I. Types of Sexual Violence

Stranger Rape:
Is rape or sexual assault perpetrated by someone unknown to the survivor.

Blitz Sexual Assault:
The perpetrator rapidly and brutally assaults the victim with no prior contact. Blitz assaults usually occur at night in a public place.

Contact Sexual Assault:
The perpetrator works to gain trust and confidence before assaulting.

Home Invasion Sexual Assault:
Perpetrator breaks into survivors home to commit the assault.

Acquaintance Rape:
Is an umbrella term used to describe sexual assaults in which the survivor and the perpetrator are known to each other, whether by passing acquaintance or someone the survivor knows intimately. This is the most common form of rape.

Child Sexual Abuse:
Is a form of child abuse that includes sexual activity with a minor. A child cannot consent to any form of sexual activity, period. When a perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have lasting effects on the victim for years. Child sexual abuse does not need to include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Some forms of child sexual abuse include: Obscene phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction; Fondling; Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor; Masturbation in the presence of a minor or forcing the minor to masturbate; Intercourse; Sex of any kind with a minor, including vaginal, oral, or anal; Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of children; Sex trafficking; Any other sexual conduct that is harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare.

Statutory Rape:
Is defined as unlawful intercourse with a minor, California law mandates that an adult cannot have sex with a minor, and a minor cannot have sex with another minor, even if the intercourse was consensual.

Spousal/Partner Rape:
Is between two individuals who are in a relationship. Sexual violence often works alongside among abusive behavior. Women who have been physically abused by their partner have often experienced sexual abuse, and haven’t disclosed or did not realize sexual violence does not always include physical violence, making it difficult to acknowledge the abuse.

Incest:
Is defined as sexual abuse by a relative, sexual contact/abuse between family members.

Serial Rape:
Is the most frequently sensationalized form of rape. Because of the frequently gruesome nature of the assaults and because of the opportunity to prey on people’s fears, serial rape is frequently covered extensively by the media. The term serial rape is used to describe a series of rapes committed on different occasions by the same perpetrator. An important distinction is that this term is rarely used to describe marital or date rape, even though these types of rapes can happen repeatedly. Instead, the serial rapist has multiple victims.

Substance Facilitated Rape:
Occurs when alcohol or drugs are used to compromise an individual's ability to consent to sexual activity. These substances make it easier for a perpetrator to commit sexual assault because they inhibit a person’s ability to resist and can prevent them from remembering the assault. Drugs and alcohol can cause diminished capacity, a legal term that varies in definition

Multiple Perpetrator/Gang Rape:
Occurs when two or more perpetrators act together to sexually assault the same victim. Some common aspects of multiple-perpetrator assault include: planning the assault in advance; using substance-facilitated sexual assault; using the assault to introduce or reinforce membership in a group, such as a gang, sports team, or club; targeting a victim that has an existing connection with one of the perpetrators, often sexual in nature; beginning as a consensual activity and introducing others to participate against the victim’s will or without consent

Sexual Harassment:
Is unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that interferes with your life, work, or education. This behavior can include verbal or physical acts as well as acts that affect you by creating an environment that is “hostile.” The harassment can take place in many different contexts: on the streets, on public transportation, in public places, or in schools, workplaces, institutions, and so on. Sexual harassment can include actions such as sexual comments, physical contact such as someone brushing up against you, demands for sexual behavior from someone who is in a position of authority or power over you (for example, a boss or a teacher), and the creation of a hostile environment.

Date Rape:
Is a specific kind of acquaintance rape referring to assault(s) experienced by the victim from the person they are on the date with.