempting to break in.
Close and lock windows on all levels of your home or apartment, especially ground floor apartments.
Do not enter your home if there are signs of forced entry. Notify the police.
On the Street Be aware of possible troublesome areas and plan ahead what you might do in case of attack.
Try to walk with another person to take public transportation, especially after dark.
While waiting for a light to change, notice how you stand. Try to be balanced, with your feet apart and hands out of your pockets. Be aware of people and cars around you.
If you fear danger, yell “FIRE” rather than “RAPE” or “HELP”. People are more likely to respond.
Wear athletic shoes if you will be walking alone in an isolated area. It is hard to flee an assailant when wearing high-heeled shoes.
If someone orders you to drive to a deserted area, you should drive your car into a stationary object in a well-traveled area where other people will respond to the accident. A car accident is a sure way to create a scene. If you do drive to a secluded area, or are driven there, your chances of escaping an assault are slim.
Substance Related Sexual Assault
Substance related sexual assault has been occurring more frequently in recent years. Although the tasteless drugs are often difficult to detect, there are precautionary steps one can take to reduce the risk of becoming prey to this criminal conduct.
If you or a friend feel dizzy, confused or have other sudden, unexplained symptoms after drinking a beverage, call a family member, friend, the police, a doctor or 911 for help in getting to a hospital. Here are the steps you should take:
Rape and Alcohol: The Connection
What does getting high have to do with sexual assault? Although you can be raped whether you are drinking or not, alcohol use lowers inhibitions and impairs judgments. Alcohol use does not cause sexual violence, but it can contribute to an atmosphere where anything goes, including rape.
People often drink to feel less inhibited, rowdy, aroused, and aggressive. Peer pressure can further encourage this behavior. Research shows that, while under the influence of alcohol, men are more likely to interpret a woman’s smile, laughter, clothes, or body language as evidence that she wants to have sex.
Impaired judgment and lowered inhibitions make it easier to force sex on an unwilling partner and to ignore “No.” The majority of acquaintance rapes are planned, and assailants take advantage of the fact that drugs and alcohol can slow reflexes and impair the victim’s ability to recognize a potentially dangerous situation.
Victims often blame themselves if they are raped while under the influence of alcohol. Thoughts of “if only I hadn’t been drinking” or “nobody will believe me because I was too drunk” may prevent the victim from reporting the assault.
*** Even if a person is under the influence of alcohol and they are sexually assaulted it is not their fault. Also, many people are afraid to report assaults because of underage drinking. Typically, police and parents are far more concerned for your physical and emotional well being after a sexual assault, then they are about minor consumption. ***
Myths and Facts about Sexual Assault and Alcohol Abuse The Commission on Substance Abuse at Colleges and Universities (1994) found evidence that 90% of all campus rapes occur when the victim, the assailant, or both, were using alcohol.
Myth: Women who get drunk at a party are asking to be raped.
Fact: Nobody asks or deserves to be hurt or violated. Drinking too much alcohol does not give somebody the right to rape you. Victims who are raped under the influence of alcohol often blame themselves. Those who commit rape under the influence blame the alcohol.
The person who committed the crime is always responsible, never the victim.
Myth: Victims of rape usually have a reputation for getting drunk, sleeping around, and being teases.
Fact: Victims of rape are selected because of accessibility and vulnerability. Rape has nothing to do with the victim’s character. Rumors that are spread around about victims perpetuate the belief that women are asking for it. These rumors take attention away from the criminal by blaming the victim.
Myth: Men are not at risk for being sexually assaulted.
Fact: Men can be assaulted, too. Men are most likely to be assaulted by another man or group of men. Often weapons or alcohol are involved. Embarrassment and humiliation make it especially difficult for men to seek help after being violated. If You are Assaulted
The very first thing you should do is contact someone you trust. You may feel like that is the last thing you want to do, but it is important that you find a supportive person or environment as soon as possible. Remember that nobody asks or deserves to be raped. Regardless of the circumstances, only the assailant is responsible for the assault. You are not to blame.
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