A sexual assault evidence collection kit, sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit or Sexual Offense Evidence Collection (SOEC) kit in New York[1] is a set of items used by medical personnel for gathering and preserving physical evidence following a sexual assault which can be used in criminal proceedings.
For a sexual assault evidence collection kit to be the most useful the victim should go to the hospital immediately following the attack. Changing clothes or bathing may result in destroying viable evidence. [3] It is a victim's right to refuse to participate in any part of the evidence collection process, regardless of what stage the procedure is in. However, a sexual assault kit is the victim's best way to document the attack and help ensure prosecution of the attacker. The victim's informed consent is necessary for a kit to be used. This evidence retrieval and exam could take up to four hours to complete.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
What is a rape crisis center and what is it supposed to do?
The Rape Crisis Intervention Service provides free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. RCIS also offers prevention education programs and professional training.
For Victims of Sexual AssaultSexual violence is inflicted on all races, people of all economic status, across all age groups and impacts both men and women. Victims of sexual violence experience a wide range of emotions and often need support from family, friends and professionals to piece their lives back together. As the designated center for sexual assault victims in Carroll County, Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) offers support services for victims to assist in the healing process. All services offered by RCIS are free and confidential.
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Who Does RCIS Serve?RCIS serves people age 12 years and older, male and female, victims of sexual violence, and significant others regardless of the length of time since the assault. Please note that our full range of services is available to male victims as well as female victims. Women are not the only victims of rape and sexual assault. In fact, one in every ten victims of rape is male (Source: Rape Incest and Abuse National Network, www.rainn.org). Male victims are even less likely than female victims to report the crime or to seek help and support. Men suffer many of the same effects of sexual assault as women, and at times their reactions are more profound. Men often suffer an exaggerated sense of self blame, guilt, and anger. For more information specific to men, please see our resource page.
^ Top of Page
Have You Been Recently Sexually Assaulted?
Victims should seek medical attention immediately
Sexual assault can leave victims with injuries that are visible and invisible to the naked eye. Victims should be examined at the hospital immediately following the assault to treat any injuries, and be tested for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.
Victims can also be treated at the local health department or their regular GYN during their regular hours.
If you go to the nearest hospital
It is important that a victim not shower and not change clothes before going to the hospital to preserve evidence.
Specially trained nurses called Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) are available at Carroll Hospital Center and other hospitals in the region. SAFE nurses not only treat victims of assault but collect any and all evidence from a survivor's body to be used during the sexual assault investigation.
Victim participation is at the discretion of the victim while at the hospital. A victim may decline any and all parts of the exam. For more information regarding SAFE exams please visit www.ccgh.com.
An RCIS trained volunteer counselor will meet you at the hospital.
Victims may also utilize free and confidential services from RCIS. Please see services below.
^ Top of Page
ConfidentialityConfidentiality is essential to effective therapy and support services. Everything a client discusses with counselors or therapists at RCIS is kept private between that client and our agency. Professional ethics and Maryland law require that we protect the confidentiality of people who seek help from us. A signed permission form by the client is required before information about a client is released to anyone outside the agency. The only instances that RCIS would report any discussion between a counselor and a client without the client's written permission are:
If the client threatens harm to self or others
If the client discloses child abuse
In rare cases, certain types of court proceedings may force RCIS to discuss client information with judicial officials
^ Top of Page
FeesAll services are free! Although government grants, private donations, agency fundraising and private donors contribute funds needed to provide free services, there are budget shortfalls and hundreds of people seeking help. To make the best use of these resources and to provide quality service, we ask that people who take advantage of counseling services help with a personal donation when possible. Suggested donations: $7 per group therapy session and $15 per individual counseling session. Important - Donations are not required for any client service. Please note these suggested donations only represent about one-sixth of the actual cost to provide counseling services.
^ Top of Page
RCIS has Qualified CounselorsRCIS agency therapists are licensed, professionally trained, and have years of experience working with victims of sexual violence. Our licensed agency therapists have Master's Degrees in counseling, social work or related fields, and at least one other counseling certification. These certifications may be obtained through licensing by the State of Maryland, the National Certified Counselor Program or other professional organizations. RCIS also has specially trained crisis counselors to counsel clients via our 24-hour hotline and at the RCIS office. Our crisis counselors successfully complete our Crisis Counseling Certification program and receive additional training each year they are an active crisis counselor with RCIS. All volunteer crisis counselors are carefully monitored by specially trained staff and agency therapists. Every staff member, volunteer crisis counselor and board members must successfully pass a background check before serving with RCIS.
^ Top of Page
Client Services
24 Hour Hotline
Walk-in Crisis Counseling
Court, Hospital, Police and School Accompaniment
Individual and Group Counseling
Information and Referrals 24 Hour Hotline 410-857-7322 Crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to clients in crisis. The hotline is available for victims of sexual violence as well as loved ones of victims. The hotline is not an option for on-going counseling but is offered as a tool for clients needing to speak with someone right away. Crisis counselors are not a replacement for licensed therapists. On-going counseling is offered through our individual and group counseling services. Walk-in Crisis Counseling Staff crisis counselors are available between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday (excluding county recognized holidays) at our center located in Westminster, MD. No appointment is necessary. Clients seeking in-person crisis counseling are welcomed to walk-in during office hours for help. Staff crisis counselors are not a replacement for licensed therapists. On-going counseling is offered through our individual and group counseling services. Court, Hospital, Police and School Accompaniment Crisis counselors are dispatched when warranted to assist any victim of sexual violence when requested through our 24 hour hotline. Counselors can be dispatched to the Carroll County Courthouse, Carroll Hospital Center, any Carroll County Police Barrack, any Carroll County School and other locations. Crisis counselors support and educate victims when they appear in court, at the hospital, to the police and school. Individual & Group Counseling Counseling is most effective when it is a priority and done regularly. To meet with an agency therapist, an appointment is needed. Both day and evening therapy appointments are available. All therapy sessions are conducted at our office located in Westminster, MD. Funding limitations make it impossible for us to provide free counseling services for longer than 6 months. If additional counseling is desired, local referrals can be made. A contribution of $15 per session is suggested from each participant per session, but is not required. Short term therapy groups are available during designated months throughout the year. Pre-registration is required. The number of members in the group averages 6-8. Groups meet one evening each week for 1-1/2 hours under the guidance of a licensed therapist to discuss issues such as trust, intimacy, family relationships, and anger associated with sexual assault. The group meets for 12 consecutive weeks and is closed to new members after the first week. This program is designed as a supplement to individual counseling, but is not mandatory. A contribution of $7 per session is suggested from each participant per session, but is not required. We are committed to treating our clients with dignity, respect, equality and professional expertise. To make the most of the counseling services available from our agency, clients should plan to:
attend sessions regularly and be on time
communicate honestly with your therapist
make a determined effort to follow the exercises designed to help you with your pain
cooperate with agency policies regarding scheduling appointments and cancellations
give counseling and your healing process the priority it deserves in your life.
About RCISRape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) provides free counseling and other support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. We also offer prevention education programs and professional training in order to eliminate sexual violence through education and advocacy.
Mission
Who Are We?
Board Members
Staff
Agency Newsletter Archive
Calendar of Events
Service Volume
Our MissionNo one has the right, under any circumstances, to rape or sexually assault another person. Victims and survivors of sexual violence deserve all the support possible to aid in their recovery. We will provide quality treatment to victims and survivors and their families, ever seeking to improve our expertise and services. An equal part of our energy, resources and personnel will be devoted to creating a community awareness and energy that will actively work toward the elimination of sexual violence in all forms.
^ Top of Page
Who Are We?Rape Crisis is a private, non-profit agency with its own Board of Trustees. Services are provided free of charge. We ask people who take advantage of counseling services to help by making a personal donation when possible, but it is not required. Funding sources which help make it possible for us to provide free services include local, state and federal governments, United Way, private donations and agency fund raising projects. We are registered with the Maryland Secretary of State as a non-profit 501C-3 organization. Our registration number is 666. (Visit the How You Can Help section of this web site for additional information on this topic.) For more than 30 years, Rape Crisis has been providing treatment services and education programs to the Carroll County, Maryland community.
http://www.rapecrisiscc.org/about.php
For Victims of Sexual AssaultSexual violence is inflicted on all races, people of all economic status, across all age groups and impacts both men and women. Victims of sexual violence experience a wide range of emotions and often need support from family, friends and professionals to piece their lives back together. As the designated center for sexual assault victims in Carroll County, Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) offers support services for victims to assist in the healing process. All services offered by RCIS are free and confidential.
^ Top of Page
Who Does RCIS Serve?RCIS serves people age 12 years and older, male and female, victims of sexual violence, and significant others regardless of the length of time since the assault. Please note that our full range of services is available to male victims as well as female victims. Women are not the only victims of rape and sexual assault. In fact, one in every ten victims of rape is male (Source: Rape Incest and Abuse National Network, www.rainn.org). Male victims are even less likely than female victims to report the crime or to seek help and support. Men suffer many of the same effects of sexual assault as women, and at times their reactions are more profound. Men often suffer an exaggerated sense of self blame, guilt, and anger. For more information specific to men, please see our resource page.
^ Top of Page
Have You Been Recently Sexually Assaulted?
Victims should seek medical attention immediately
Sexual assault can leave victims with injuries that are visible and invisible to the naked eye. Victims should be examined at the hospital immediately following the assault to treat any injuries, and be tested for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.
Victims can also be treated at the local health department or their regular GYN during their regular hours.
If you go to the nearest hospital
It is important that a victim not shower and not change clothes before going to the hospital to preserve evidence.
Specially trained nurses called Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) are available at Carroll Hospital Center and other hospitals in the region. SAFE nurses not only treat victims of assault but collect any and all evidence from a survivor's body to be used during the sexual assault investigation.
Victim participation is at the discretion of the victim while at the hospital. A victim may decline any and all parts of the exam. For more information regarding SAFE exams please visit www.ccgh.com.
An RCIS trained volunteer counselor will meet you at the hospital.
Victims may also utilize free and confidential services from RCIS. Please see services below.
^ Top of Page
ConfidentialityConfidentiality is essential to effective therapy and support services. Everything a client discusses with counselors or therapists at RCIS is kept private between that client and our agency. Professional ethics and Maryland law require that we protect the confidentiality of people who seek help from us. A signed permission form by the client is required before information about a client is released to anyone outside the agency. The only instances that RCIS would report any discussion between a counselor and a client without the client's written permission are:
If the client threatens harm to self or others
If the client discloses child abuse
In rare cases, certain types of court proceedings may force RCIS to discuss client information with judicial officials
^ Top of Page
FeesAll services are free! Although government grants, private donations, agency fundraising and private donors contribute funds needed to provide free services, there are budget shortfalls and hundreds of people seeking help. To make the best use of these resources and to provide quality service, we ask that people who take advantage of counseling services help with a personal donation when possible. Suggested donations: $7 per group therapy session and $15 per individual counseling session. Important - Donations are not required for any client service. Please note these suggested donations only represent about one-sixth of the actual cost to provide counseling services.
^ Top of Page
RCIS has Qualified CounselorsRCIS agency therapists are licensed, professionally trained, and have years of experience working with victims of sexual violence. Our licensed agency therapists have Master's Degrees in counseling, social work or related fields, and at least one other counseling certification. These certifications may be obtained through licensing by the State of Maryland, the National Certified Counselor Program or other professional organizations. RCIS also has specially trained crisis counselors to counsel clients via our 24-hour hotline and at the RCIS office. Our crisis counselors successfully complete our Crisis Counseling Certification program and receive additional training each year they are an active crisis counselor with RCIS. All volunteer crisis counselors are carefully monitored by specially trained staff and agency therapists. Every staff member, volunteer crisis counselor and board members must successfully pass a background check before serving with RCIS.
^ Top of Page
Client Services
24 Hour Hotline
Walk-in Crisis Counseling
Court, Hospital, Police and School Accompaniment
Individual and Group Counseling
Information and Referrals 24 Hour Hotline 410-857-7322 Crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to clients in crisis. The hotline is available for victims of sexual violence as well as loved ones of victims. The hotline is not an option for on-going counseling but is offered as a tool for clients needing to speak with someone right away. Crisis counselors are not a replacement for licensed therapists. On-going counseling is offered through our individual and group counseling services. Walk-in Crisis Counseling Staff crisis counselors are available between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday (excluding county recognized holidays) at our center located in Westminster, MD. No appointment is necessary. Clients seeking in-person crisis counseling are welcomed to walk-in during office hours for help. Staff crisis counselors are not a replacement for licensed therapists. On-going counseling is offered through our individual and group counseling services. Court, Hospital, Police and School Accompaniment Crisis counselors are dispatched when warranted to assist any victim of sexual violence when requested through our 24 hour hotline. Counselors can be dispatched to the Carroll County Courthouse, Carroll Hospital Center, any Carroll County Police Barrack, any Carroll County School and other locations. Crisis counselors support and educate victims when they appear in court, at the hospital, to the police and school. Individual & Group Counseling Counseling is most effective when it is a priority and done regularly. To meet with an agency therapist, an appointment is needed. Both day and evening therapy appointments are available. All therapy sessions are conducted at our office located in Westminster, MD. Funding limitations make it impossible for us to provide free counseling services for longer than 6 months. If additional counseling is desired, local referrals can be made. A contribution of $15 per session is suggested from each participant per session, but is not required. Short term therapy groups are available during designated months throughout the year. Pre-registration is required. The number of members in the group averages 6-8. Groups meet one evening each week for 1-1/2 hours under the guidance of a licensed therapist to discuss issues such as trust, intimacy, family relationships, and anger associated with sexual assault. The group meets for 12 consecutive weeks and is closed to new members after the first week. This program is designed as a supplement to individual counseling, but is not mandatory. A contribution of $7 per session is suggested from each participant per session, but is not required. We are committed to treating our clients with dignity, respect, equality and professional expertise. To make the most of the counseling services available from our agency, clients should plan to:
attend sessions regularly and be on time
communicate honestly with your therapist
make a determined effort to follow the exercises designed to help you with your pain
cooperate with agency policies regarding scheduling appointments and cancellations
give counseling and your healing process the priority it deserves in your life.
About RCISRape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) provides free counseling and other support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. We also offer prevention education programs and professional training in order to eliminate sexual violence through education and advocacy.
Mission
Who Are We?
Board Members
Staff
Agency Newsletter Archive
Calendar of Events
Service Volume
Our MissionNo one has the right, under any circumstances, to rape or sexually assault another person. Victims and survivors of sexual violence deserve all the support possible to aid in their recovery. We will provide quality treatment to victims and survivors and their families, ever seeking to improve our expertise and services. An equal part of our energy, resources and personnel will be devoted to creating a community awareness and energy that will actively work toward the elimination of sexual violence in all forms.
^ Top of Page
Who Are We?Rape Crisis is a private, non-profit agency with its own Board of Trustees. Services are provided free of charge. We ask people who take advantage of counseling services to help by making a personal donation when possible, but it is not required. Funding sources which help make it possible for us to provide free services include local, state and federal governments, United Way, private donations and agency fund raising projects. We are registered with the Maryland Secretary of State as a non-profit 501C-3 organization. Our registration number is 666. (Visit the How You Can Help section of this web site for additional information on this topic.) For more than 30 years, Rape Crisis has been providing treatment services and education programs to the Carroll County, Maryland community.
http://www.rapecrisiscc.org/about.php
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