Unwanted or abusive sexual experiences are never your fault. For sexual contact to be all right, it must be consensual, which means that both people want it to happen.
Experiencing unwanted or abusive sexual contact causes people to react in many different ways. Just because someone did not “fight back” does not mean it was consensual.
People of all ages, gender identifications, races, sexual orientations, educations, and socioeconomic status are effected by sexual violence.
If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault, You Might:
- Feel afraid, ashamed, angry, sad, lonely, betrayed, or depressed.
- Feel guilty and confused if you knew or had a relationship with the attacker, even though the assault was not your fault.
- Feel like you have no friends or that your friends won’t believe you.
- Want to hurt someone else or yourself.
- Feel like taking steps to defend yourself.
- Feel helpless to stop the assault.
- Feel hopeless about whether anything can be done.
- Be afraid to go anywhere that the attacker might be.
- Feel anxious all the time.
- Feel bad about yourself or your body.
Help is just a phone call away from our 24/7 confidential Rape Crisis Helpline – 1.866.828.7273
What Are Victims’ Rights?
All states and the federal government have passed laws to establish a set of victims’ rights. In general, these laws require that victims have certain information, protections, and a limited role in the criminal justice process.
Who Are “Victims”?
“Victims” are usually defined as any person who has been directly harmed by a crime that was committed by another person. Survivors of unwanted or abusive sexual experiences, or sexual assault, may choose to report a crime to law enforcement. Our trained advocates and therapists help survivors regardless of the decision to involve law enforcement, or not.
Victims Rights in Florida
In 2018, the voters of Florida passed Marsy’s Law, which amended Article 1 Section 16(b) of the Florida Constitution to expand the rights of Crime Victims in Florida.
What Florida laws pertain to Sexual Violence?
Chapter 800 Lewdness; Indecent Exposure
Chapter 825 Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Persons and Disabled Adults
Chapter 960 Victim Assistance/ Victims’ Rights
IF THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR IMMEDIATE CRISIS, PLEASE CALL 9-1-1.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, verbal, physical or psychological abuse, please call 2-1-1 for support and services.
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