If you're concerned about
someone finding out that
you've visited this website,
click here.

Conway Office
PO Box 1972
Conway, NH 03818
(603) 356-7993

Ossipee Office
(603) 539-5506

Sexual Assault Sexual Assault is... any unwanted sexual contact or sexual attention committed by force, threats, bribes, manipulation, pressure, tricks, or violence. It can include many forms-for example: rape, incest, child molestation, same-sex assault, acquaintance rape, and marital rape. Sexual assault is a terrifying and often brutal crime. Assailants can be strangers, acquaintances, friends, or family members. Sexual Assault is not about... love or sex. Sexual Assault is an act motivated by one person's desire to control and have power over someone else. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate, and punish their victims. It is not done in response to a sexual urge. "Sexual Assault is about hurting someone, and NOBODY asks to be hurt." Sexual assault is never a victim's fault, no matter what you said, what you were doing, wearing, drinking, or how you were behaving, or even if you had prior intimate relations with the assailant. Everyone handles crisis differently and there is no way a victim should be. It is common for victims of sexual assault to have delayed reactions or disbelief, be scared or angry, feel depressed, guilty, or unsafe, be in denial or a state of shock. Victims can appear as if nothing happened or be visibly disturbed, crying, shaking, or even laughing. IF YOU HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED... Remember-it is not your fault. Get to a safe place. Call the police, a friend, family member, or Starting Point's Crisis Line 1-800-336-3795. A trained volunteer can help you sort through your options and will accompany you to the hospital or police station, if you so choose. Your first instinct may be to take a shower or change your clothes. DON'T. These steps can remove and lose valuable evidence. You may want to get medical attention. If you go to a hospital emergency room within 72 hours, the hospital can collect evidence of the assault. Regardless of when you go to the hospital, you can be examined for injuries and tested for infections and pregnancy. Taking this step does not mean you have to do anything legally. If you can, bring a change of clothes with you to the emergency room. You may want to report the crime to the police and follow through with prosecution. You can do all or none of these steps; it is your choice how to respond to your crisis. There is no one right way to cope with a sexual assault; there are many. Starting Point is committed to providing information, options, and support for each individual ot create her or his own way to survive this difficult experience. Starting Point is a not-for-profit community agency made up of professionals and trained volunteers whose goals are to assure that survivors of sexual assault are treated with dignity and compassion. Our role is to advocate on behalf of the victim through the hospital process and legal system. Starting Point is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide support to victims of sexual assault, at any point in their journey toward healing. We offer victims: 24 hour confidential support and information for individuals whose lives have been touched by sexual assault. Medical Accompaniment: in-person support at hospitals and clinics. Legal Advocacy and Accompaniment provides information and support with law enforcement agencies and during court procedures. Support Groups for sexual assault survivors, adult survivors of child sexual abuse and other programs. A Resource Library - books, videos, and information. About Us | What's New | Become A Volunteer | Resources and Information | Contact Us