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The Violence Intervention Program & the 24/7 Hotline
24/7 Rape Crisis Hotline: 432-4855
The Violence Intervention Program provides a 24 hour/7 days a week hotline
staffed by highly trained professionals. Hotline workers will answer the
phone by saying “hello, you’ve reached [worker's name]”
they will then ask how they can help you. You have the option of providing
your name, a false name or remaining anonymous. They will ask you questions
to determine if you need immediate medical help, help getting to safe
location, one of their other services, or phone counseling.
Hotline workers are there to listen to you, they will believe what you
tell them. They are not there to judge. All calls are kept completely
confidential.
The Violence Intervention Program also provides counseling, legal advocacy
and accompaniment, crime victims’ compensation support, safe housing
and education.
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Counseling
How Counseling Can Help You
Everyone who experiences a crime like sexual assault will have different
needs to help them through the recovery process. Counseling is one form
of support that many sexual assault survivors find helpful. Counseling
can help in several ways:
Defining an incident as sexual assault.
Many victims of sexual assault are left feeling confused and unsure of
what actually happened, especially if the perpetrator is an acquaintance
or dating partner. Counseling offers an opportunity to review the incident
in question.
Making decisions about legal and judicial options.
Very often, the victim feels unsure about how to proceed in terms of reporting
the assault to police, pressing criminal charges, or initiating campus
judicial proceedings. In counseling, you can discuss various options and
arrive at a decision as to which will most likely promote healing and
resolution for your individual circumstance.
Enhancing academic and social functioning.
Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that disrupts the victim's life
and may temporarily make it difficult for you to function at your usual
level. Counseling can help the survivor develop effective coping strategies
that will make it easier to pursue school, work, and social relationships
during the period of recovery.
Minimizing negative effects of the assault.
Victims of sexual assault typically experience a wide range of feelings.
Generally, counseling provides assistance with "working through"
the trauma of sexual assault, with the goal of minimizing negative psychological
and social effects so that the survivor can move on with his life.
Building social support.
A major goal of counseling is to help you build a support network of people
who can help you through this difficult time. For many, a support group
can be an instrumental part of the recovery process. Talking with others
who have had the same experience can greatly decrease feelings of shame
and isolation. Also, counseling can include your partner or family members,
as they may need help understanding how to be supportive.
Protecting one self from further victimization.
Although sexual assault is never your fault, some people are targeted
by perpetrators as "good victims" because they lack assertiveness
and have difficulty trusting their own self protective instincts. Through
counseling, you can develop confidence and skills that may decrease your
likelihood of being assaulted again.
From Victim to Survivor
The healing process after experiencing an assault is individual. Healing
does not mean forgetting about what happened. Instead, healing means accepting
that your life has changed and will always be affected by what happened
but also that life goes on. While everyone’s healing process includes
different steps and takes differing amounts of time, the healing process
often includes accessing support and giving yourself permission to experience
and express any emotions that come to you.
Common Reactions
Sexual assault victims, regardless of gender, experience similar reactions.
Some of those are fear, anger, helplessness, depression, nightmares, social
withdrawal, mood swings, anxiety, dislike of sex, difficulty with intimacy,
flashbacks, and an overwhelming sense of loss of control over their bodies
and themselves.
Male victims may also feel dirty, ashamed, embarrassed and/or guilty,
and are particularly disturbed by the fact that they were unable to protect
themselves from the assault.They may fear that others will discover that
they have been sexually assaulted and their sexual identity may become
an important issue.Homophobia (fear or hatred of gays and lesbians) keeps
many male survivors from coming forward for assistance after an assault.
It is never your fault that you were assaulted. The perpetrator
is 100% responsible for his/her actions.
Long Term Reactions
Flashbacks: Certain, sights, sounds, odors, etc. will "trigger"
memories of the assault.
Avoidance: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the event.
Trust Issues: Lack of trust develops, particularly in date/acquaintance
rape incidents. may be a long-term avoidance to involvement in relationships.
Estrangement: Survivors may develop a feeling of detachment or estrangement
from others. It may seem like the rest of the world doesn't notice or
care. This feeling is intensified when others expect victims to go back
to ’life as usual’ or when family members expect holidays
& family events to continue as they have before the assault.
Hypervigilance: Survivors may become very sensitive to loud noises, the
sudden presence of another person in the room, or other events that may
interrupt their thinking. Hypervigilance refers to intense startle reactions.
Changes in Lifestyle: Some survivors may be unable to return to normal
routines for a long time following an assault. Some resume only a minimal
level of normal activity; others change their lifestyles drastically.
Counseling Resources:
On-Campus:
Student Counseling Center 436-3368
The Counseling Center at SUNY College at Oneonta provides professional
counseling services and specializes in working with college students.
These services are free and confidential.
Off-Campus:
Violence Intervention Program 433-8038
Oneonta, New York
24/7 Rape Crisis Hotline: 432-4855
VIP offers free & confidential services. The Hotline is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Otsego County Mental Health Clinic 433-2343
Oneonta, New York
Provides professional counseling, assessment, referral and a sliding fee
scale.
Medical Help
Medical Options
It is very important that a victim meet with a health care provider as
soon as possible in order to receive necessary medical treatment and to
allow for the collection of evidence. Even if a victim does not notice
any injuries, a victim should still have a medical examination, as a victim
could have internal injuries of which s/he is not aware. A victim may
be at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) . A
victim can be given medicine to protect them from acquiring a sexually
transmitted infection from the assault. It is important that a victim
discuss treatment options with a health care professional.
General Medical Exam:
If a victim decides not to report the crime, or if it has been more than
5 days since the attack, it is still important that he receive medical
care. Victims may wish to go to Student Health Services. The doctor and
nurses who conduct the examination are trained in helping rape victims
and are sensitive to their needs. Examinations performed at Student Health
Services do not involve evidence collection, but are confidential and
provide necessary medical care and follow-up as needed.
The general medical exam will:
• Check for injuries
• Screen for STD's
• Emergency Contraceptive
• Set up follow up appointment
• Does not require a victim to prosecute or report
Options more than 5 days following the incident:
• General Medical Exam:
• Check for injuries, even healed injuries
• Screen for STD's
• Set up follow-up appointments
Forensic Exam:
A forensic exam (rape kit) is a special exam that is conducted as soon
as possible following an assault to collect evidence that may be used
in criminal proceedings. At the hospital, you have the right to request
that the forensic exam is done by a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE),
a person who has done specific training in forensic evidence collection.
The fact that evidence has been collected does NOT mean that a victim
has to prosecute. The victim always has the right to reconsider his decisions.
During a forensic exam, the forensic nurse will be talking to the victim
first about his/her medical history and then will need to know some details
about the assault to aid in evidence collection and examination of injuries.
The victim may have an advocate in the room to provide emotional support
through the process, if so desired.
Evidence may be collected from the hair on the victim’s head, mouth,
pubic hair, rectum and finger nails. Sometimes pictures may be taken of
bruises, pinch marks, bite marks, scratches, lacerations or other injuries.
Usually blood will be drawn for DNA identification also. In some cases
clothing may need to be taken into evidence.
Health Care Resources:
On-Campus:
Student Health Center 436-3573
The Health Center at SUNY College at Oneonta provides a wide range of
health care services for students including treatment of minor injuries,
STI treatment, and HIV testing. These services are free and confidential.
Off-Campus:
A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital* 431-5000
Oneonta, New York
M.I. Bassett Hospital* 547-3355
Cooperstown, New York
* Both Fox and Bassett Hospital perform forensic exams, test for date
rape drugs, treat injuries, provide STI treatment, HIV testing & prophylaxis.
Planned Parenthood 432-2250
Oneonta, New York
Planned Parenthood can provide STI treatment & HIV testing
Reporting Options
Choosing to report is your decision.
Silent
Witness/Anonymous Reporting:
This method of reporting allows you to report the crime anonymously and
is accessed through the University Police website at:
Confidential Reporting:
Confidential reports can be filled out at the Counseling Center, Health
Center, with the campus judicial officers, residence hall directors, club
advisors, and athletic coaches. These reports are confidential and do
not trigger an investigation. The information may be used in future investigations.
Police Report:
A police report may be made through local law enforcement agencies including
the University Police Department at SUNY Oneonta. This method will generate
a report and a subsequent investigation. This method is not anonymous.
SUNY Oneonta Judicial Officer:
Where there is probable cause to believe the college's regulations prohibiting
sexual misconduct have been violated, the college will expedite strong
disciplinary action. This discipline includes the possibility of suspension
or dismissal from the college. An individual charged with sexual misconduct
will be subject to college disciplinary procedures, whether or not prosecution
under New York State Criminal Statutes is pending.
Legal Resources
On-Campus
University Police Department 436-3550
SUNY Oneonta Judicial Affairs 436-3353
Off-Campus
Oneonta Police Department 432-1111
New York State Police 432-3211
Otsego County Sheriff 547-4273
Oneonta City Prosecutor 432-4480
Otsego County District Attorney 547-4229
Oneonta City Court Chambers 432-4480
VIP Crime Victims Advocate 433-8038
