What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence means that someone forces or manipulates someone else into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, disability, and/or influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Anyone can experience sexual violence including: children, teens, adults, and elders. Those who sexually abuse can be acquaintances, family members, trusted individuals or strangers.
Sexual violence is a broad category of actions in which a person exerts their power and control over another person through unwanted or harmful sexual actions. The information below provides definitions to describe different forms of sexual violence. We recognize that the terms used below may not describe all forms of sexual violence, nor is sexual violence limited to the actions described below.
Sexual Assault: Any unwanted sexual contact or behavior that takes place without explicit
consent or with force or coercion, including rape.
Sexual Coercion: The use of pressure, manipulation, threats, deception, or the misuse of
authority, status, power or trust, to gain sexual contact without consent.
Rape: The term rape is often used as a legal definition to specifically include sexual penetration without consent.
Sexual Exploitation: Actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, or socially from the sexual exploitation of another person.
Sexual Harassment: Sexual Harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature; sexual innuendo; offensive jokes; and repeated unwanted invitations.
Stalking: A pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress. Unwanted contact including phone calls, texts, and contact via social media, unwanted gifts, showing up/approaching an individual or their family/friends, monitoring, surveillance, property damage, and threats.
Relationship Violence: When one person in a past or current intimate partner relationship uses a
variety of abuse tactics to exert power and control over the other person (also
referred to as domestic, dating, or intimate partner violence or abuse).
In Arizona, the age of consent is 18 years old, which means that anyone under 18 years old is legally unable to consent to sexual activity. This includes sexual intercourse, oral copulation, groping, and touching of private parts.
You Are Not Alone
If you’ve experienced an assault- or are unsure what happened our advocates are here to help Call us at (480) 269-0139.
The first few days after a sexual assault can be overwhelming and confusing. You might have many questions and face difficult decisions, and it’s okay if you’re not ready to make those decisions right away. This is completely normal.
Whatever you’re feeling right now is valid. What happened to you was not your fault. We’re here to support you and help you figure out what’s right for you.
If You Were Just Assaulted
You may be scared and overwhelmed, but we believe you and we are here for you. Forensic exams are available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted regardless of alcohol consumption, drug use, sex work, gender and/or immigration status. Sometimes after an assault, you might not want to go to the hospital or family advocacy center and we understand. You can call us to talk about it, we are happy to help you figure out what’s right for you, make sure you know your options, and answer any questions you may have.
It is recommended to get a forensic exam within 72 hours
You have the option of having your exam completed at a hospital or a family advocacy center. The sooner you get an exam after an assault, the better.
During the exam you will have the option to receive medications to prevent pregnancy and certain sexually transmitted infections.
To preserve evidence, try not to bathe, shower, eat, drink, or use the restroom. Even if you have done any of these things it is still possible to gather evidence, but it is recommended that you do not.
If you have the opportunity to bring the clothing you were wearing during the assault (underwear, shirt, pants, bra, shoes, socks etc) please do so. If you must change out of them please place them in a paper grocery bag to help preserve evidence. If one of our advocates is responding to your case they will provide you with new clothing to change into after your exam is complete.
After 120 Hours:
Visiting your primary care doctor to have an exam is a good idea.
Some Medications can still be given, and can still be effective.
You are welcome to contact one of our advocates for support.
You can still make a report to law enforcement.
Regardless of the decisions you make, we are here support you.
When you arrive at the hospital or family advocacy center
Go to the emergency room and let the staff know you wish to have a forensic exam, or you can go to a family advocacy center (check their hours of operation on their website). The forensic nurse can do an exam (if you choose), treat injuries, and offer medications for sexually transmitted infections and to prevent pregnancy. If you go to the emergency room within 72 hours of your assault, you can also get medication that can help prevent HIV. During your exam, the forensic nurse will explain the process, ask questions, and collect evidence.
Do I have to talk with Law Enforcement and make a report?
NO…..You get to decide if, and when, you want to contact law enforcement to file a report.
Victims can get a forensic exam without speaking to law enforcement. The forensic nurse can collect evidence through a forensic exam without you needing to file a police report. No decisions on reporting need to be made right away. The evidence collected will be saved so you can choose to file a report when your ready.
Our advocates can help you through the process of making a report if you decide you want to file one.
Will I be charged for the exam?
In Arizona, the state pays for sexual violence forensic exams at no cost to the victim. This is due to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and a law that prohibits health care facilities from billing victims for these exams.
However, there may be costs for other medical care provided by emergency department staff, such as lab work, x-ray, tests, and medications. An advocate can help with questions about billing and may be able to arrange for a conversation with emergency department staff.
The Arizona Sexual Assault Reimbursement Program (SARP) may also be able to reimburse survivors for medical bills related to the assault.
Victims can still receive medical care without a forensic exam, and they can still receive advocacy services.
Our advocates are here for you
Sexual violence affects people of all genders, ages, races, religions, social status, incomes, abilities, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. Thrive Center ensures that everyone, regardless of their lifestyle or circumstances, will receive the support they deserve if they have experienced sexual violence.
Our advocates understand the impact of sexual violence reaches beyond the victim, and we are here to provide assistance to survivors family, and significant others.
Advocacy services include:
Mobile advocacy
Accompaniments to hospitals, police departments, courts, and advocacy centers
Support finding shelter/housing resources
Support groups
Individual support sessions
Restitution, helping victims obtain restitution and victim compensation
Orders of protection, assisting with obtaining orders of protection or injunctions against harassment
Case management
Therapeutic referrals
Victim impact statements, helping victims submit a victim impact statement
