Sexual assault survivors in Oakland: A guide to resources after BRAVE Bay Area

Courageous Bay Space not too long ago announced It should shut completely on the finish of September.

Based in 1971 by a Berkeley-Vrouw whose 15-year-old pleasure daughter was sexually attacked at Berkeley Excessive Faculty, Courageous was the primary rape disaster heart of the nation. It turned a nationwide mannequin for organizations that assist survivors of gender -based violence. Along with the drop-in service heart in San Leandro, the non-profit group provides a bilingual hotlineguides survivors of the police station, the hospital and the courtroom, and Offers training For volunteer counselors.

Courageous, initially referred to as Bay Space Ladies towards rape, appears to partially shut resulting from alleged monetary maladministration. It’s a enormous blow to people who find themselves affected by this sort of violence and who belief this sort of assist – previous, current and future.

To its closure it would proceed to serve its hotline and repair heart limited hours.

When Courageous is closed subsequent month, rape survivors in Oakland have fewer assist choices. Between 2020 and 2024, the police of Oakland received an average from 191 reviews of rape yearly. (Notice that the majority rapes are not reported.)

The Oaklandsside contacted numerous native companies to be taught what sources they provide to survivors. Beneath you can find a listing of companies which can be obtainable for folks in Oakland and Alameda County, together with authorized help, 24-hour disaster traces, assist assist and extra. Some companies are bilingual (in English and Spanish) and obtainable to folks of each state standing.

If you happen to assume we’re lacking one thing, ship your strategies to roselyn@oaklandside.org.

What to anticipate in the event you report an assault to a health care provider or police

Sexual assault is an umbrella time period that features rape, tried rape, incest, molesting, marital rape, authorized rape and any undesirable sexual contact.

Within the speedy aftermath of a sexual assault, survivors are usually suggested to name 911 to be related to the closest police. However based on the Rape, abuse and incest national network (Rainn), the most important anti-sexual violence non-profit within the US, greater than two-thirds of the sexual assaults will not be reported. Survivors can select to not report resulting from disgrace, concern of retribution, mistrust of the police or different causes.

In accordance with The website of Brave Bay AreaIf you happen to go to a medical facility or your personal physician and reveal that you’ve got been raped, healthcare employees legally required his obligatory reporters to tell the police. In case you are positive that you don’t want the police to be concerned, you’ll be able to say as an alternative that you simply had painful, unprotected sexual activity. This lets you obtain the mandatory medical checks with out activating a police report.

If the ability informs the police, you aren’t obliged to speak to the police after they arrive. Hospital proponents can clarify your rights if officers turn out to be concerned.

It’s also vital to know that forensic investigations into sexual abuse, generally called ‘rape kits’, should be accomplished inside 72 hours after the assault. Courageous recommends retaining all clothes worn on the time of the assault in a brown paper bag to retain it as proof. Even after a report has been submitted, survivors can select to not proceed with a felony case.

Rainn additionally maintains one Californian laws database That may provide help to perceive your rights as a survivor.

Free, confidential, bilingual assist for survivors of sexual violence from SARD van Highland Hospital

Survivors in Oakland can search assist with the Sexual attack Response and Recovery Team (Sarrt) In Highland Hospital. This system provides a variety of companies to survivors of rape and home violence, together with a 24-hour disaster line and mattress steering through the forensic exams for sexual violence. Proponents of SARDT also can accompany survivors on the police station for interviews or to the courtroom for hearings.

Proponents of SART additionally assist survivors to request State Victim Compensationsupply particular person or group recommendation and join survivors with emergency shelter and different group sources.

“All companies are free, confidential and supplied inside a trauma-inspired, cultural competent framework,” wrote Eleanor Ajala, a spokesperson for Alameda Well being System (AHS), in an e-mail on the Oaklandside. SARD has been a program beneath AHS since 1984.

Nicole Perez, one other spokesperson for AHS, famous that the company provides a 65-hour coaching program for volunteers in assist of sexual violence and home violence.

Sarrt Companies can be found in English and Spanish, with interpretation supplied for different languages.

One other native supply is Tri-Valley HavenWho primarily serves the areas San Ramon, Lemmore and Amador Valley. It has a 24/7 Hotline, a rape disaster heart, advisory companies and extra applications. Similar to SARD van Highland Hospital, Tri-Valley Haven works along with the Alameda County District Lawyer’s Workplace, police companies and non-profit organizations to coordinate the assist of the survivors.

Contact particulars

• Sexual Assault Response and Restoration Crew (SARD): Highland Hospital, 1411 E. thirty first St., Oakland. 24-hour crisishotline: 510-534-9290. Non-urgent e-mail: sarrtinfo@alamedahealthystem.org
• Tri-Valley Haven: Group Constructing AT 3663 Pacific Ave., Livermore. 24-hour disaster line: 1-800-884-8119. Counseling and administrative places of work: 925-449-5845.

Authorized help for survivors of sexual violence in Oakland and Alameda County

The Division of victim witnesses and the Alameda County Family Justice CenterEach run by the workplace of the general public prosecutor, supply authorized assist and different companies for survivors of sexual violence and their households.

From reporting to decision, proponents of victims assist survivors to navigate the felony justice course of. They function contact individuals between survivors, public prosecutors, police and social organizations. Proponents accompany survivors on the courtroom and police interviews, assist with security planning and clarify the rights of the survivors.

The Family Justice CenterPositioned within the Capsule Hill Hill district in Oakland, calls itself a ‘one-stop group assist heart’, with dozens of on-site and off-site applications for individuals who expertise home violence, sexual violence, sexual exploitation and associated points. Companies embody counseling, restrictive orders, housing help, case administration and authorized recommendation clinics.

In accordance with the DA’s workplace, all companies are free and obtainable for all survivors and witnesses, no matter immigration standing, earnings, language or background.

Contact particulars

• Alameda County Household Justice Heart: 470 twenty seventh St., Oakland. Name 510-267-8800.
• Division of victims of victims: 510-272-6180.