Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any form of non-consensual sexual contact. Examples of sexual violence include:

Attempted or completed rape (penetration of victim).
Unwanted sexual touching of body parts.
Forced sexual acts, such as oral sex.
Lewdness (exposing private parts)

*Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2018 (2019). Note: RAINN applies a 5-year rolling average to adjust for changes in the year-to-year NCVS survey data.

Protection for Victims of Sexual Violence, Stalking, or Cyber-Harassment

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

A victim of sexual violence, stalking, or cyber-harassment can file for a protective order through the newly expanded Victims Assistance and Survivor Protection Act (VASPA), formerly known as the Sexual Assault Survivors Protection Act (SASPA). The law provides protection to victims who know their abusers but have never dated, been married to, lived together, or shared children with the abuser. If a court makes a finding that an act of nonconsensual sexual violence, stalking, or cyber-harassment occurred and there is a need for protection, a victim may be granted a permanent protective order prohibiting the abuser from contacting and/or coming near the victim. To learn more about filing for a protective order under VASPA, click here.

Victims who have dated, been married to, live together, or shared children with their abuser may be able to obtain protection through a domestic violence restraining order. Click here to learn more about domestic violence.

If you need help to file for a protective order, click here for more information about how Partners can help you.