How to Legally Protect Yourself After a Sex Crime

If you have been the victim of a sex crime, you have the right to protect yourself from further harm through the US legal system. Follow these steps to learn how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Attorney or other legal professional specializing in civil or criminal law
• Police officer

Protect Yourself Through the Legal System

1. Hire an attorney after your attack if you wish to file a civil lawsuit against your attacker. In a civil case, you will seek monetary compensation for the damage, emotional and physical, that the assault inflicted on you.
2. In many states, you must file your action against your attacker no more than 2 years after the assault.
3. You also can initiate a criminal action against the attacker, by charging him or her with the crime. Depending on your age at the time of the attack and the laws of your state, it can take years for the case to come to trial.
4. Seek the assistance of an advocacy group such as RAINN by visiting their Web site (see Resources below). They can help you find legal representation as well as provide you with counseling services following a sex crime.

Tips & Warnings

• As a victim of a sex crime, you may feel as if you have no rights. However, many states have passed legislation guaranteeing your right to free medical attention following a sexual assault. Read more about your state's victims rights laws on the RAINN Web site (see Resources below).
• According to RAINN or the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, someone is sexually assaulted about every 2 to 3 minutes in this country. Of those assaulted, the majority are assaulted by a friend, acquaintance or someone they have an intimate relationship with. Survivors of sex crimes are more likely to suffer from extreme depression and are at higher risk for committing suicide than members of the general population. Make sure you seek counseling from a certified counselor or advocacy group such as RAINN (see Resources below) if you experience these feelings or need to talk to someone about your abuse.