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The Sexual Assault Unit
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office's Sexual Assault Team handles the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults involving survivors between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, you may contact the Suffolk County District Attorney's Sexual Assault Unit at (617) 619-4350 or the Boston Police Department Sexual Assault Team at (617) 343-4400.
The unit was created in 1999 in response to the need for victims of sexual assault, witnesses, family members and other secondary victims to have a primary team of advocates and assistant district attorneys to respond to their requests for services and court based intervention. Four assistant district attorneys, two victim witness advocates, a paralegal and a civilian investigator staff the unit.
The Sexual Assault Team is part of the coordinated Family Protection and Sexual Assault Unit.
Rape:
Rape is a sexual assault, which includes:
- Lack of Consent,
- The threat or use of force,
- Penetration (this includes oral, vaginal, and/or anal penetration by either a body part or object).
- Rape also includes situations where the person is unable to give consent due to: Unconsciousness, intoxication, mental impairment or being under the age of sixteen.
Indecent Assault and Battery
Indecent Assault and Battery is a sexual assault which includes:
- Unconsented and offensive touching of the breast, inner thighs, pubic area, and buttocks.
- A person under fourteen is unable to consent to this type of sexual touching.
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Get to a Safe Place
If you are Thinking of Reporting Your Assault:
Reporting is your choice. To preserve evidence for collection it is very helpful not to:
- Shower, bathe or douche
- Brush or comb your hair
- Eat or Drink Anything
- Smoke
- Use the bathroom
- Brush your teeth or gargle
- Change your clothes (if you do change your clothes after the assault, place them in a brown paper bag for evidence collection)
Seek Medical Care
Sensitive appropriate medical care is available. Whether or not you think prosecution is right for you, seek medical attention. The Department of Public Health’s SANE program (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s Program) is available at certain designated hospital sites in the Boston Area including:
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Newton-Wellesley Hospital
- Cambridge Hospital
All Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners receive significant training on the collection of forensic evidence that can assist your case if you choose to prosecute.
Report Your Assault to Law Enforcement
A Detective will meet with you and take a report if you decide that prosecution is an option that you wish to explore. Your report will be forwarded to our unit and assigned to an advocate and prosecutor.
Our Unit’s Prosecutors and Victim Witness Advocates are experienced professionals with many years of court experience and significant training in crisis intervention.
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Victim Witness Services available to survivors of Sexual Assault include:
- Victim of Violent Crime Compensation
- One of our advocates can assist you with your Victim of Violent Crime form and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us with any compensation or benefit concerns.
- Crisis Intervention and Support
- We can help you review your options and locate a mental health service or support group that can meet your needs.
- Court Notification
- We will notify you of every court date in your case.
- Bail Notification Services
- Our Victim/Witness program offers Bail Notification Services for yourself and your family- twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
- Education about the Criminal Justice System/Your Rights Under the Victim Bill of Rights
- The Court system can be an intimidating and frustrating experience for any survivor. Our advocacy staff will make sure that your rights under the Victim Bill of Rights (MGL, ch 258B) are respected and you understand the court process.
- Trial Preparation/In Court Advocacy and Support
- We will help prepare you for the trial process and your testimony. We are also on hand to offer in-court support throughout the trial process.
- Victim Impact Statement Preparation
- Under the Victim Bill of Rights you have the right to be heard at sentencing in an oral or written statement about the effects of your assault. Our staff will work with you to prepare a statement that you feel is appropriate and meaningful.
- Post Sentencing Issues
- We will assist you with applying for CORI certification, making contact with the Parole Board and keep you updated on the status of any appellate review our your case.
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There are many resources for survivors in the Boston area. They include the following:
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
Office: 617/492-8306, 24hr. hotline 617-492-RAPE
Website
In addition to their hotline, B.A.R.C.C. offers group and individual counseling for survivors and their families. Their office is MBTA accessible on the Red Line
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery
Office: 617/667-8141
Website
They are currently accepting referrals for their therapy group for rape victims/survivors their survivor support services are free of charge and are MBTA accessible on the ‘D’ Line of the Green Line.
The Trauma Center
Office: 617/731-3200 extension 421, Intake: extension 422
Website
The Trauma Center offers group and individual counseling for victims of violence. They are located at 227 Babcock Street in Brookline, and are MBTA accessible on the Green Line’s Boston College line.
The Victim’s of Violence Program of Cambridge Hospital can be reached at 617/591-6360. They offer group and individual services to survivors of violence. Cambridge Hospital’s address is 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge MA 02139.
Community Programs Against Sexual Assault (CPASA) can be reached at 617/427-4470. It is located at Roxbury Multi-Service Center 317 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02121. Its’ mission is to reduce the incidence of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault related crimes through multi- cultural outreach, education, crisis intervention and advocacy services, which empower individuals to organize the development of personal safety endeavors for the security of the community at-large. CPASA provides:
- Public Education and Agency Training
- Discussion Groups
- Crisis Intervention
- A Women's Self-Development Series
- Teens Networking Teens 617-445-7574
- S.A.V. Ourselves (Sisters against Violence) 617-541-5416
- The Women's Roundtable
- Women of Color United Against Domestic Violence and Rapes
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