If You Are a Victim of a Personal Crime
Sexual Assault:- Be aware of your own capabilities and limitations. Your judgement and thinking will be your best weapons. Evaluate the situation for possible avenues of escape.
- Your first concern should be for your safety and survival. Use your judgement to do what is necessary to save your life. That may mean making a scene, drawing attention to yourself so that the assailant leaves. It may mean fighting back. It may mean not physically resisting.
- If you choose not to physically resist the attack, it does not mean that you have asked to be sexually assaulted. It means that you did what you needed to survive.
- Remember- there is no one "right" way to respond. The person being attacked is the best judge of which options will work in that situation.
- Take notice of your assailant's characteristics, habits, surroundings, contacts, speech and mannerisms. This could enable you to deal with the assailant and perhaps talk your way out of a rape situation, or provide a means of escape. Also, this information is invaluable for the police in trying to apprehend the criminal.
- Get to a safe place as soon as you can.
- Try to preserve all physical evidence. Do not bathe, douche, use the toilet, eat, drink or smoke. Do not change clothing. Any of the aforementioned activities could destroy valuable evidence.
- If you have been raped you should seek medical treatment immediately regardless of whether you report the matter to police.
- If on campus, immediately call the Department of Public Safety's emergency numbers or 911.
- Consider seeking assistance from one of the sexual assault crisis centers servicing the community college district.
In accordance with Public Act 88-629, Southwestern Illinois College has established a community task force for the purpose of coordinating responses to sexual assaults on campus. The focus of the response will be on victim's services and law enforcement. Southwestern's Department of Public Safety can assist victims in accessing community services designed to help them recover from sexual assault.
Contact Telephone Information:
Information on Personal Self-Defense and Sexual Assault Prevention Seminars can be obtained by contacting the Belleville Campus or Sam Wolf Granite City Campus Department of Public Safety.
While this is a highly personal decision, it is strongly recommended that you give up your valuables or car keys immediately, and without protest.
- Your life is more valuable.
- Avoid getting into the vehicle with suspects if at all possible.
- The race, sex, approximate height, clothing, and any other distinctive characteristics of the suspect(s).
- The direction that the subjects went.
- Whether the suspect had a weapon and if so, what type.
Get to a safe place as quickly as possible.
If on campus immediately call The Department of Public Safety or 911 for the local police and emergency medical services.
If at Red Bud, PSOP, Fire Science, an Off-Campus Site or off campus call 911 for emergency services.
The most common crime committed on campus is theft of personal property, such as textbooks. Security of your personal property is your responsibility. Protect your valuables at all times.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES UNATTENDED.