Sexual Assault
Sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person without his or her consent or when the person is incapable of giving consent.
Examples
- Any sexual activity performed in the absence of consent or through coercion
- Forced oral, anal, or vaginal sex with any body part or object
- Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity
- Rape or attempted rape
- Keeping someone from protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancies or STIs
- Sexual contact with someone who is very drunk, drugged, unconscious or unable to give a clear and informed “yes”
- Threatening or pressuring someone into sexual activity
Get Help
If you want evidence to be collected, make sure that you don’t bathe and that you take the clothes that you were wearing (in a paper bag) at the time of the assault to the hospital. However, if you have bathed or do not have the clothes, evidence can still be collected.
If you would like medical treatment (including testing for sexually transmitted diseases) and evidence collection, go to one of the hospitals below where an advocate can be called to meet with you:
- Deaconess Hospital, 800 W. 5th Avenue, Spokane, 509.473.5800
- Sacred Heart Medical Center, 101 W. 8th Avenue, Spokane, 509.474.3131
- Providence Holy Family, 5633 N. Lidgerwood Street, Spokane, 509.482.0111
- Valley Hospital, Rockwood, 12606 East Mission Avenue, Spokane Valley, 509.473.5000
Reacting to sexual assault
Sexual assault can be one of the most painful and disruptive things that can happen in someone’s life. It is natural if your emotions frequently fluctuate. Here is a list of common feelings and reactions that survivors of sexual violence have reported:
- Wondering “why me?”
- Fear
- Anger or rage
- Numbness or emptiness
- Stomachache
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping/change in sleeping habits
- Change in eating habits
- Disbelief
- Shame
- Betrayal
- Sense of loss
- Loss of control
- Nightmares
- Guilt
- Inability to concentrate
- Feelings of withdrawal
- Panic
- Reluctance to go to school/work