Rape is the fastest rising violent crime in America. What can you do to prevent this crime?

Safety at your residence

• You may want to install a security system. A security system can be an effective means in countering and deterring criminal presence. If need be, you can install a CCTV Video Camera system to tape our property.
• If someone knocks at your door, be very careful. They may be a criminal posing as a delivery person or salesman seeking to observe the inside of your residence and specific times that you may be there. Put a chain lock on your door and a peep hole so that you can communicate with them without giving them a chance to possibly accost you. If they do not check out shut the door immediately, get their license plate from a nearby window, being careful not to allow them to see you through the window and obtain other important descriptions (ie: weight, height, hair, race), etc. And contact police.
• When moving into a new home or apartment make sure the locks are replaced or rekeyed. It is recommended that a 1" deadbolt lock us used. It is also recommended that if there is no door viewer to have one put in. "DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR UNLESS YOU KNOW WHO IS THERE."
• If you feel threatened yell or scream to attract attention.
• Never admit you are alone.
• If you are living alone use only your last name and first initial on your mail box. You may also want to make a name up and put it on your mailbox to give the appearance of a roommate.
• All entrances and garages should be well-lit.
• You may want to keep your property well manicured and maintained, especially entranceways and exits to eliminate criminals from hiding in such spots. Mainly be aware of possible hiding spots where ever you may travel to avoid surprise attacks. Put thorny bushes under bedroom windows and near entrances and exits to further deter possible criminals from hiding. Set out a very large dog water bowl in a visible place.
• Install high output lighting and automatic light sensors security devices around your property which comes on when something walks in front of them.
• Hang up on any obscene phone calls.
• Having an answering machine is fine as long as you don't state your name or telephone number or where you may be in the message. A good message may simply state "Hello, we are in, but will need a few minutes to get back to you, please leave your name and number and we will get back to you in a few moments.
• You must always provide yourself another means of alternate communications, such as a cell phone. If the criminal cuts or disconnects your phone line, you're in trouble. Store or keep a cell phone in a easily accessible place and have a plan. Having an additional separate phone line is good, but a cell phone is better.
• Do not give personal information (name, address, age) to a stranger on the telephone.
• If someone dials your number "by mistake," do not reveal your correct number. Ask what number he dialed and advise him to call again.

On the Street safety tips

• An attacker expects a passive victim, so if you walk slowly or in a daze, you will seem vulnerable to a potential rapist. Walk at a steady pace, appear confident and purposeful.
• Always stay in well lighted areas.
• Be alert to what's around you. Listen for footsteps and voices nearby. Look around to see if you are being followed.
• Do not take short cuts where you would be in a deserted area.
• Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubbery, dark doorways and other places of concealment.
• Do not hitchhike.
• When being followed by a vehicle, quickly turn around and walk in the opposite direction. The car will have to turn around, which will put it on the opposite side of the street. Keep more than an arm's distance from vehicles, even if they are asking directions.
• If you think you are being followed, change your pace. If the person changes his pace to coincide with yours, cross the street, get to lighted areas, draw attention to yourself and seek help.
• Never get into a stranger's vehicle, even if your car breaks down and someone offers to give you a ride to seek help. Ask him to send help while you remain in your locked vehicle.
• If being forced to enter a vehicle on a city street, remember that your changes of getting help are better there than in a deserted area where the rapist may plan to take you. MAKE NOISE.
• If you carry a purse, hold it close to your body.
• Always have your key ready to enter your residence or car.

Driving safety tips

• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Always keep your car doors locked.
• When parking at night, select a place that will be well-lit when returning to the car.
• Look in back seat and floor board before entering your car.
• When approaching your car in a parking lot look all around the area for anything that does not look right. If you see anything that looks suspicious near your car keep going and call the Police as soon as possible. If you can get in your car safely, lock the doors and go somewhere and contact the Police about your suspicions.
• Keep gas above 1/4 tank.
• When ever possible travel on well lighted streets.
• If you are ever being followed go to the nearest police department, fire department, or open business. If vehicle pulls in behind you and you do not know the individual blow the car horn to attract attention. DO NOT GET OUT OF CAR UNTIL YOU ARE SAFE.
• If your car is being repaired leave only the car keys with the repair shop.
• Be alert to vehicles following yours. If being followed, drive to the nearest police/fire station or where large crowds of people are gathered. Call the police. Ask for an escort home.
• If you are having car problems and can not raise the hood, stay in the car and wait for help. If someone stops to help, roll down the window just enough to talk to them and ask them to call a relative, friend, garage or the police for you.
• If you have nobody responsible to advise where you may be going should you be going out on the town or on vacation do write down information where you are traveling to and with whom on a piece of paper and leave it in your home in a relatively visible location should you not return. This will establish a track record history of where you may be and will assist the authorities with an investigation.

Safety Tips For Youth

• Children should be made aware of the dangers of accepting rides from or talking to strangers.
• Children should be encouraged to talk with their parents if they ever have a problem, not only with a stranger but also with a friend or relative.
• Children should know a safe, well-traveled route to take to and from school. Isolated areas should be avoided.
• Teenage baby-sitters should not accept jobs with people they do not know, or who have not been referred by people they know.
• Baby-sitters should call the police immediately if anything suspicious happens at the house. They should never open the door for strangers.
• The sitter's parents should be called at the end of the evening to inform them that the sitter will be home shortly.
• You may follow the advise and safety tips recommended and still find yourself confronted by an attacker. If it happens, you will have only seconds to decide your method of defense, so you must prepare mentally for the possibility of rape happening to you.

There are several ways to react to a sexual assault

The best resistance you can use against an attacker is your common sense. Think! Don't panic. The most important element to remember is that you are not trying to fight the attacker, but are attempting to divert the person long enough to get away. Always look for a way to escape. If the attacker has a weapon, use your common sense.

Break away and run toward areas with people. Be observant so that you will be able to remember and identify the assailant.

1. Passive Resistance

The goal of passive resistance is to think and talk your way out of the situation. With passive resistance, you can:

• Try to calm the attacker. Try to persuade him not to carry out the attack.
• Claim to be sick or pregnant. Tell him you have a sexually transmitted disease. This may intimidate the attacker.
• Try to discourage him. Pretend to faint, cry hysterically, act insane or mentally incapacitated.
• If you're at your residence, tell the attacker a friend is coming over or that your spouse or roommate will be back soon.

2. Active Resistance

Active resistance is intended to distract or temporarily injure your attacker to create an opportunity for escape. Nobody can tell you whether or not active resistance will be the "right" thing to do. A decision to resist actively, however, is irreversible. Your goal is to escape, not to win. Here are some pros and cons regarding the most common types of active resistance:

If the attacker is unarmed, you may be able to scare, distract or injure the person enough to make your escape.

• A yell can surprise or frighten an attacker away if he fears people will come to help. But yelling won't help in isolated or noisy areas.
• Scream "FIRE," "POLICE," or create a disturbance that will attract attention.
• STRUGGLING and FIGHTING BACK

A forceful struggle may also discourage an attacker, but most will retaliate and have the potential to inflict serious injuries. However, you must not be afraid to hurt an attacker. All kicks and blows must be forceful and should be aimed at vulnerable areas such as the groin, eyes, or instep.

MARTIAL ARTS

Special self-defense skills such as judo or karate are popular. If you are proficient in such techniques, they can be very effective. But proficiency requires practice.

WEAPONS

Some people carry weapons such as guns, knives, or spray chemicals to ward off attackers. Unless you are trained and not afraid to use these weapons, they can be very dangerous. The attacker might be able to turn them against you. Also, some weapons cannot legally be carried, so check with local law enforcement authorities.

Submitting to an Attack

• If you believe you might get hurt defending yourself or if you're afraid to fight back, don't. Sexual assault is still an assault and still a crime, even if you do not have a single cut or bruise. Victims who do not resist should never feel guilty; it is the assailant who committed the crime.
• If attacked, escape
• If trapped, stay alive
• If assaulted, memorize details

If you are raped

• Call the Police Department Immediately.
• Do not shower, douche, or change clothing.
• Have a medical exam and internal gynecological exam as soon as possible. A delay in time may destroy evidence.
• Semen smears must be taken by a clinician.
• Inform clinician of exact acts committed upon you and have the clinician note any medical evidence of them.
• Clinician should note any bruises or injuries bleeding, lacerations, etc.) external or internal.
• Have clinician test for venereal diseases (and pregnancy later, if relevant).
• Do not disturb the scene of the assault.
• Inform police of all details of attack, however intimate, and of anything unusual you may have noted about the attacker. Remember what the person said and how it was said. It may lead to the arrest of the assailant.
• Show police any external bruises or injuries, however minor, resulting from the attack. Police may request your clothes for purpose of evidence.
• Inform the police if you remember anything that was not previously reported.

Information needed by the police to catch and convict a rapist.

1. Type of car used by the rapist (license, make or model and color)
2. Race
3. Age, weight and height
4. Hair color and length
5. Color of eyes
6. Clothing
7. Any unusual marks, scars, tattoos, rings, etc.
8. Any facial hair
9. Type of accent
10. Any strange or distinctive odor
11. Last direction of travel

Additional Resources:

• Your Stories
• Safety Tips & Prevention
• Date Rape Awareness
• Psychoactive Drugs and Alcohol
• Informational Links
• Submit Your Story