KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHERE TO GO FOR HELP: YOUR FBI VICTIM SPECIALIST U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Under the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act, Resources, Web-links, and Phone Numbers The FBI Victim Specialist assigned to your case is you are entitled to be treated with fairness and there to make sure you have information and sup- Victim Services Division Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network with respect for your dignity and privacy. You are port to help you get through this process. She or RAINN, offers prevention programs and operates also entitled to receive certain rights and services, he will explain the criminal justice process, listen to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656- including: your concerns, help you find counseling and other HOPE (1-800-656-4673) and a confidential online forms of assistance, and keep you updated on the chat. The RAINN website can be located at www. ■ Reasonable protection from the perpetrator status of the case. The Victim Specialist works for ■ rainn.org. and his or her associates. the FBI but is not an Agent. Instead, the Victim National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence Specialist is often someone with a social work or ■■ Information on available financial assistance This 24-hour hotline for Domestic Violence and counseling degree and experience working with and where you can receive emergency medical Sexual Assault, confidential service offers crisis young people and adults who have been victims of and social services, counseling, treatment and intervention and support, message service and re- violent crime. other support services. ferrals. National Domestic Violence hotline (1-800- The Victim Specialist works as part of a team with 799-SAFE) or the National Sexual Assault hotline the FBI Agent and employees from the U.S. At- ■ Information on the status of the investigation Internet at (1-800-656-HOPE). www.ncdsv.org. ■ torney’s Office. While most of the discussions that and the arrest or filing of charges against a Polaris Project you have with your Victim Specialist are confiden- suspected offender. Polaris project works directly with victims, host tip tial, there may be times when the Victim Specialist and crisis hotlines and offers solutions to victims will need to share information you provide with ■■ Return of any property held as evidence as of human trafficking. National Human Trafficking other team members. If you have questions about soon as it is no longer needed for evidence in Hotline, 1 (888) 373-7888. www.polarisproject.org. limited confidentiality, you may contact your Victim the case. TEXT “BE FREE” 233733 Specialist for clarification. Generally, the Victim Specialist and the Agent will make every effort to In addition to the rights and services described VictimConnect protect your privacy. above, the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act (18 USC Resource Center is a referral helpline where crime 3772) provides the following rights: victims can learn about their rights and options IMPORTANT FBI CONTACTS confidentially and compassionately. A program ■■ To have a sexual assault evidence collection kit of the National Center for Victims of Crime, it FBI Victim Specialist: completed as part of a medical/forensic exam combines: a traditional telephone-based helpline: at no cost to you. 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846), an innovative Phone: online chat: www.chat.victimsofcrime.org and a ■■ To be notified in writing before the kit is de- web-based information and service referrals: www. FBI Special Agent: stroyed. VictimConnect.org. National Suicide Hotline Prevention Line Phone: ■■ To request that the kit be preserved. This a United States–based suicide prevention net- work of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll- ■■ To be informed of important results from the free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or sexual assault forensic examination. emotional distress. After dialing 1-800-273-TALK, Navigating the caller is routed to their nearest crisis center to If someone is charged and indicted with the crime, receive immediate counseling and local mental you may have additional rights related to the pros- health referrals. ecution and any sentencing and incarceration of the Impact of the individual. The prosecutor’s office will inform Men Can Stop Rape Federal Bureau of Investigation you of those rights. Men Can Stop Rape is the leading national organi- Victim Services Division J. Edgar Hoover Building zation mobilizing boys and young men to prevent 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW all forms of physical and sexual violence, especially Sexual Assault Washington D.C. 20535 violence against women. Contact Men Can Stop (202) 324-3000 Rape by calling 202-265-6530 or log on at www. www.fbi.gov/resources/victim-services mencanstoprape.org. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this brochure are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official posi- tion or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. 2019 WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT? IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Sexual assault is unwanted sexual activity, force, Sexual assault can impact victims differently. It threats, coercion or taking advantage of some- is not uncommon to experience a wide range of one who may not give consent. The term sexual emotions. Survivors may feel: assault can apply to different types of behavior: rape, touching, fondling of genitals, and inde- ■■ Angry, sad, lonely, depressed cent exposure. When the victim is young, sexual assault may also be called sexual abuse. Sex ■■ Nervous, confused, or fearful trafficking is when someone is forced by another person or persons to perform sexual acts on oth- ■■ Badly about themselves and their bodies er people for money, drugs, or favors. Sextortion usually involves sexual exploitation and threats ■■ Anxious all the time and occurs mostly online. Sextortion is sexual exploitation that occurs primarily online and in ■■ Guilty, even though the assault was not their WHAT’S NEXT? which non-physical forms of coercion are utilized, fault such as blackmail, to acquire sexual content Interviews: After reporting you have been sexu- Medical exam: In many cases, it is helpful to (photos/videos) of the victim, obtain money from ■■ Unable to concentrate or enjoy activities they ally assaulted, you will be interviewed by a local have a sexual assault forensic exam, sometimes the victim or engage in sex with the victim. took pleasure in before the assault law enforcement officer or an FBI agent. called a “rape kit.” During this exam, someone specially trained to perform this exam, such as Information and Support: You will be put in a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), will WHO CAN BECOME A VICTIM OF contact with an FBI Victim Specialist assigned collect DNA evidence that can help identify A SEX CRIME? SEXUAL ASSAULT and OTHER to your case. The Victim Specialist is there to the perpetrator. You do not have to agree to a make sure you have information and support forensic exam to receive treatment, but doing so Sexual assault can be a one-time occurrence or it CRIMES to help you get through this ordeal. She or he may strengthen the case against the perpetrator can continue over a period of time. Anyone can will explain the criminal justice process, listen if you decide to immediately report the crime or Sexual assault is often a component of domestic be a victim of a sex crime at any age of their lives. to your concerns, help you find counseling and in the future. Most perpetrators of sexual assault violence and human trafficking crimes. Hu- Sexual assault can occur at the hands of relatives, other forms of assistance, and keep you updated will victimize many people over time, often using man trafficking, especially sex trafficking, often close friends, acquaintances, domestic partners, on the status of the case. The Victim Specialist the same pattern of behavior. Collection of DNA involves the same dynamics of power and control trusted professionals, or strangers. works for the FBI but is not an Agent. The Victim and other evidence can help link the perpetrator present in patterns of domestic violence and Specialist is usually someone with a social work other crimes and other victims. To insure physi- sexual assault. For example, intimidation and iso- Perpetrators target victims for a variety of rea- or counseling degree and experience in working cal wellness, the exam may be a good time to lation are typical for victims of domestic violence sons but often out of a desire to exercise power with people who have been victims of violent discuss any concerns you may have about STD’s, and sexual assault and can complicate cases of and control over another person. It’s important crime. HIV infection or pregnancy. human sex trafficking. Intimate partner relation- for victims to understand that sexual assault is ships (to include pimp/trafficker) may include never their fault. Sexual assault is something that The Victim Specialist works as part of a team Court appearances: If your case goes to court, physical abuse as a way to control and coerce happens to people: it is not who they are. Vic- with the FBI Agent and the employees form the you may be asked to testify. The attorney victims. Sexual assault, domestic violence and tims of sexual assault are survivors who can heal U.S. Attorney’s Office. While most of the discus- handling your case as well as the United States human trafficking victims have many of the same and move forward with hope and purpose. sions you have with your Victim Specialist are Attorney’s Office (USAO) Victim Witness Coordi- needs, such as physical and emotional safety. confidential, there may be times when the Victim nator can help you to prepare for what is to be Specialist will need to share information you pro- expected in court. vide with other team members, especially if the information is directly related to the investiga- tion. Generally, the Victim Specialist and Agent will make every effort to protect your privacy. If you have questions about limited confidentiality you can ask your Victim Specialist for clarifica- tion.