Sexual Violence

Developed by Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence




What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence includes sexual actions and words that coerce, manipulate, or are forced upon someone with the intent to intimidate, humiliate, or control. Most often these acts are perpetrated by someone the victim already knows such as a friend, relative, or intimate partner. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or ability.

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.


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 Violence

In the United States, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Many other people have survived other types of sexual violence, as well. The experience of sexual violence has different mean­ings for each person. No one knows precisely how an individual will react. There is no “right” way to act after experiencing sexual violence. After the violence, some victims are very emotional and some are numb initially. However, sexual assault advocates have found that many people experi­ence sexual violence as a severe emotional and physical violation. The effects of that violation can be seen in victims directly after 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.

Sexual Violence in Kansas

  • In Kansas, approximately 245,000 women and 40,000 men will be raped in their lifetime and many more Kansans will experience other forms of sexual violence such as human trafficking, sexual harassment, child molestation, and other forms of sexual violence.
  • In Kansas, one rape is reported to law enforcement every seven hours.
  • In 78 percent of law enforcement reported cases of rape in Kansas, rapists know their victims.
  • Sexual violence happens in every community in Kansas.

If You Are a Victim of Sexual Violence

  • Your immediate safety is important. Go to a safe place such as a friend or family member’s home.
  • Get support. Local sexual assault programs can pro­vide free and confidential support and advocacy for you and your friends and family.
  • Protect your health. You may have a range of health concerns as a result of the sexual violence. It is best to seek medical care as soon as possible.
  • Reporting the violence is your choice. Depending on the type of sexual violence you’ve experienced, you may consider reporting to law enforcement, an employer, a school official, or other person. Many factors may weigh into your decision to report or not to report the violence. There is no right way to handle the effects of sexual violence. If you decide to report the violence to someone, it is important to explore the potential effects of the report on your work, school career, and all areas of your life. A 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. If you decide not to report to anyone, you are still fully entitled to advocacy services and medical care.

When Someone You Know Is a Victim of Sexual Violence

Listen and Believe

Listen without judgment, believe what the victim tells you, and acknowledge feelings. Confusion, anger, sadness, guilt, numbness, helplessness, hopelessness, and self-blame are all normal reactions to trauma.

Offer Your Support

Let the victim know you are there for support now and in the future.

Make a Referral

Refer to 1-888-END-ABUSE (1-888-363-2287) and the sexual assault program in your area (see map).

Speak Out

Speak out when you hear someone blaming the victim for the violence. Victim blaming can take many forms, most often referencing the victim’s clothing or behavior. Remind others that the responsibility for the violence lies with the perpetrator and nobody deserves to be sexually violated.

Advocacy Support Services

Getting in touch with an advocacy program can provide a victim of sexual violence with the support and assistance they need in the healing process. These programs offer services 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Their services include crisis hotlines, safety planning, information and referrals, criminal justice advocacy, civil court advocacy, hospital advocacy, personal advocacy, assistance with transportation, assistance with crime victims’ compensation, assistance with protection orders, and more.

All of these services are free and confidential. Any information shared with an advocacy program is private and cannot be shared with anyone outside the organization, unless:

  • The program is required to disclose the information by law.
  • The victim signs an informed, written, time-limited release permitting them to disclose the information.

For support, contact one of the following:

The sexual and domestic violence program nearest you (see map)

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

National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE
(1-800-656-4673)


KANSAS SEXUAL and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE NUMBERS

Programs are listed below alphabetically by city with their HOTLINE phone numbers. The numbers on the map correspond to the programs listed. Call the program nearest you. You do not have to live in the city where the program is located to use their services.

Kansas map with areas of service covered by domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy programs

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 800-870-6967 or 316-321-7104
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 866-792-1885 or 620-792-1885
7. Hays DV/SA Options: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Inc. 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 - Wyandotte Cnty DV Friends of Yates Joyce Williams Center 913-321-0951
11. Kansas City - Johnson Cnty
DV/SA Safehome 888-432-4300 or 913-262-2868
12. Kansas City DV El Centro, Inc. ¡Si Se Puede! 913-281-1186
13. Kansas City DV/SA KCAVP 816-561-0550
14. Kansas City SA MOCSA 816-531-0233
15. Lawrence SA GaDuGi Safe Center 785-843-8985
16. Lawrence DV The Willow Domestic Violence Center 800-770-3030 or 785-843-3333
17. Leavenworth DV/SA Alliance Against Family Violence 800-644-1441 or 913-682-9131
18. Liberal DV/SA Liberal Area Rape Crisis and DV Services 620-624-8818
19. Manhattan DV/SA The Crisis Center, Inc. 800-727-2785 or 785-539-2785
20. Mayetta DV/SA Prairie Band Potawatomi Family Violence Prevention Program 866-966-0173 or 785-966-2932
21. Newton DV/SA Harvey County DV/SA Task Force 800-487-0510 or 316-283-0350
22. Pittsburg DV/SA Safehouse Crisis Center, 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 Center for Safety and Empowerment 888-822-2983 or 785-354-7927
25. Wichita DV Catholic Charities Harbor House 866-899-5522 or 316-263-6000
26. Wichita DV StepStone 316-265-1611
27. Wichita SA Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center 316-263-3002
28. Wichita DV YWCA Women's Crisis Center 316-267-7233
29. Winfield DV/SA Safe Homes, Inc. 800-794-7672 or 620-221-4357


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