Harassment Prevention and Response

 The following national hotlines are available as an option
for immediate and confidential crisis intervention.

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-4673 – Provides victims and survivors of sexual violence with 24/7 crisis intervention hotline options via phone or online chat. https://www.rainn.org

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 – Provides victims and survivors of domestic/dating or stalking violence with 24/7 crisis intervention hotline options via phone or online chat. https://www.thehotline.org/
• LoveIsRespect: 1-866-331-9474 – Provides 24/7 support and advocacy via phone-call, texting, or online chat to young adults with questions or concerns about their relationships. https://www.loveisrespect.org/
• 1in6: 1-877-628-1466 - The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences live healthier, happier lives. https://1in6.org/
• The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 – Provides LBGTQ+-inclusive 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline options via phone call, texting, or online chat. https://www.thetrevorproject.org
• Take Back the Night: 567-SHATTER – Victim-focused attorneys offer free Legal Assistance for survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, or other sexual violence. https://takebackthenight.org/legal-assistance/
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 – Provides suicide prevention assistance through 24/7 hotline options via phone or online chat. https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 1-800-669-6820 to file a charge of Discrimination. https://www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination

2024 ITG conference local support

• Civil Rights Department of California: 800-884-1684 - Victims of discrimination can file a complaint with the civil rights office. https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess/?content=fileComplaint#fileComplaintBody
  
• Sheriff's Department
  North Orange County 714-647-7000
  South Orange County 949-770-6011
• Police Departments
  Anaheim 714-765-1900
  Cypress 714-229-6600
  Fullerton 714-738-6800

In all cases of emergency, call 911. 

Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include:

• Attempted rape
• Fondling or unwanted sexual touching
• Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator’s body
• Force doesn’t always refer to physical pressure. Perpetrators may use emotional coercion, psychological force, or manipulation to coerce a victim into non-consensual sex. Some perpetrators will use threats to force a victim to comply, such as threatening to hurt the victim or their family or other intimidation tactics.
• Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape
• To find how each state legally defines rape and other forms of sexual assault, visit RAINN's State Law Database.

Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent should be clearly and freely communicated. A verbal and affirmative expression of consent can help both you and your partner to understand and respect each other’s boundaries. Consent cannot be given by individuals who are underage, intoxicated or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, or asleep or unconscious. If someone agrees to an activity under pressure of intimidation or threat, that isn’t considered consent because it was not given freely. Unequal power dynamics, such as engaging in sexual activity with an employee or student, also mean that consent cannot be freely given. https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent

Grooming: manipulative behaviors that the abuser uses to gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught. While these tactics are used most often against younger kids, teens and vulnerable adults are also at risk. Grooming can take place online or in-person. It’s usually employed by a family member or someone else in the victim’s circle of trust, such as a coach, teacher, youth group leader, or others who naturally have some interaction with the victim. https://rainn.org/news/grooming-know-warning-signs

Bystander Intervention techniques advocated by RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) can be used to protect against sexual harassment. Bystanders can follow the so-called C.A.R.E. techniques to:

• Create a distraction to interrupt an unhealthy dynamic, such as by engaging the victim or harasser in conversation.
• Ask the subject of harassment directly whether he or she feels safe or wants help.
• Refer to authority, such as calling on a supervisor or the bartender to step in.
• Enlist others to assist, such as by suggesting that a friend of the harasser or the victim check on them or escort them to another room.
• https://www.rainn.org/articles/practicing-active-bystander-intervention

How to Respond if Someone Is Pressuring You: Perpetrators of sexual violence often use tactics, such as guilt or intimidation, to pressure a person into something they do not want to do. It can be upsetting, frightening, or uncomfortable if you find yourself in this situation. Remember that it’s not your fault that the other person is acting this way—they are responsible for their own actions. The following tips may help you exit the situation safely. https://www.rainn.org/articles/how-respond-if-someone-pressuring-you

• Remind yourself this isn’t your fault. 
• Trust your gut. 
• Have a code word. Develop a code with friends or family that means “I’m uncomfortable” or “I need help.”
• It’s okay to lie. If you are concerned about angering or upsetting this person, you can lie or make an excuse to create an exit. Think of an escape route. If you had to leave quickly, how would you do it? Locate the windows, doors, and any others means of exiting the situation.

Alcohol Safety: Like many other substances, alcohol can inhibit a person's physical and mental abilities. In the context of sexual assault, this means that alcohol may make it easier for a perpetrator to commit a crime and can even prevent someone from remembering that the assault occurred. https://www.rainn.org/articles/alcohol-safety Though it is best to stay safe while under the influence of alcohol, it’s important to remember that sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, regardless of whether they were sober or under the influence of drugs or alcohol when it occurred.

• Keep an eye on your friends. If you are going out in a group, plan to arrive together and leave together. If you decide to leave early, let your friends know. If you’re at a party, check in with them during the night to see how they’re doing. If something doesn’t look right, step in. Don’t be afraid to let a friend know if something is making you uncomfortable or if you are worried about their safety.
• Have a backup plan. Sometimes plans change quickly. You might realize it’s not safe for you to drive home, or the group you arrived with might decide to go somewhere you don’t feel comfortable. Keep the number for a reliable taxi company saved in your phone and on a piece of paper in your wallet and try to have cash on hand. It is also a good idea to download a few different rideshare apps on your phone. Having multiple options helps ensure that you will be able to get a ride home or to a safe location, even if the app you typically use is not functioning. To help keep your phone charged so you can stay in communication with friends or call a ride, consider bringing an external cell phone charger that can be used without an electrical outlet.
• Know what you’re drinking. Don’t recognize an ingredient? Use your phone to look it up. Consider avoiding large-batch drinks like punches that may have a deceptively high alcohol content. There is no way to know exactly what was used to create these drinks.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or worried for any reason, don’t ignore these feelings. Go with your gut. Get somewhere safe and find someone you trust, or call law enforcement.
• Don’t leave a drink unattended. That includes when you use the bathroom, go dancing, or leave to make a phone call. Either take the drink with you or throw it out. Avoid using the same cup to refill your drink.
• Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know or trust. This can be challenging in some settings, like a party or a date. If you choose to accept a drink from someone you’ve just met, try to go with the person to the bar to order it, watch it being poured, and carry it yourself.
• Check in with yourself. You might have heard the expression “know your limits.” Whether you drink regularly or not, check in with yourself periodically to register how you feel. If you think you have had too much, ask a trusted friend to help you get water or get home safely. Remember, if someone offers you a drink, you can always say no.
• Be aware of sudden changes in the way your body feels. Do you feel more intoxicated than you are comfortable with? Some drugs are odorless, colorless and/or tasteless, and can be added to your drink without you noticing. If you feel uncomfortable, tell a friend and have them take you to a safe place. If you suspect you or a friend has been drugged, call 911, and tell the healthcare professionals that you suspect you or a friend have been drugged so they can administer the right tests.

Even if you were consuming alcohol when a sexual assault occurred,
remember it was not your fault. You are not alone.

If you’ve experienced sexual assault, you’re not alone. To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.

Legal Disclaimer

The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) website provides general information that is intended, but not guaranteed, to be correct and up-to-date. The information is not presented as a source of legal advice. You should not rely, for legal advice, on statements or representations made within the website or by any externally referenced Internet sites. If you need legal advice upon which you intend to rely in the course of your legal affairs, consult a competent, independent attorney. RAINN does not assume any responsibility for actions or non-actions taken by people who have visited this site, and no one shall be entitled to a claim for detrimental reliance on any information provided or expressed.