Crime Prevention

Crime Prevention: Sexual Assault

Preventing crime is critical to having a safe environment for teaching, learning and living. The main goal of crime prevention is to reduce the risk of being a victim, which is best achieved by removing and avoiding opportunities for a criminal to take advantage of you or your property. You can take several steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of sexual assault, including familiarizing yourself with JCSU’s sexual assault policy (available in the student handbook) and taking the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) classes through the JCSU Campus Police Department. Sexual assault is a crime that disproportionally affects young people, and college students are at a heightened risk. The more you know about sexual assault and heed the prevention tips, the safer you will be both on and off campus.

Prevention Tips

Sexual assault is a crime of motive and opportunity (according to RAINN - the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), and the majority of assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. There is no guaranteed way to prevent an attack, but here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of being assaulted:

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Walk with a purpose. Even if you don’t know where you are going, act like you do (according to RAINN).

Try not to load yourself down with packages or bags. This can make you appear more vulnerable (according to RAINN).

Take a charged cell phone with you at all times. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and not preoccupied with talking on or looking at your phone (according to RAINN).

Make sure you have cash for cab or bus fare at all times (according to "I MATTER”; The JCSU Safety and Prevention Coalition).

Avoid putting music headphones in both ears so you can be more aware of your surroundings, especially if walking alone (according to RAINN).

Take the elevator, and avoid dark, isolated stairwells whenever possible (according to "I MATTER”; The JCSU Safety and Prevention Coalition). 

Take extra care in parking garages, and try to park your car as close to the entrance as possible (according to "I MATTER”; The JCSU Safety and Prevention Coalition).

If your drink is out of your sight, even for a few seconds, get a new one. Don’t accept a drink from anyone unless you can watch the bartender pour it. Spiking a drink with a date rape drug can happen quickly (according to "I MATTER”; The JCSU Safety and Prevention Coalition). 

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault or rape is defined by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), as forced sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse means vaginal, oral or anal penetration by offender(s) (according to the Joyful Heart Foundation). of sexual assault regardless of age, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. It is estimated that almost 240,000 sexual assaults occur each year in the U.S., and 60 percent of these attacks are never reported to the police (according to RAINN). A staggering 97 percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail (according to RAINN). You should also be aware of the following:

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American women will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18 (according to Women Organized against Rape - WOAR).

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 of sexual abuse victims are under the age of 25 (according to the Joyful Heart Foundation).

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 of victims are assaulted by someone they know. This rate is even higher for women who are sexually assaulted in college (according to the Joyful Heart Foundation).

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 of reported sexual assaults involve alcohol (according to "I MATTER”; The JCSU Safety and Prevention Coalition).