After an assault, a person may want someone to assist with what happens next. They may want to go to the hospital for medical care. They may decide to report the assault to law enforcement. They may want a listening ear. During each step, a person can get help from an advocate from New Horizons Crisis Center. An advocate can help the victim and their family, friends, and support persons. Sexual assault is when a person is forced, coerced, tricked, manipulated, bribed or threatened – physically, verbally or emotionally – into any type of sexual contact with another person. There are different degrees of sexual assault, which can include unwanted touching over or under clothing, voyeurism, exhibitionism, being forced to watch pornography, as well as any type of forced penetration.
Sexual assault can happen anywhere and at anytime. It can happen in public or even in the privacy of someone’s home. Perpetrators of sexual assault can be anyone—and they are not necessarily strangers. Around 78 percent of sexual assaults involve a person the victim knows. This person can be anyone from an acquaintance, friend, relative, neighbor, or an intimate partner. Sexual assaults often go unreported. Only 16 percent of sexual assaults are ever reported to the law enforcement. (Source: Rape in America: A Report to the Nation) No one asks to be sexually assaulted and a person has the right to say “no” at any time during any sexual act. Power, anger, and control are usually the motives for sexual assault—not sexual gratification. Around 80-90 percent of sexual assaults are planned. Therefore, the majority of sexual assaults are not spontaneous; they are deliberate acts of violence. (Source: Montana Department of Justice, Office of Victim Services) Sexual assault is a crime that crosses all barriers. Victims come from various ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds and can be men or women of any age. All sexual assault victims can feel safe at New Horizons Crisis Center. What to do after a sexual assault...
Anyone can be a target of a crime and everyone deserves support. People victimized by crime have a right to be treated with respect when trying to get help and informed of available options.
New Horizons Crisis Center’s services are applicable to people who have been victims of all types of crimes. If you have experienced any of the listed crimes below or another type of victimization, contact one of our offices to learn more about available services.
If you are victim of a crime that is not listed here, we can still help. Contact any of our offices and seek services.
You and your loved ones may be faced with a lot of questions and concerns. You may also be healing in a variety of ways perhaps physically, emotionally and spiritually.
New Horizons Crisis Center is here to help you and your loved ones through this process.
You may have questions…
New Horizons Crisis Center is here to help answer the many questions that you may have after a crime has occurred.
