Title: NVAA Learning Activity: Chapter 10: Sexual Assault
Series: Training Manual
Author: Office for Victims of Crime and National Victim Assistance Academy
Published: June 2002
Subject: organizational leadership
3 pages
4,110 bytes

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NVAA Learning Activity

Chapter 10: Sexual Assault

INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES

Key Concepts/Objectives to Emphasize in Instruction and Learning Activities:

1. Scope and key characteristics of sexual assault and rape cases. (10-8 to 10-
9)
2. Physical and mental health consequences of sexual assault. (10-13 to 10-14
and 10-18 to 10-21)
3. Victim-sensitive interventions for the medical care of and justice system
response to sexual assault victims. (10-14 to 10-17 and 10-25 to 10-35)
4. Key state and federal statutes that define and protect sexual assault victims'
rights. (10-38 to 10-41)

Objectives:

1. Identify the number of people that a sexual assault victim might have to
disclose his/her victimization to in the course of a case.
2. Understand how this might make a sexual assault victim feel, and how it
might contribute to a victim's decision not to report a sexual assault.

Description of Activity and Faculty Guidelines:

The instructor will utilize the faculty worksheet to identify the different people to
whom a sexual assault victim might have to disclose his/her victimization.
Students are then asked to "stand and rise" when the instructor points to them.
When the exercise is completed, nearly all (or all) students will be standing.

The instructor will ask the entire student body:


o How might such disclosures make a sexual assault victim feel?
o Would the thought of such disclosures be a factor in a victim's decision to
report a sexual assault?

Can Be Utilized As:

_____ Individual Activity
_____ Small Group Activity
__X__ Large Group Activity

Anticipated Amount of Time Required: 20 Minutes

RESOURCES NEEDED  (Please check all that apply:)

_____ Tear sheets and felt pens
_____ VCR/monitor
_____ Overhead projector and screen/LCD and laptop
_____ Blank overhead transparencies and overhead pens
_____ Masking tape
_____ Index cards
_____ Individual or group worksheets
_____ Timer
__X__ Other (please describe): Faculty "Stand and Rise" worksheet

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FACULTY WORKSHEET *

Janice is a 20-year-old college student who is sexually assaulted in her
dormitory room by a fellow student from her geology class who came over to
study. She makes the difficult decision to report the crime and go through the
justice process. 

Please stand and rise when I point to you -- you will represent the people she
has to tell about what happened to her:

o Her three roommates (who help her report to . . .).
o Her resident advisor in the dormitory (who helps her report to . . .).
o Campus police--three officers (who ask her to tell her story to . . .).
o University disciplinary body (who makes a decision about whether to handle
it administratively or through the criminal justice system).
o University nurse (who refers her to . . .).
o Local emergency room: nurse and administrative staff.

o Local emergency room: doctors.
o Local emergency room: sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE).
o Local emergency room: sexual assault counselor.
o Local emergency room: community-based law enforcement responding
officer.
o Her mom.
o Her step-mom.
o Her dad.
o Her step-dad.
o Her two sisters.
o Her one brother.
o Her three grandparents.
o Her best friend back home.
o Detective.
o Rape crisis staff.
o Prosecutor (initial interview).
o Prosecutor (specialized unit).
o Expert witness on rape trauma.
o Defense attorneys.
o Judge.
o Bailiff.
o Court reporter.
o Twelve jurors and three alternate jurors.
o Spectators in the court room (including the defendant's family, fraternity
brothers, and fellow football team members).
o News media (even though the courtroom is closed).
o Others?

*  Exercise adapted from Gail Abarbanel, Executive Director, Santa Monica
Rape Treatment Center