NYCAASA | Survivor Resources

Survivor Resources

Know that you are not alone – there are several New York City services that can answer your questions and provide the assistance you need.

Search our NYC Center Locator to find survivor resources near you.

Our COVID-19 Response

In response to the developing spread of COVID-19 in New York and globally, the Alliance is advising staff and clientele to conduct all business remotely until further notice. As a public health organization, we want to take additional precautions to slow the spread of this pandemic and to ensure that none of our clients, staff, or their families are put at undue risk. We are encouraging staff and clients alike to follow CDC and WHO guidelines and practice social distancing wherever possible, including telecommuting and remote client sessions over phone and video. In accordance with this guidance, if you are able to conduct business or appointments with the Alliance digitally or by phone, we encourage you to do so. If you are feeling ill or have recently traveled to an infected region, please stay home and contact your healthcare professional or 311 for further guidance. Read our full detailed statement, with information and important resources, by clicking here or the button below. Find more information on the disease as well as citywide protocols and services here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

Survivor Rights in the Emergency Department

As a survivor of a sexual assault, you have several rights. If you wish, your volunteer advocate can review your rights in further detail. The NYS Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights must be presented to every survivor in NYS before a sexual assault forensic examination which details your rights. Here are some below:

You cannot be treated differently based on certain characteristics, such as race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, source of payment, sex, gender identity, or gender expression.
Your immigration status or national origin cannot affect your emergency care or services. You can ask for an interpreter if it is hard for you to understand or speak English.
Minors under the age of 17 have certain rights to make their own decisions without a parent or legal guardian.
You can have an exam in any hospital emergency department at no cost to you. If you do not have health insurance, or you decline to use your health insurance, you can ask the hospital to bill the Office of Victim Services.
You have the right to trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care is provided by services that identify and limit potential triggers to reduce retraumatization, and to protect a survivor’s mental and emotional health. This includes the right to have an advocate stay with you during the exam.
You have the right to be tested, and receive preventive treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
You have every right to ask questions of the police, nurses, attorneys—anyone involved in your care and case, if you choose to report to the police.
You have the right to confidentiality with your survivor advocate. Confidentiality may not apply if related to issues of patient safety.
You have the right to do nothing.

Click the button for updates to the information on this page, including current sexual violence resources in NYC, both in-person and remote, as we all respond to COVID-19. There is help available.

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse

On Monday February 14, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act into law. There are three components to the law:

This legislation allows those who are victims of child sexual assault to bring civil lawsuitsup until their 55th birthday (as opposed to 23). If survivors were eligible to file a civil law suit before the passage of this law, it also allows these survivors to file up until age 55, though legal experts recommend filing sooner if possible.
This legislation would allow the criminal prosecution of many sexual offenses committed against children, to begin up until the age of 23 rather than by age 18.
It also allows childhood survivors of sexual abuse, who could not file a civil lawsuit because they did not start a suit by the time they were 23 years of age, a one-year period to file a civil action for damages. There is no age limit on bringing these actions during this “window”. The “window” is set to commence 6 months from the signing of the law, or August 14, 2019. You can find the full law here.

The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault with the collaboration of New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault have come up with a resource guide to help survivors navigate their way through this challenging experience.

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Victim Impact Statements

Victim impact statements are written or oral information from crime victims, in their own words, about how a crime has affected them. All 50 states allow victim impact statements at some phase of the sentencing process.

Violence Against Gays and Lesbians

Respondents who identified as transgender or gender non-conforming during grades K-12 reported significant rates of harassment (78%), physical assault (35%), and sexual violence (12%).

Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, harassment, and contact.

Incest

Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.

Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is a relatively new phenomenon. With the decreasing expense and thereby increased availability of computers and online services, more individuals are purchasing computers and “logging onto” the Internet, making another form of communication vulnerable to abuse by stalkers.

Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention for victims of crime may vary depending on the needs of the victim and the type of victimization.

Campus Crime Victims

Victims of campus violence, like all victims of crime, react to their victimizations in many different ways. Immediately after the crime, victims often struggle with feelings of fear, helplessness, confusion, guilt, self-blame, shock, disbelief, denial, anger, shame and numerous other emotions.

Acquaintance Rape

When most people think of rape, they visualize an unknown lunatic violently dragging a defenseless person into a dark alley. This is a very inaccurate portrayal.