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Sexual Assault Assault VICTIM SERVICE WORKER HANDBOOK

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Sexual Assault Assault VICTIM SERVICE WORKER HANDBOOK sexualSexual assault Assault VICTIM SERVICE WORKER HANDBOOK INFORMATION + RESOURCES FOR VICTIM SERVICE WORKERS Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General You are welcome to reproduce any portion of this handbook to use for training and educational purposes, provided you acknowledge the source by printing the following statement on the material copies: Reproduced from Sexual Assault—Victim Service Worker Handbook, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division. © Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division, January 2007. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Sexual assault : victim service worker handbook Produced by the Justice Institute of British Columbia for the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division. Previously produced in 1993 by Justice Institute of BC for Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Information + resources for victim service workers” ISBN 0-7726-5603-7 1. Sexual abuse victims – Counseling of - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Sexual abuse victims – Services for - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Rape victims – Counseling of - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 4. Rape victims – Services for - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 5. Social work with women - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 6. Abused women – Counseling of - British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 7. Abused women – Services for - British Columbia. I. British Columbia – Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. British Columbia. Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division. II. British Columbia. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. HV6569.C3S49 2006 362.883082’09711 C2006-960151-8 whom this handbook is for intro This handbook is for people who work with women and men who have been sexually assaulted. These survivors may have been sexually assaulted as children or as adults, but are seeking services as adults. While some of the survivors you are assisting may still be legally considered children, the intent of this handbook is to address the needs of survivors of adult sexual assault rather than child sexual abuse. For assistance in working with children who have been sexually assaulted or abused, see the Violence Against Children and Youth Handbook in this series. As a service provider using this handbook, you may be: n A victim service worker n A worker in a sexual assault service n A worker in an agency that serves a specific cultural community n A worker at any other agency or institution that serves sexually assaulted women or men why this handbook was developed This handbook was developed to assist those working with survivors of sexual assault. Sexual assault survivors need information, emotional support, and practical assistance as they make their way through a difficult and emotional process. This process may be even more difficult for a survivor who is an immigrant or Aboriginal, has disabilities, or is a member of any other diversity group. A survivor’s socioeconomic class, ability, or sexual orientation, for example, may have a strong impact on her experience of sexual assault and her needs. When offering support to survivors of sexual assault, it is important that you understand and respect the diversity of cultures with which survivors identify. This handbook will assist you to provide the best service possible to all sexual assault survivors. Your aim will be to help survivors make use of the justice and health care systems and community resources as they choose. Experience and research indicate that survivors need information, respectful treatment, support through the justice introduction i intro process, and a coordinated approach that addresses all of their needs. This handbook will help you to provide the kind of assistance that survivors of sexual assault need. While this handbook addresses the full range of a victim service worker’s role in assisting survivors, it is not intended that it be used alone to prepare a worker to fulfill that role. It is intended that this handbook be used in conjunction with specialized training. how this handbook is organized This handbook is divided into two sections: n Part 1 (Sections 1 to 3) deals with the context of victim service workers’ work with survivors of sexual assault. n Part 2 (Sections 4 to 7) deals with the work itself. There are eight sections: n Section 1 explores the nature, dynamics, social context, extent, and impact of sexual assault. n Section 2 discusses the needs of diverse communities in seeking support after a sexual assault. n Section 3 describes the full range of societal responses to sexual assault, including legislation, policy, services, and community coordination. n Section 4 provides an introduction to and overview of the work of victim services, including a discussion of rape trauma syndrome and the role of the victim service worker. n Section 5 deals with the survivor’s initial urgent need for safety and support. n Section 6 describes the process and the victim service worker’s role at the hospital, for treatment of injuries and collection of medical forensic evidence. n Section 7 covers the criminal justice process from initial police report to post- sentencing issues, including the role of the victim service worker. n Section 8 lists resources for information, practical assistance, and support, and provides information on how to obtain them. There are three other handbooks that have been developed to assist and support those who work with victims of crime: n Victims of Crime n Violence Against Women in Relationships n Violence Against Children and Youth ii introduction guide to using this handbook guide The following icons are used throughout each section of the handbook to help you navigate the material: key terms This icon appears in the outside margin when a key term or phrase is used in the handbook. resources This icon appears when a book, journal article, policy or other publication is referenced in the handbook. scales This icon appears when a statute, act, or a case is noted in the handbook. mouse This icon appears when a website is noted on the page. phone This icon indicates a key phone number, like the toll-free, 24-hour VictimLINK. house This icon appears when helpful organizations, programs, ministries are noted. push pin This icon appears when there is a cross- reference to another section of the handbook. guide to using this handbook iii contents table of contents | PART 1 section 1 sexual assault: nature, dynamics + social context What is sexual assault? 1.2 Who are survivors of sexual assault? 1.3 A historical perspective 1.3 Societal beliefs and values 1.5 Some Canadian facts 1.7 The impact of sexual assault 1.10 Dynamics of sexual assault 1.12 Common misconceptions about sexual assault 1.16 section 2 diversity as a factor in disclosing abuse, seeking support and making choices Introduction 2.2 Understanding privilege 2.2 Being sensitive to diverse communities' needs 2.3 section 3 society's reponse to sexual assault: legislation, policy, and services Legislation 3.2 Provincial policies and protocols 3.14 Legislation and policies evolve 3.19 Services for victims 3.20 Coordination in sexual assault cases 3.26 iv table of contents table of contents | PART 2 contents section 4 the work — introduction + overview What sexual assault survivors need 4.2 Values and beliefs of the victim service worker 4.3 Rape trauma syndrome 4.4 The victim service worker’s role in responding to 4.9 sexual assault Information, privacy, and confidentiality 4.19 Crime Victim Assistance Program applications 4.25 Victim impact statements 4.26 Taking care of yourself 4.29 section 5 crisis intervention Overview 5.2 Responding to the crisis 5.2 section 6 medical procedures Before going to the hospital 6.2 The decision to obtain medical attention and 6.3 provide medical forensic evidence What will happen at the hospital 6.5 Supporting survivors through medical procedures 6.11 table of contents v contents table of contents | PART 2 section 7 justice system response Involving the police 7.2 Police procedures following a report of sexual assault 7.3 Supporting survivors through the police investigation 7.7 Role of Crown counsel 7.11 Supporting survivors through Crown counsel 7.14 procedures Using protection orders 7.15 The victim service worker’s role in obtaining and 7.17 enforcement of protection orders Steps leading to trial 7.18 The trial 7.20 Verdict and sentencing 7.24 The survivor’s role in the court process 7.27 Role of the victim service worker in the court process 7.28 After sentencing 7.31 After the court process is over 7.33 section 8 resources for working with sexual assault survivors Introduction 8.2 Government services 8.2 Provincial + regional organizations 8.5 Legal information + advocacy 8.8 Other useful organizations + websites 8.9 Print resources 8.11 Videos 8.26 vi table of contents the context P 1 Part 1 (Sections 1 to 3) A of this handbook deals with the context of victim service workers’ work R with people who have been sexually assaulted. T sexual assault: nature, dynamics, and social context 1section What is sexual assault? 1.2 Who are survivors of sexual assault? 1.3 A historical perspective 1.3 Societal beliefs and values 1.5 Some Canadian facts 1.7 The impact of sexual assault 1.10 Dynamics of sexual assault 1.12 Common misconceptions about sexual assault 1.16 section1 what is sexual assault? It cannot be forgotten that a sexual assault is very different from other assaults. It is true that it, like all the other forms of assault, is an act of violence.
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