70 West River Street
Milford, CT 06460
203-874-8712 (Office)
24/7 CRISIS HOTLINE (203) 878 1212 Free and Confidential
CT Toll Free: (888) 999-5545
En Espanol: (888) 568-8332
National (RAINN): (800) 656-4673
Board of Directors
President Antonio Vitti
Vice President Kevin Holster Secretary Eileen Schuman Treasurer Frank Matthews
Directors
Maria Arnold
Joseph DeNigris
Teddi McKenna
Cheryl Milano
Brian Parke
Rachel Schwartzman
Benjamin Trabka
Shelby L. Wilson
Lisa Zucaro President's
Advisory Committee Andrea Asnes, M.D. Dennis McBride, M.D. Rep. Themis Klarides Lynne Viesti-Berube
Lisa Diamond Graham
Staff
Ann Fabian Executive Director
Margaret Pisano
Director of Victim Services /
MDT
Women and men of all ages and appearances are sexually assaulted. Victims are chosen because they are vulnerable, not because they are attractive. Sexual assault does not recognize color, age, sex or location. Anyone can be affected. One in four girls and one in six boys will be a victim of sexual assault before the age of eighteen.
Victims can be any age and from any background. Wives can be assaulted by husbands; children by parents and other family members.
Sexual assault happens in the city, suburbs, rural areas, school, home and on the street. Assaulters can be neighbors, husbands, family members, friends, teachers, doctors, employers, employees, and strangers.
There are no exceptions.
What to do if you're sexually assaulted
Get help!
Call 878-1212 or toll free 888-999-5545
Call a trusted friend or family member
Go to the nearest hospital
Do not change your clothes or bathe
Try to remember details of the attacker and the assault
Call the police if you want to report the assault
A rape crisis counselor will meet you at the hospital or police department to support you through a medical exam and making a statement. The counselor is YOUR advocate and is trained to answer your questions and protect your privacy. Crisis Intervention If you have been sexually assaulted you have been through a very difficult experience. You may feel nervous, fearful, guilty, depressed, or confused. These strong feelings may interfere with your normal activities and with your relationships with important people in your life.
Talking to someone who understands what you have been through may help. Or, you may have some unanswered questions. The Rape Crisis Center counselors are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our services are provided by state certified sexual assault crisis counselors as defined in the CT General Statute 52-149(k). They are there to provide you with:
A feeling of support, being more in control, able to make clear and informed decisions, and develop a safety or action plan
Assistance in navigating the legal and medical system
Short-term counseling to develop effective coping skills, improve your level of empowerment and use of support systems
Navigating the Legal system
If you chose to make a statement to the police and press charges against your attacker, you have certain rights under Connecticut state law.
In Connecticut, you have the right to:
Have your conversations with a counselor remain confidential and not used in a court of law without your permission
Not disclose your name, address or phone number in the courtroom during any proceeding in the prosecution of your case
Have your name and address remain confidential from people not involved in the case and released only by an order of the court
Apply for victim compensation for any injury you have suffered as a result of the crime.
In addition, the Connecticut Constitution provides victims the following rights throughout the criminal justice process---
Be treated with fairness and respect
Have the case heard and resolved in a fair and reasonable amount of time
Be reasonably protected from the offender
Receive notification of court proceedings
Attend the trial and all other court proceedings
Communicate with the prosecution
Have the opportunity to support or disagree with any agreement between the prosecutor and the offender, about the charges and sentence, and to make a statement to the court before it accepts the agreement
Make a statement to the court at sentencing
Restitution
Be given information about the arrest, conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release of the offender.
You can rely upon your rape crisis counselor for
support throughout the prosecution of your case.
Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS) and the Victim/Survivor Advisory Council have created the "One Thing" campaign. Survivors who want to share their experiences are often told to be quiet or are met with disbelief. This 30 second public service announcement was an opportunity for survivors to share information and experiences related to sexual assault.