Sexual Assault-Published by the National Victim Assistance Academy

About the Course:

Rape is the most underreported crime in America. Significant changes to improve the treatment of sexual assault victims have occurred in the last two decades. The impact of reforms, led by the women’s movement, can be seen in the legal, medical, mental health, and victim services arenas. During the 1970s, the first rape crisis center was established. The treatment of victims in the criminal justice system was questioned, and hundreds of laws were passed to protect rape victims in the courts. Medical protocols have been developed and widely accepted. The mental health impact of rape is now well documented in the literature, and the practices of mental health professionals have improved. Although the treatment of rape victims today is vastly different from two decades ago, many victims still do not report the crime, and they do not receive the assistance and treatment they need.

This course is based on the reading-based online article, Sexual Assault-Published by the National Victim Assistance Academy created by Dean G. Kilpatrick, Anna Whalley, and Christine Edmunds from The National Victim Assistance Academy

Course Material Author

Course Creator

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, counselors and social workers who seek knowledge about the impact of rape. Whether unfamiliar or familiar with some of the concepts involved in this material, you can benefit from information in this course.

Course Objectives:

1. to understand the definitions of rape and sexual assault

2. to understand the major ways that rape incidence and prevalence are measured and the implications of these findings

3. to identify mental and physical health consequences of rape and how these consequences affect need for reporting

4. to consider a comprehensive approach to responding to rape victims

5. to consider factor important in the management of sex offenders in the community