Abuse, Assault, Rape, Etc.

  • Every 2.5 minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted
  • 1/3 of girls in the world are forced into their first sexual experience
  • Only 1 in 16 rapists will ever spend a day in jail for their crime
  • 1 in 4 women (from age 14) experiences sexual violence by an intimate partner
  • In 2003 1 in every 10 rape victims were male
  • In LA county, 1 out of 3 women will be raped at least once in their lifetime
  • Between 1/3 and 2/3 of all victims of sexual assault are aged 15 or younger

If You Believe You Have Been Raped (taken from CWM website, here)
If you know someone who has been raped, encourage them to do these things

• Go to a safe place.

• If you want to report the assault, notify the police or campus security immediately (to reach the UCLA Police Department - UCPD dial ‘911’ from a campus phone or 310-825-1491 / 24 hours a day). Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control and can also help to ensure the safety of other potential victims.

• Call a friend, a campus advocate, a family member or someone else you trust and ask her or him to stay with you.

• Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred. Some facilities can preserve evidence even up to 96 hours after the assault.

• Go to a hospital emergency department or a specialized forensic clinic that provides medical care for sexual assault victims. Those in the UCLA community are encouraged to go to the Rape Treatment Center Santa Monica – UCLA Medical Center (310-319-4000) for medical care and evidence collection 24 hours a day. A counselor will be available to you at that time. Even if you think you don’t have physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault. You will not be required to report the sexual assault to the police in order to receive medical care at the Rape Treatment Center. The UCLA Police Department can transport you in an unmarked car to the Rape Treatment Center. If you are female, a female officer will be provided to accompany you whenever possible. The UCPD will transport you to the Rape Treatment Center whether or not you chose to report the crime.

• If you suspect that you may have been given a rape drug, ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take urine sample. The urine sample should be preserved as evidence. Rape drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood.

• Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.

• Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims about the emotional and physical impacts of the assault. The UCLA Center for Women & Men has Rape Services Consultants available to provide counseling, advocacy and referrals to medical, legal and other support services on-campus and off-campus to students, staff and faculty. There are also specially trained therapists available at the UCLA Rape Treatment Center.

• If you do not live in the Los Angeles are, but want information about legal issues, medical care, or other concerns related to the assault, a rape treatment center or a rape hot line can assist you. One national victim assistance agency is called RAINN and they can be contacted by calling 1-800-656-HOPE. RAINN will connect you with a rape crisis center in your area.

 The following is the procedure taken by the UC Police Department when a rape ore sexual assault is reported: 

Rape and sexual assault are significant issues for all members of the UCLA campus community. It is important to report incidents of rape, sexual assault and violence as soon as possible. Call UCPD if the sexual assault occurs on the UCLA campus. For a sexual assault that occurs off campus, report it immediately to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction. Students, staff and faculty who are nearby to campus may report the sexual assault to UCPD.

In cases of sexual assault reported to UCPD, the Police Officer will take the initial crime report. A rape counselor, friend or family member may be present at the survivor's request. The UCLA Police Officer will also inform the survivor of the availability of a Rape Service Consultant (RSC) through the UCLA Center for Women and Men, if not already contacted, to provide follow-up assistance and support.

Medical attention for sexual assault survivors is vital for detecting and treating a range of medical concerns, including sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and possible internal injuries. Within 72 hours of when a sexual assault occurs, it is important to collect evidence to assist with the judicial process. The Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center is the area hospital used to perform a variety of services such as emergency medical treatment, psychological counseling and collection of evidence. For more information regarding the treatment of sexual assault and rape please call the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center at (310) 319-4000.

The UCPD, Women's Resource Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center are there to provide support and assist you to insure that you are fully informed of your rights under California law. You will also be provided with information on the appropriate judicial procedures such as pressing charges and obtaining a restraining order. 

Miscellaneous Sex Laws in California

In California, unlawful sexual intercourse is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator if the person is a minor (a person under 18 years of age)  A person who engages in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is not more than three years older or three years younger than the perpetrator is guilty of a misdemeanor.  There are more laws governing statutory rape, they can be found at http://www.ageofconsent.com/california.htm