Preventing sexual assault to students while at Job Corps is the responsibility of everyone on center, including students. Each center should have an active Sexual Assault and Response Team (SART), quarterly strategy meetings, and, at the very least, annual staff trainings.  Education components should be introduced during the first week of the Career Preparation Period and should be an integral component of Career Development Period and Career Transition Period. It is everyone’s duty to ensure student safety.

We often picture females as the victims of sexual assault. However, males can be victims of sexual violence as children, teens, or as adults. Studies show that one out of seven males will be the victim of some type of sexual assault before age 18. In the United States, approximately 10 percent of reported rapes involve male victims, and many more go unreported. Males are often reluctant to report the crime of sexual assault or seek services because they feel humiliated, shamed, or feel that seeking help will make them appear weak.

If a sexual assault occurs on center, activate your SART, be prepared and, most importantly, ensure the safety of the student.

Below are some sexual assault prevention tips to educate your students.  These tips are meant to keep them safe during their stay at Job Corps and throughout their lives. Staff may find these tips helpful as well.

General safety tips:

• Accept the fact you are a potential rape victim.
• Think ahead and consider your alternatives if confronted by a rapist.
• Trust your gut instincts. If something does not feel right, it probably isn’t.

With someone you know:

• Express yourself and expect to be respected. Be loud, clear, and firm.
• NO does not mean yes. Communicate your limits directly. Use body language.
• Be willing to inconvenience others to ensure your own well-being.
• Know about your date, including name, address, and workplace.
• Meet new people in public areas.
• Date a new person as part of a group, andstay in the group setting.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended or accept drinks that you have not witnessed being made—it could be drugged. Rohypnol and GHB are two sedating drugs currently used for sexual assault.
• Have your own money and transportation.
• Remember, it is difficult to know someone on the Internet. Do not give out personal information.

On the street:

• Walk at a steady confident pace. Stay alert. Be prepared to run.
• Know where you are going. Avoid shortcuts, dark alleys, empty buildings, vacant lots, and deserted parking garages.
• Vary your routine. Walk in the middle of the sidewalk, not near bushes, alley entrances, doorways, and curbs.
• If you are being followed, walk or run to a well-lit or well-populated area. Draw attention to yourself. If your follower is in a car, run in the opposite direction.
• Don’t overload yourself with packages or a bulky purse or books. Keep one hand free.

In your car or public transportation:

• Always lock your car when leaving it. Make sure all doors are locked while in it.
• Check the back seat and floor of car before getting in, even if it was locked.
• Have your keys in hand so you do not delay entering the car.
• If you have car trouble, raise the hood, get in, and lock all doors until someone you trust or the police arrive. If someone stops, crack the window and ask them to call for help for you.
• Avoid isolated bus stops.  On a bus or train, sit close to the front. If someone bothers you, tell the driver.
• Ask the taxi driver or a friend to wait and see that you get into your building safely.

In your home:

• Install a peephole, deadbolt lock, and chain lock with long screws for the outside doors.
• Keep your doors and windows locked even if you go outside for only a few minutes.
• Make sure all windows have secure locks. Never leave a window open that can be entered. Make sure curtains or shades are on all windows.
• Keep entrances, walkways, doorways, stairwells, hallways, and garages well lit. If you know you will arrive home after dark, leave a light on inside and out, and have your keys ready for a quick entrance. If you notice something wrong, do not enter. Seek help.
• Keep all bushes and shrubs near your home trimmed to prevent someone from hiding in them.
• Give an extra key to a neighbor you trust instead of hiding it outside. If a key is stolen, immediately change all locks.
• If you live alone, consider using an initial and/or extra name on your mailbox and phone listing.
• Never admit a stranger to your home, even if they are in uniform. Ask for a badge or other identification and write down the information.
• Be alert to suspicious calls. Don’t answer personal questions or give out information. Report obscene or harassing phone calls to the police or phone company.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted:

• Find a safe environment away from your attacker. Ask someone you trust to stay with you.
• Preserve evidence of the attack. Do not bathe or brush your teeth. Do not wash or get rid of any of the clothing you were wearing. Write down as many details as you recall; Include identifying marks, unusual jewelry, a distinctive voice, or noise.
• Report the assault to the police. You are the victim.
• Seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it is important to test for STDs and pregnancy. Ask the hospital to conduct a rape kit exam and, if you think you have been drugged, collect a urine sample.
• Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-(HOPE)4673. The hotline provides free, confidential counseling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

References

• Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN)
• Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP)