Blog 3 Sexual Assault/Rape

Sexual Assault/Rape

1. The population in Georgia in a metropolitan statistical area is 7,950,984. Incidents in this area that were actually reported are 1,713. In cities outside metropolitan areas, in a population of 687,967, 175 incidents of rape were actually reported for the area. In non metropolitan counties, in a population of 1,176,259, 124 incidents of rape were actually reported for the area. In state total, in a population of 9,815,210, there were 2,053 cases of rape reported.
2. Under Georgia code § 17-3-2.2 statute of limitations, when the victim of an offense if 65 or older, the applicable period of limitations will not  begin to run until the offense is reported to or discovered by a law enforcement agency, prosecuting attorney, or other governmental agency.  Except in certain limited circumstances, prosecution shall not commence more than 15 years after commission of the crime.
3. According to Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault, the legal definition of rape is: a person commits the offense of rape when he has carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Carnal knowledge in rape occurs when there is any penetration of the female sex organ by the male organ. The fact that the person allegedly raped is the wife of the defendant shall not be a defense to change of rape. A person convicted of rape shall be punishable by death, by imprisonment for life, or by imprisonment for not less than 10 nor more than 20 years. Any person convicted under this code section shall, in addition, be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Sections 17-10-7. When evidence relating to an allegation of rape is collected in the course of a medical examination of the person who is the victim of the alleged crime, the law enforcement agency investigating the alleged crime shall be responsible for the cost of the medical examination to the extent that expense is incurred for the limited purpose of collecting evidence.

Statutory rape in Georgia is when a person commits the offense of statutory rape when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with any person under the age of 16 years and not his or her spouse, provided that no conviction shall be had for this offense on the unsupported testimony of the victim.

There is a difference between rape and sexual assault. Sexual assault is defined as: a person commits sexual assault when such person has supervisory or disciplinary authority over another person and such person engages in sexual contact with that other person who is: in the custody of law; or detained in or is a patient in a hospital or other institution; or if (a) treatment or counseling relationship was used to facilitate sexual contact between the actor and said person consent of the victim shall not be a defense to prosecution under this subsection. “A person who is an employee, agent, or volunteer at long term care facilities relating to health care and hospices commits sexual assault when such person engages in sexual contact with another person who has been admitted or receiving services from such facility, persons, or entities.

4. In Athens, GA an aggravated assault and attempted rape were reported on the campus of University of Georgia on January 18. According to the report, the incident occurred around 4:20 p.m. in the Botanical Garden complex off South Milledge Avenue. Authorities say the victim was "approached by an unknown male who put a knife to her throat and threatened to rape her and cause her bodily harm." However, the victim was able to escape her attacker before any harm was done. The attacker is described as a white male, about 6 feet tall, around 150 - 170 pounds with short blonde hair. He was wearing blue sweatpants, a hooded green and white sweatshirt, white running shoes and black sunglasses at the time of the attack. He was also described as having crooked teeth and possibly having two small moles on the lower left side of his face. Anyone with information on this suspect or the attack itself is being asked to call 911.

Media

5. In this PSA, it features UN Messenger of Peace Charlize Theron, UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman, Ex-Force Commander Major General Patrick Cammaert, Leymah Gbowee from the Women Peace and Security Network, and Director of Panzi Hospital Dr. Denis Mukwege. UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) unites the work of 13 UN entities with the goal of ending sexual violence during and in the wake of conflict. It is a concerted effort by the UN to improve coordination and accountability, amplify programming and advocacy, and support national efforts to prevent sexual violence and respond effectively to the needs of survivors. For more information, please visit: http://www.stoprapenow.org

To watch the video: http://youtu.be/t1sbF6gx0cU

In this next video, Dylan McDermott and Gabrielle Union headline an innovative RAINN (rape, abuse, incest, national network) campaign to help survivors of child sexual abuse. Nearly half of all victims of sexual assault are under the age of 18. It's never too late for anyone - - adult survivors or children - - to get help. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or online @ rainn.org to talk to someone who understands what you're going through. 

To watch the video: http://youtu.be/2Emze0toGE4

Both videos do represent accurate accounts of being rape or sexually assaulted.