Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Explained

Sexual assault is any forced, coerced, unwanted sexual contact.

While there are specific legal definitions of rape and sexual assault in the Texas Penal Code, sexual violence is best understood as a broader continuum of unwanted, non-consensual and non-mutual sexual activities that range from subtle to extremely violent¹. Sexual assault can include, but is not limited to: rape, sexual threats and intimidation, incest, sexual assault by intimate partners, child sexual abuse, human sexual trafficking, sexual harassment, street harassment and other forms of unwelcome, coerced or non-consensual activity. The term sexual abuse are also often used to describe the wide range of activities that constitute sexual assault.¹

^{1 “About Sexual Violence.” California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. N.p., n.d. Web.}

Services for Victims and Survivors of Sexual Assault

• No appointment is necessary for immediate 24-hour crisis intervention and advocacy services including hospital accompaniment. Call the crisis hotline at 800-572-4031 or 940-382-7273 for more information 24 hours a day.
• Crisis Intervention and Advocacy are available during regular business hours (9 A.M. - 8 P.M. Monday-Thursday and 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. on Fridays). Call the crisis hotline at 800-572-4031 or 940-382-7273 for more information.
• All services listed are available at our Outreach Office located: 4845 S. I-35E, Corinth, TX 76210
• Advocacy and case management
• Court accompaniment
• Law Enforcement Offices accompaniment
• Hospital accompaniment*
• Attorneys' office accompaniment
• Group and individual counseling for adults
• Activity therapy, group counseling, and individual counseling for adolescents (ages 11-17)
• Play therapy for children (ages 3-10)

*SAT(Survivor's Advocacy Team) members meet and accompany victims at one of four Denton County hospitals for a forensic exam (SANE) or other medical treatment. Trained SAT members receive a call from the Denton County Friends of the Family crisis line when a victim is sent or taken to the hospital by the police department or when they go to the hospital on their own and request a SANE exam. The SAT’s most important job is to support victims and their families with kind, supportive words and a listening ear. SAT members provide information about the free help and services that victims can receive through Denton County Friends of the Family, for instance, counseling, advocacy and Crime Victim's Compensation (CVC).

Additional Resources

Understanding Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Laws and Victims Rights

After Sexual Assault