Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. This includes non-consensual sexual intercourse/rape, attempted rape, oral sex, child molestation, unwanted fondling or touching. Sexual assault is often about power and control over the victim. Society allows and even encourages sexual assault through attitudes, institutions and laws which do not name this violence as wrong.
Who Are the Victims of Sexual Assault/Abuse?
Anyone, from babies to victims in old age can be a victim of sexual assault/abuse.
One in four women and girls (25%) have experienced sexual assault/abuse.
One in five men and boys (20%) have experienced sexual assault/abuse.
Who Are Perpetrators?
Most sexual assaults are NOT committed by strangers catching the victim outside in the middle of the night.
The majority of perpetrators of sexual assault are someone the victim knows. Perpetrators are spouses or partners, dates, family members, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, students: people victims know from a variety of aspects of their lives.
For children, perpetrators can be parents, partners of parents, family members, family friends, teachers, coaches, and others in a position of trust for victims.
In the case of sexual assault by a spouse, partner, date, or someone dated in the past, past relationship never gives someone consent for sexual contact whenever they wish. Unwanted sexual contact is abusive even if the perpetrator is someone the victim knows and loves.
What is “Force”? It is NOT Always Physical.
Perpetrators of sexual assault and abuse often use emotional coercion, threats, psychological force, economic coercion or manipulation to coerce a victim into nonconsensual sex. Threats can be threats of violence to the victim or the victim’s children or family members, or can be threats of other forms of abuse. All forms of intimidation can be used to force a victim to comply. A victim may or may not fight back. A victim may not fight back because they freeze, because of fear, because the threat of consequences if they do fight back will be worse for themselves or for another family member, and for many other reasons.
Drug and/or Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault
Drugs and alcohol is a weapon in sexual assault cases. Perpetrators count on the victim not remembering the assault, or that the judge will doubt the victim’s story because the victim was impaired. Half of sexual assault victims were drunk or drugged at the time of the assault.
A victim who is drugged or intoxicated cannot give consent under the law.
A victim must be conscious and understand what is happening to give consent.
What is Consent?
Consent to having sexual contact or penetration must be “freely given” in Illinois.
Even if a victim has consented when the sexual contact began, they can change their mind at any time. For example, a victim may have consented to kissing and fondling. If the perpetrator begins other contact, like sexual penetration, without the victim’s consent, that is sexual assault.
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of BOTH parties.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE END HERE