Abstract
The impact of sexual violence (SV) on survivors and communities is profound and far-reaching. This chapter includes a brief description of the physical and mental health impacts of SV on survivors as well as the toll SV takes on communities and others connected to individual survivors. In addition, the role played by the criminal justice sector in the immediate aftermath of SV, including the role of sexual assault forensic exams (SAFEs) and the sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) who conduct them, is discussed. Next, the chapter delineates advocacy responses following SV, focusing on crisis intervention and coordinated community responses (rape crisis centers and sexual assault response teams [SARTs]). Furthermore, restorative justice models and treatment options in relation to the immediate and proximal aftermath of SV are discussed. To conclude, the chapter explores the role of intersectionality in SV response and intervention, highlighting how trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches must also consider and address the unique needs of survivors with diverse and intersecting identities and life circumstances.
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Ashton, M., Hipp, T.N., Mandell, J.E., Prichard, T. (2020). Interventions in the Aftermath of Sexual Violence: Justice, Advocacy, and Treatment. In: Geffner, R., White, J.W., Hamberger, L.K., Rosenbaum, A., Vaughan-Eden, V., Vieth, V.I. (eds) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_229-1
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