Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

​Rape Crisis and Prevention

If you are a victim/survivor or the significant other of a victim/survivor, contact your local sexual violence center for free and confidential crisis counseling and intervention. Available 24 hours a day. In addition to crisis counseling, your local sexual violence center provides: individual and supportive counseling; hospital, court and police accompaniment; prevention education within schools and the community; and information and referral services.

Where to Find Help

  • A Guide to Victim's Assistance 
    Learn about the resources available to victims after abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or other crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, simple and aggravated assault, harassment, theft, and homicide

  • Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) 
    Call: (888) 772-PCAR (Toll-free)
    PCAR is a nonprofit organization working at the state and national levels to prevent sexual violence. Founded in 1975, PCAR continues to use its voice to challenge public attitudes, raise public awareness, and effect critical changes in public policy, protocols, and responses to sexual violence. To provide quality services to victims/survivors of sexual violence and their significant others, PCAR works in concert with its statewide network of 52 sexual violence centers serving all 67 counties. The centers also work to create public awareness and prevention education within their communities.

General Information

What is sexual violence?

Sexual violence violates a person's trust and feeling of safety. It occurs any time a person is forced, coerced, and/or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity. The continuum of sexual violence includes rape, incest, child sexual assault, ritual abuse, date and acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape, sexual exploitation, sexual contact, sexual harassment, exposure, and voyeurism. It is estimated that one out of every four girls and one out of every six boys will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday.

How can I help end sexual violence?

  • Always believe victims of sexual violence.
  • Volunteer your time at your local sexual violence center.
  • Send hand-written letters to your local, state and federal legislators. Ask them to support legislation that extends the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases, provides funding to test all rape evidence kits, and allocates money to sexual violence services.
  • Confront people who tell sexist jokes and make sexist comments, and tell them that those attitudes lead to sexual violence. (Yes, men can do this, too!)
  • Teach the children in your life to have respect for others and for their choices. Explain to them what sexual violence is and the various ways it occurs. Call 1-888-772-PCAR for a free CD and magazine to help facilitate the discussion.
  • Encourage your school district's teachers, principals, and school board members to include sexual violence prevention education in school. (Your local sexual violence center can provide this education for free)