Sexual Violence

Developed by Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence




What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is any sexual act a person is coerced or forced into without consent. Sexual assault is a broad term referring to acts of violence that involve a sexual component. Perpetrators of sexual assault use sexual contact to inflict humiliation or exert power and control over a victim. Sexual assault includes several different types of acts, many of which are crimes. Sexual assault may include rape, child molestation or incest. Most often these acts are perpetrated by someone the victim already knows such as a friend, relative or intimate partner.

Sex offenders use many methods to intimidate the victim. They might use trickery, manipulation, coercion, bribery, blackmail, or threats. Offenders often take advantage of people they perceive as vulnerable or less powerful.

Effects of Sexual Assault

The experience of sexual assault has different meanings for each person. No one knows precisely how an individual will react. There is no "right" way to act after an assault. Some victims are very emotional and some are numb initially following an assault. However, sexual assault advocates have found that many people experience sexual assaults as a severe emotional and physical violation. The effects of an assault can be seen in victims directly after an assault or many days later. Trauma can produce pronounced feelings of helplessness and powerlessness, as well as physical symptoms such as breathing problems, vomiting, nightmares, and the inability to remember events.

If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

If You Decide to Report

Reporting a sexual assault to law enforcement is a very individualized decision that victims will need to make for themselves. Remember, if you decide not to report, you are still fully entitled to support services and medical care. If you do decide to report, you will need to know what to expect from the criminal justice system. Below is a brief overview of what to expect. Your local sexual assault program advocate will be able to more fully help you understand the process in your area and to support you through it.

Hospital Response

A sexual assault evidence kit, sometimes called a "rape kit," is performed by medical personnel to collect evidence at the request of law enforcement. Although medical personnel who collect the evidence are well-trained, the process may be uncomfortable for you. Support is important. The cost of collection of the evidence will be assessed to the county. However, there may be other costs incurred at the hospital for medical treatment that are not considered part of the evidence kit. If you have reported the assault to law enforcement, you may be eligible for Crime Victims’ Compensation benefits that can help you pay for financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, counseling/therapy and other costs related to the assault.

Law Enforcement Response

Law enforcement will need to ask you questions about the assault. Some questions may be very difficult to answer and may not make sense at the time they are asked, but there is a reason for them. It is not unusual for law enforcement to visit with the victim numerous times during the course of an investigation. Once law enforcement has investigated and has been able to identify the offender, they will send the information to the prosecutor.

Prosecutor Response

The prosecutor determines if there is enough evidence to move forward with prosecution. The system sometimes moves slowly. It sometimes seems that just as you begin to feel OK, you are thrown back into the middle of the trauma because of a court hearing or trial. Sometimes victims find it very important to have information about the court case and proceedings. Most prosecutors have Victim Witness Coordinators who can help get this information. Victims have a legal right to certain information about the case.

Advocate Response

Advocates from your local sexual assault program can be accessed whether or not you choose to report. Advocates can be an invaluable help to you during the process of reporting. Advocates are trained to be with you at the hospital, go with you to the law enforcement station, provide individual and group counseling, and provide you with specific information about sexual assault. Whether you decide to report or not, getting in touch with your local sexual assault program can be a very important and helpful step in your healing.



For support, contact one of the following:

Kansas Crisis Hotline
1-888-END-ABUSE
(1-888-363-2287)

KANSAS SEXUAL and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE NUMBERS

This table lists the Kansas sexual and domestic violence programs alphabetically by city, services provided, program names and their HOTLINE phone numbers.

DV = domestic violence services provided    SA = sexual assault services provided

CITY SERVICES KCSDV MEMBER PROGRAM CRISIS HOTLINE NUMBER
1. Atchison DV/SA DoVES 800-367-7075 or 913-367-0363
2. Dodge City DV/SA Crisis Center of Dodge City 620-225-6510
3. El Dorado DV/SA Family Life Center of Butler County 316-321-7104 or 800-8870-6967
4. Emporia DV/SA SOS, Inc. 800-825-1295 or 620-342-1870
5. Garden City DV/SA Family Crisis Services 620-275-5911
6. Great Bend DV/SA Family Crisis Center 620-792-1885 or 866-792-1885
7. Hays DV/SA Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services 800-794-4624 or 785-625-3055
8. Hutchinson DV/SA Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center
800-701-3630 or 620-663-2522
9. Iola DV/SA Hope Unlimited 620-365-7566
10. Kansas City, KS DV El Centro, Inc. ¡Si Se Puede! 913-677-0177
11. Kansas City, KS DV Friends of Yates Joyce Williams Center 913-321-0951
12. Kansas City, MO DV/SA KCAVP 816-561-0550
13. Kansas City, MO SA MOCSA 816-531-0233
14. Lawrence SA GaDuGi Safe Center 785-841-2345
15. Lawrence DV Women's Transitional Care Services 800-770-3030 or 785-843-3333
16. Leavenworth DV/SA Alliance Against Family Violence 800-644-1441 or 913-682-9131
17. Liberal DV/SA Liberal Area Rape Crisis and DV Services 620-624-8818
18. Manhattan DV/SA The Crisis Center, Inc. 800-727-2785 or 785-539-2785
19. Mayetta DV/SA Prairie Band Potawatomi Family Violence Prevention Program 866-966-2932 or 785-966-2932
20. Newton DV/SA Harvey County DV/SA Task Force 800-487-0510 or 316-283-0350
21. Overland Park DV/SA Safehome 888-432-4300 or 913-262-2868
22. Pittsburg DV/SA Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc. 800-794-9148 or 620-231-8251
23. Salina DV/SA Domestic Violence Assoc. of Central Kansas 800-874-1499 or 785-827-5862
24. Topeka DV/SA YWCA Battered Women Task Force 888-822-2983 or 785-354-7927
25. Ulysses DV/SA DoVES of Grant County 888-229-8812 or 620-356-2608
26. Wichita DV Catholic Charities Harbor House 866-899-5522 or 316-263-6000
27. Wichita DV StepStone 316-265-1611
28. Wichita SA Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center 316-263-3002 o español: 316-263-2044
29. Wichita DV YWCA Women's Crisis Center 316-267-7233
30. Winfield DV/SA Safe Homes, Inc. 800-794-7672 or 620-221-4357


State of Kansas, Office of the Attorney General

Links for Victims' Services and Crime Victims' Compensation Board has information about victims' assistance programs and application requirements for compensation from the state if you have been the victim of a violent crime.

Kansas Legal Services

KLS logo Kansas Legal Services provides civil legal advice and representation at no cost or at reduced fees to income eligible individuals. KLS handles cases in the areas of consumer, employment, family, juvenile, health, housing, income maintenance and individual rights law. See this site to learn more about the cases they can assist with and their programs and services.


This grant project is funded by State General funds as administered by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ Grants Program. The opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication, program, or exhibition are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of the Kansas Governor.



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