Section 2: Understanding Sexual Assault from a Victim’s Perspective
4 Hours, 40 Minutes
TOPIC: THE IMPACT
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON SECONDARY VICTIMS
(5 minutes)
What is the Impact of Sexual Assault on Secondary
Victims?
(5 minutes)
A sexual assault may have a significant impact on other family members of the incest perpetrator and incest victim. Like the ripples created by our supervision decisions in intra–familial abuse cases, sexual assault itself can have far reaching effects. At the center is the person who was sexually assaulted, and the ripples—like the ripples created when a rock is thrown into a pond—represent the many people who may experience harm by knowing or caring for that person. These individuals include immediate family members, friends, relatives, acquaintances, and members of the community. Family members of offenders in non–incest cases are another category of individuals with whom you are likely to come into contact, and who may have difficulty dealing with the situation and their own reactions to it. The offender’s family may know the victim, and may be significantly affected by the experience of disclosure, criminal justice involvement, community stigma, and more.
Use
Slide #26: Secondary Impacts of Sexual Assault
The following is information about the secondary impact of sexual assault and issues to consider:
- Individuals close to the offender and/or the victim may experience reactions that are similar to victims. The intensity and variety of reactions may depend on their relationship with the victim.
- These individuals need to have their own support systems.
- They often need education about sexual victimization issues and about how they can best support the victims, such as what to say and do to be helpful and supportive.
- The revenge reaction of those close to the victim must be considered. Some victims’ partners may want instant revenge and threaten to harm the perpetrator. This reaction, which is a legitimate emotional response to the harm their partner has experienced, usually only serves to silence the victim further and requires them to focus on their partner’s anger and potential actions, and not their own response to the sexual assault.
- Individuals close to the offender and/or victim may have been victims of sexual assault themselves. Their own experiences and feelings may be triggered by the assault by, or of, their loved one, which can render them less able to help.
- The pain experienced by individuals close to the offender and/or the victim should never be underestimated.
You are likely to have substantial contact with individuals experiencing secondary impact from sexual assault in the course of your work with sex offenders, especially during interactions with a child victim. Recognizing the phenomenon and being prepared to validate the experience of these individuals, providing referrals as appropriate, and anticipating some of the same issues that you might face in working with the primary victims, will enhance your ability to work effectively with these individuals.