New York City: Sexual Violence Resources
- BOLT Safety
- Mar 28
- 5 min read
Written and edited by: Dominic, Shreyanshi, Vedanshi, with special thanks to our Advisor, Anita
CW: Discussion of domestic abuse and sexual violence
This resource was created and launched in conjunction with the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, held at United Nations headquarters in NYC. Our team collaborated with local fashion designer, Rhea Singh of REA by Rhea, to amplify this resource and leverage the power of fashion for advocacy and awareness on this topic. Learn more about the brand: https://reabyrhea.com/
If someone’s life is in danger, call 911 immediately.
Who this resource is for:
Victims / survivors of sexual violence and/or domestic abuse
Allies who either know someone who has experienced violence, or wish to learn how to help those in crisis
Kindly note: when an individual experiences violence, their choice, dignity, and autonomy is taken away from them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This resource is not meant to be prescriptive, but rather offer options that a survivor may choose to pursue – in the aftermath of a traumatic experience, the choice should fully be in the survivor’s hands.
Terminology: We generally advocate for the use of the term ‘survivor’, however, we additionally use the term ‘victim’ in the context of being victimized by a crime. This is also to respect the varied vocabulary that individuals may choose to describe their experiences.
End victim-blaming: The victim of a crime is never to blame for what was done to them by a perpetrator. The role of an ally is to provide non-judgemental, empathetic, and heartfelt support.
Related BOLT Safety resources:
Let’s talk about consent: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/let-s-talk-about-consent
Making a personal safety plan: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/safety_plan
MEDICAL CARE
If an individual is hurt with life-threatening injuries, ask for an ambulance by calling 911
Even without apparent external bodily injuries, victims / survivors can consider going to a hospital and requesting a sexual offense evidence collection kit, or a drug-facilitated sexual assault evidence collection kit to be performed. This is an examination performed by medical professionals to collect forensic evidence after an assault.
As not all cases of sexual violence are reported to authorities, not all collection kits are released to law enforcement. Public Health Law requires the state of New York to store collection kits for a minimum of 20 years. This gives the survivor the additional time they need to decide whether or not they would like to report the crime and request the release of their kit to law enforcement. Tracking and requesting the release of a kit can be done through the Office of Victim Services website, who are responsible for storage of unreported kits.
Office of Victim Services: https://ovs.ny.gov/Sexual-Offense-Kits
If the victim / survivor thinks they may be pregnant, they can also ask the medical professional for options, including emergency abortions and testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs).
New York City has specially trained Sexual Assault Response Teams stationed in every hospital emergency room, ready to provide care to survivors within one hour of their arrival.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Survivors may feel vulnerable, angry, confused, depressed, or another way after a sexual assault. There are mental health professionals who can help with the healing process, but more immediately, survivors may find comfort in their chosen ‘Safe Buddies’, which include trusted friends or family members.
For mental health related support and helplines, follow the links below:
Steps to End Domestic Violence
802-658-1996 (24/7 hotline)
A prevention and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting people, who have been affected by domestic violence, as they work to achieve safety and independence. Services offered through their hotline include: Safety planning, emotional support, assessment for eligibility for emergency housing, crisis intervention, educational information and community resources, referrals (and appointments) for services with them and other community agencies, and follow-up support services.
Domestic and Other Violence Emergencies (DOVE)
212-305-9060 – Washington Heights
347-882-1708 – Lower Manhattan
718-780-3608 - Brooklyn
Provides short term (8 – 12 weeks) counselling and therapy services for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Safe Horizon
1-800-621-4673– Domestic violence line
1-212-227-3000 – Sexual assault line
A victim assistance organization, operating a network of programs across New York City communities and systems. Their hotlines provide one-on-one support in any language for issues including: Crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance with finding shelters for survivors of domestic violence, and Information about resources.
POLICE REPORTING
Victims / survivors have the choice to decide whether they want to file a police report and press charges against their assaulter(s). The NYPD has a task force dedicated to conducting investigations into sexual violence crimes, that are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and offender-focused, to ensure survivors of these crimes receive the care and assistance they need while reporting sex crimes and engaging in the criminal justice process. This task force is known as the Special Victims Unit. This unit handles reports of crimes of sexual violence citywide, as well as operates a 24/7 hotline for reporting of sex related crimes. As evidence collection kits can be stored for 20 years in the state of New York, there is no rush to decide whether or not to make a report.
SVU crime reporting hotline:
646-610-7272 or 212-267-7273
NYC sexual violence survivor resource guide:
UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC ABUSE
There are many forms of abuse. Specifically, domestic abuse, or intimate partner violence, is a form of abuse used by the abuser to maintain power in a relationship through verbal, emotional, mental, sexual, reproductive, financial, or physical abuse and coercion.
Help is available. The survivor can find a ‘Safe Buddy’ to help them, and check-in on them regularly- be it, friends or family. This person can help alert authorities if they don’t respond to a check-in text, call, or email within a reasonable amount of time. They can also come up with a code word if there are concerns of their abuser reading their messages.
If the survivor is looking for support services online, and is concerned their abuser will see them, they can use ‘incognito’ web browser features, which ensure that searches and web activity cannot be tracked on that device.
More BOLT Safety resources:
What is gaslighting? https://www.boltsafety.org/post/what-is-gaslighting
Recognizing signs of abuse: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/recognizing-signs-of-abuse
BEING AN ALLY
If you’re worried about the safety of a loved one, how can you help? Be kind, understanding, and above all else, non-judgemental.
If their life is in danger, call 911. Otherwise, you can share resources and information, like this article, to help guide and inform their decision.
For someone in an abusive relationship: Victims may be unaware they’re in an abusive relationship if they are experiencing gaslighting, or dependent on their abuser for essentials like a home, their meals, and financial resources. Gaslighting is when the abuser denies ever being abusive when confronted about their actions and behaviour, and is a form of mental and emotional abuse. For the person you are trying to help, even though they may not immediately leave their relationship, you showing belief in their experience validates it, and may give them the strength and assurance needed to leave.
For a victim / survivor of sexual violence: As an ally, you can also offer to go with them to the police, the hospital, to court, or be with them when they call a crisis line or shelter. When victims are isolated from their support networks, it, unfortunately, gives their abuser more power over them.
Believe them. Stand with them, no matter what they decide to do (or not do). Be an ally.
References and sources for further reading:
Comments