ABSTRACT
This chapter presents what constitutes rape and sexual battery, along with some legal issues. It helps the reader to assemble a picture of sexual assault based on the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) databases. The chapter explains why one should be cautious about sexual violence statistics. It relates the theme of male domination or power to sexual battery and explains the stages in the crisis reaction repair cycle. The chapter talks about various legal reforms and evaluates whether they are working as intended. It describes the need for a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) approach and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. Once the attending physician or SANE has completed the forensic examination, the police investigator impounds the kit and submits it to the crime laboratory for evidence analysis. The medical examination addresses the immediate physical injuries, the prevention or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the possibility of pregnancy.
