Sexual Abuse and Assault
Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual act where threats, force or violence used against you. This can include rape, attempted rape, fondling or touching your body without your permission, and sexual harassment or making sexual comments that make you feel uncomfortable. Sexual assault also includes sexual activity when you cannot give consent, for example, if you are underage, drunk, or under the influence of drugs.
When a person is being sexually assaulted by someone they know and trust, this is sexual abuse.
Sexual assault and sexual abuse are crimes, even if you are a family member or are married to the abuser.
What can I do if I have been sexually assaulted?
Sexual assault can be very distressing and traumatic. Please know that what happened to you is not your fault. You are not alone, and there are people who can help you.
- If you are in immediate danger or need immediate medical attention, please call 911.
- Contact the New York State Hotline for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence at 1-800-942-6906. They can help you decide what you can do, and where to go to get help.
- Contact your local rape crisis program. Advocates there can help you with crisis intervention support, and medical attention.
- Get medical attention from your doctor or a hospital near you. You may have unseen injuries or need testing for possible pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. You can bring someone you trust with you for support.
- If you were hurt by a family member, or someone you used to date or were intimate with, you may be able to get a Family Court Order of Protection against them.
For more information about sexual assault and what you can do, please visit the Office for Victims of Crime Help Series sexual violence brochure.
I was sexually assaulted years ago. Is it too late to call the police? Can I sue the person who assaulted me?
All victims of crimes have the right to call the police. If you were sexually abused as a child, you have until you turn 28 years old to file criminal charges against the person who abused you. If you were sexually assaulted as an adult, you can call the police and ask the District Attorney to prosecute the person who committed the crime.
You also have the right to start a civil case against the person who assaulted you. In the civil case, you can sue for “civil damages”. (That means, asking the court to order the peson who assaulted you to give you money for the hurt they caused.)
If you were abused as a child, you have the right under the Child Victims Act to start a civil case against the abuser or the organization that protected the abuser until you are 55 years old. If you were sexually assaulted as an adult, the time you have to file a civil lawsuit against the person who assaulted you depends on the type of sex crime committed.
For suggestions on how to find a lawyer to start a civil case under the Child Victims Act, please download this resource.
For suggestions on how to find a lawyer to start a civil case under the Adult Survivors Act, please download this resource.
For more information, resources, and for legal assistance, please see:
- NY Courts website’s page on Child Sex Abuse Cases
- NYS Bar Association