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Hospital and Court Accompaniment

I don't feel that these two paragraph state clearly what it is you do.  While well written, I think it may be too wordy for many victims.

Sexual Assault Advocates of the Women’s Center of San Joaquin County help individual victims mobilize their own strengths. An Advocate’s goal is to fulfill human potential by improving life conditions of all victims of sexual assault.

Advocacy services are designed to work with community institutions and systems to insure that victim needs and rights get met. The Advocate’s overall purpose is to represent a victim’s legitimate interests.

We will:

• Provide personal support, comfort, and information to the rape victim and significant other(s) at the hospital.
• Validate the trauma of the victim’s experience and provide information about common victim reactions to rape.
• Provide new clothing and undergarments and rape related reading materials to the victim.
• Inform the victim and significant other(s) about the Center’s counseling services and other community services.
• Advocate with DAWN House Shelter staff to admit a female rape victim who has no safe housing option.
• Intervene with other agencies and individuals, on behalf of the victim and at the victim’s request, to represent the interests of the victim.
• Advocate for victim to have transportation home or to a safe place by victim witness or law enforcement.
• Follow up with the victim within 72 hours of the medical exam to offer support and additional information and/or resources.

Survivor Rights

As a survivor of sexual assault you have the right:

• To determine whether or not you want to report the sexual assault to law enforcement, if over 18 years of age
• To ask the officer who takes your statement why he/she asks certain questions
• To report but not proceed with prosecution. The District Attorney will decide this issue if the victim is under 18 years of age
• To withdraw your testimony against the attacker at any time
• To be informed about case status, court hearings, victim impact statements, and a right to be consulted over such key decisions as charging and negotiated guilty pleas
• To be considered a rape survivor regardless of the relationship of the assailant to you (i.e., spouse, relative, acquaintance, etc.)
• To be informed that you may be eligible for victim compensation, and that the offender may be held liable for civil charges
• To be treated with dignity and respect, without prejudice because of race, age, class, lifestyle, or occupation

The Advocacy Program supports the dignity and worth of every human being and the legal, moral, and/or constitutional rights to which each is entitled. All services are confidential and offered free of charge.