| After a rape has occurred, the most important factor is your personal safety. It is critical that you remove yourself from any situation where you may be in danger and to see a doctor if you have been injured. While you are not required by law to report the crime, you are strongly encouraged to do so that you can get the help that you need. Also, so that you can prevent that person from ever raping again. If you go to a doctor and tell them that you have been raped, they will follow protocol and collect evidence of the sexual assault. In North Dakota, this examination will be done at no charge to you. After you report the crime, it is up to the district attorney to decide to prosecute, but they will rarely prosecute without the support of the victim. It is very important that you see a doctor to check for sexually transmitted infections, to make sure that no serious physical injury has occurred, and to be sure that you are not pregnant as a result of the rape. There can be situations in which you may have been in a relationship with the person who raped you. It is possible that you voluntarily or involuntarily consumed drugs and/or alcohol. Maybe you had prior sexual experience with the person who raped you. Or there is the feeling that you don't want to rehash the trauma that you experienced when you were raped, by reporting the crime. Being raped is never the victim's fault and not reporting the crime gives the perpetrator the ability to rape again. North Dakota has several free services and lots of information available to victims of rape. Some services include a safe place to stay, a counselor to talk to, tests for different STIs, and having a professional present with you, as your advocate and friend, during interviews with the police or doctors. There is a large support system of highly trained professionals to help you if you have been raped. These professionals will be supportive, respectful, and helpful in every way possible. You are their first and main concern. |
| To get help in Bismarck - Mandan area, and statewide: | The Abused Adult Resource Center Bismarck, ND Call: (701) 222-8370 Hotline: 866-341-7009 |
| West Central Human Services Center 600 S. 2nd Street Bismarck, ND 58504 Call: (701) 255-3090 |
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| North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services/ CASAND Bismarck, ND www.ndcaws.org Call: (701) 255- 6240 |
| To get help in the Minot area, and statewide: | Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Inc. Minot, ND Call: (701) 852-2258 Hotline: (701) 852-2500 Website:http://www.minot.com/~dvcc/ |
| To get help in the Fargo area, and statewide: | Rape & Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo ND & Moorhead MN Call: (701) 293-7273 Hotline: (701) 293-7273 Website: http://www.raccfm.com |
| To get help in the Grand Forks area, and statewide: | Community Violence Intervention Center Call: (701) 746-8900 Website: http://www.cviconline.org |
| Women's Center, University Of North Dakota 305 Hamline Street Grand Forks, ND Call: (701) 777-4300 |
| To get help nationwide, or to have someone to talk to toll-free, anytime day or night: | National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline Call: (800) 799-SAFE |
| National Center for Victims of Crime Call: (800) FYI- CALL Website: http://www.ncvc.org |
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| The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Website: http://www.rainn.org |
| Are you aware of additional victim assistance resources that exist in North Dakota for victims of rape and sexual assault? If so, please drop us a note at Patrick.Atkinson@GodsChild.org and we will post that community resource here. |
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I was raped. It's not something I did. It's something that was done to me. I am not to blame. It was not my fault. I was the victim of a violent crime. Now I need help. 2009 (c) Patrick Atkinson The GOD'S CHILD Project ND Rape is a community service project of your Bismarck-based GOD'S CHILD Project |