The V Word

July 28 2014

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

You can listen to today’s episode here: https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/07-28-14-the-vword-1

Today’s question came from a friend, what are the risks of assault while on vacation and what can you do if you are assaulted while on vacation or while on a cruise ship?
The risks?
The FBI states that sexual assault is the dominant threat to women and minors while at sea, with the majority of assaults happening on cruise ships.
(See December 2005statement of Chris Swecker, Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division of the FBI, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and 
International Relations and Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.)
In fact, sexual assault is the leading crime reported to the FBI – comprising 55% of crimes at sea that are reported.
(See March 2007 statement of Salvador Hernandez, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.)

The exact rate of sexual assault aboard cruise ships is difficult to determine. It is hard to precisely pinpoint the extent of the problem because there is no reliable way to asses whether the cruise lines are accurately reporting all on-board sexual assaults, and what is reported is not automatically made public. This, coupled with the fact that sexual assault is one of the least reported violent crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, as many as 60% of onshore sexual assault victims decline to report the crime against them. It is likely that many cruise passengers who experience sexual assault on the cruise also will not report the crime, and therefore such crimes will not become part of industry cruise safety statistics.
So what can a survivor do if assaulted? Is reporting important? Yes. And there are things you can do. As with crime onshore…

Physical evidence is very important in sexual assault cases, and can deteriorate as time passes. As such, victims should not change clothes, avoid bathing if possible, and have a physical exam at the first opportunity. You should take these steps even if you are unsure about whether to report the crime to police. If you decide to pursue a prosecution at a later time, these steps preserve evidence that will assist the prosecutor.
If you are a US citizen and out of the US when assaulted, contact the US Embassy. A consular officer or after-hours duty officer from the U.S. Embassy may be able to accompany victims of sexual assault for the medical exam. You should get medical attention to determine if you have been injured in any way and to discuss treatment and prevention options for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The U.S. Embassy can provide you with a list of local doctors.

RAINN provides a list of suggestions
If You Are a Victim of Rape/Sexual Assault While Aboard a Cruise
Do not shower, and do not wash your clothes or bedding (as this may damage or destroy valuable evidence) until you have had a forensic examination by qualified medical personnel.
Immediately seek treatment in the emergency room of the nearest hospital or, if you are at sea, from the ship’s medical facilities for any physical injuries. Get a forensic examination to ensure that any evidence is collected; and take photos of any physical injuries or bruises and of the scene of the incident.
If you are onboard the ship when the crime occurs, immediately telephone the FBIand U.S. Coast Guard about the crime, and get advice on how to proceed. You can reach FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. at 202-324-3000, while the emergency numbers for the U.S. Coast Guard are: (1) Atlantic Area Command Center (for Great Lakes, Gulf and East Coasts) – (757) 398-6390; (2) Pacific Area Command center (for the Hawaiian, Alaskan and Pacific Coasts) – (510) 437-3700.
FBI jurisdiction over sexual assault at sea arises under federal criminal law. The Bureau has jurisdiction in these four circumstances: (1) if the cruise vessel is owned in whole or in part by a United States company, (2) if the victim or the perpetrator is a United States national or if the vessel departs or arrives in a United States port anytime during its voyage, (3) if the offense was committed by or against a United States national outside the jurisdiction of any nation (i.e., in international waters), and (4) if the offense occurred in the United States territorial sea within 12 miles of the United States coast.
If the crime occurred on-board the ship, also report the incident to a cruise ship security officer as soon as possible. Insist that the scene of the crime be secured until law enforcement officials arrive.
Get the names and contact information of any individuals (both crew members and passengers) who witnessed or were involved in the incident.
If the crime occurs when you are on foreign soil, seek advice from your nearest embassy or consulate concerning local resources and report the crime to the local police. (Remember that not every country’s legal definition of “rape” and “sexual assault” is the same.) Consular duty personnel are available 24/7 in over 260 Foreign Service posts abroad; and they can provide U.S. citizens who are victimized while traveling with a variety of forms of emergency assistance.

Here are some of the ways a U.S. consular officer can assist:
Contacting your family, friends, or employers;
Locating medical services;
Meeting other emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
Providing information about the local criminal justice process and about the case itself;
Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
Obtaining information about U.S. crime victim assistance and compensation programs on your behalf, and
Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officials cannot:
Investigate crimes;
Provide legal advice or represent you in court;
Serve as official interpreters or translators; or
Pay your legal and medical bills or other fees.

For help or information? Here are some options…
To reach the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S., call 888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours).
If you have been assaulted onshore in the US, call 911. Local rape crisis centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.
For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.
For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.
Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org
The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

Contact information of U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies for U.S. citizens traveling abroad.
More information about consular assistance for victims of crime abroad.
Seek support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE), the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline (www.rainn.org), or your nearest rape crisis center. If the FBI is involved in investigating your case, you also may want to contact the FBI Office for Victim Assistance about the status of the criminal investigation: 866-828-5320.
Call your physician when you return home and make sure you receive the proper medical care and longer term counseling if necessary.
Should you decide to pursue a civil claim, seek the advice of a legal professional. Your state bar association can refer you to a lawyer with expertise in maritime and admiralty law.

July 14 2014

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

Listen to today’s episode here: https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/2014-07-14-thevword-campus-rape

Are you a college student? Are you a parent of a college student? Then no doubt you have been reading the news lately about sexual assault on college campuses.
I have been getting stories sent in by students…. While using force, containment and brutality are means used to rape a person and happens on college campuses. There are other actions perpetrators use to sexually assault someone. threats, chemicals like alcohol and drugs, groping, sexual harassment and stalking are used to sexually coerce someone. Perpetrators like to think that using a variety of ways to coerce someone makes it consent.. but it is not consent – it is coercion and it is sexual assault.
Have you ever given someone a sleeping pill to make them drowsy and then had sex with them? That would be considered sexual coercion.
Have you ever threatened to out someone’s sexuality or orientation in order to get them to agree to have sex with you? That is sexual coercion..
Have you ever given someone enough alcohol to make them drunk and incapacitated with the purpose to have sex with them? That would be coercion and rape.
Providing someone with a chemical to reduce their inhibitions or to get them to agree to something they wouldn’t do sober or alert is sexual assault.

Varying reports from the Department of Justice Services, to the White House, to the Office on Violence Against Women, to the statistics from local rape crises centers all find that 20 – 25 % of female college students are sexually assaulted. That’s every fourth or fifth woman on campus. So let’s follow stats… if the current count of women in college is 57% and college classes tend to hold 20 – 30 students (to large lecture classes that hold 100), in a class of 30 students… 4 or 5 are survivors of sexual assault – on campus… In a class of 100 students… 14 or 15 are survivors of sexual assault – on campus…. How many people in college… around 21 million in 2011… so that means… almost 3 million female students are survivors of sexual assault on campus or through college related activities.

What is the impact of sexual assault on college students? The impact is large and ongoing. With the new information regarding trauma on our brains… interpersonal violence received, like sexual assault and physical assault have a permanent impact on our brain which impacts our ability to process, modulate feelings, and manage behavior. This happens even if you witness acts of violence.
What are some of the results:
Trauma related psychiatric and medical issues can be profound
Mentally: Post Traumatic Stress disorders, depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, and relational disorders are common,
medically: sexually transmitted diseases that can result in sterility or immune deficiency disorders that can result in chronic and life threatening illnesses. head injuries are common and often overlooked, that can result in long-term cognitive issues.
Survivors of campus sexual assault have a higher percentage of dropping out of school, of having significant drops in grades, of dropping out of activities and jobs.
Survivors of campus sexual assault can have more difficulties with relationships due to a reduced ability to trust others.
Survivors of campus sexual assault can turn to alcohol and other drugs to help with the insomnia, nightmares, hypervigilance, and mood instability that can develop.
Appropriate trauma counseling may not be readily available in campus health or counseling centers or even all rape crisis centers due to lack of funds or resources.

What are the issues with colleges letting perpetrators continue to live on campus and attend classes? It promotes an environment where justice is not served, where females students are not respected, but most importantly, it provides an environment where sexual perpetration on females and males is accepted and facilitated.
Here is the question I ask myself…. If the majority of students in college are now women, if sexual perpetration still is targeted at mostly women, and if colleges are not protecting women… what happens if women stop going to those colleges? what happens if women boy cot those colleges? What happens if women create new and safer means to achieve higher education?
Frankly I am amazed colleges do not do a better job of taking care of the majority of their student enrollment. After all, isn’t that where the money comes from? the students and their parents?

For help or information? Here are some options…
If you have been assaulted, call 911. Local rape crisis centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.
For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.
For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.
Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org
The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

Welcome to the V Word

https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/the-v-word-05-12-14

Today’s edition is a nod to Mental Health Awareness Month.

Today’s question is from a reader,

Shana: “Hi, I was sexually assaulted as a child for several years by my father. While I am away from it now that I am an adult, I still feel depressed and anxious all the time. I still have nightmares and there are times I have thought about suicide. Sometimes I hurt myself just to feel and to get the shame out of my head. I sometimes forget what I am doing and realized I have zoned out for minutes or even hours. I have a partner now who is a good person and loves me but is worried about me. Is this normal? Will I always feel this way?

Yes, Shana, most survivors feel depressed and anxious long after the assault or the abuse has ended. Unfortunately the impact of sexual assault and abuse can continue on and impact your life in many ways. Survivors have many of the following symptoms and they can last for years.

Nightmares, flashbacks or ab-reactions, depression and anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia (which is sleeping too much), difficulties with your appetite, being easily startled, and difficulties with relationships. Many survivors often think about or attempt suicide. Many survivors often cut on themselves or injure themselves to help distract them from the emotional pain that continues from abuse.

What many people don’t know is that the coping skills needed to help a person survive abuse often becomes counter-effective when the abuse has stopped.

So what that means Shana, is that the hyper-awareness that you needed to develop during your childhood can now disrupt your normal interactions. Difficulties sleeping can add to depression during the day. Dissociating or “zoning out” during abuse is a protective device survivors develop to survive the abuse while it is happening. It can become a habit when anything becomes uncomfortable or stressful after the abuse is over and inhibit you in talking with others or being able to listen. Repressing your feelings is also a way for survivors to help themselves survive abuse. This is why survivors often feel numb long after the abuse has ended. That is why some survivors cut on themselves, to avoid the memories or to make sure they can still feel something.

All these are usual for survivors to feel and can last a long time. But there is help. Trauma counseling is available now from trained therapists and local rape crisis centers have support groups. Nonprofits like Mental Health America can provide you with referral and resources for services in your area. Suicide hotlines are available.

So listeners, to recap.

Sexual assault can have a long-term, even life-time impact on survivors. Statistics reported across various agencies are;

Rape survivors are 13 times more likely to attempt suicide than are people who are not raped.
Rape survivors are six times more likely to attempt suicide than are survivors of other crimes.
25–50% of sexual assault survivors seek mental health treatment as a result of the assault.
8-15% of sexual assault survivors go on to develop chronic post traumatic stress disorder.

Are you a friend, partner or family member of someone who is assaulted? You can help by understanding what a survivor goes through even after the assault has ended. You can help by encouraging the survivor to seek support and counseling if they need it. You can help by going to support groups or counseling with them to learn more about what a survivors needs from their loved ones.

Need help or more information? Here are some options…

To report a sexual assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA area – call 911 or go to an emergency room.

For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA area, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.

Thinking about suicide? In the Richmond area you can call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at 819-4100 that is the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority Crisis services at 819-4100.

Not in the Richmond area? You can call the national suicide prevention lifeline at: 1-800-273-8255 , that is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. In Virginia, USA to find a center closest to you — you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline, hosted by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance at 1-800-838-8238. That is 1-800-838-8238

Listening from outside of Virginia? You can call RAINN – the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network at 1-800-656-HOPE . That is 1-800-656-HOPE

Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org

The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3 FM, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.