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Journal of Interpersonal Violence
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The Experience of Sexual Assault

Findings From a Statewide Victim Needs Assessment

Laura M. Monroe

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Linda M. Kinney

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Mark D. Weist

University of Maryland School of Medicine, mweist{at}psych.umaryland.edu

Denise Spriggs Dafeamekpor

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Joyce Dantzler

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, dantzlerj{at}dhmh.state.md.us

Matthew W. Reynolds

Metaworks

A statewide assessment was conducted of assaults, experiences, needs, and recommendations of 125 adult victims receiving care at 19 sexual assault centers (SACs) in the State of Maryland. More than one half of the victims (55.6%) waited years before disclosing, with delays in reporting especially likely if the assault was perpetrated by a family member (the most frequent perpetrators at 42.4% of respondents). About one half of the victims (51.3%) had been previously sexually assaulted, yet only 9% of these victims had sought treatment. The majority of respondents (69.4%) indicated they would not be filing charges against perpetrators, and of those who did, 46.2% reported dissatisfaction with the interview with police. Psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety were the most common reasons for seeking care at the centers. Nearly all of respondents rated the care they received at the centers as very good or excellent. Respondents recommended more SACs, better advertising of their services, more mental health care within them (especially group therapy), and improved laws and law enforcement of perpetrators.

Key Words: sexual assault • adult victims • needs assessment

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 20, No. 7, 767-776 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0886260505277100
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