What You Should Know
About Sexual Assault


Some Startling Facts Regarding Sexual Assault in Colorado

  • One in four women and one in seventeen men have experienced an attempted or completed sexual assault.
  • Most sexual assaults are committed by someone
  • the person knows.
  • On college campuses, sexual assault involves the use of alcohol or drugs 90% of the time.

  • Only 16% of rapes are reported to the police.

  • 61% of all rapes occurred before victims reached the age of eighteen years old.
  • Nearly one-third of rape victims will develop stress disorders as a direct result of the assault (at some time in their lifetime) increasing risk for serious alcohol and drug abuse problems and possible suicide attempts.
  • Sexual assault can happen to anyone, at any time, in any place. 

Reporting Options

In Colorado, survivors of adult sexual assault have three reporting options. Please note that these reporting options do not apply for minors (C.R.S. 19-3-304) and at-risk elders (C.R.S, 18-6.5-108), due to other mandatory reporting obligations. For individuals who do not fall under these two statutes, the three distinct reporting options survivors have at the time of receiving medical care are as follows:

Law Enforcement Report

When a victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam and chooses to participate in the criminal justice system at that time.

Medical Report

A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but at that time chooses to not participate in the criminal justice system. Evidence and information to law enforcement is released with victim identifying information. A medical reporting victim can choose to have evidence tested.

Anonymous Report

A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but at that time chooses to not participate in the criminal justice system. Evidence and information to law enforcement is released without victim identifying information. An anonymous reporting victim is consenting to evidence storage only.

Consent is clear, knowing and voluntary.

Consent is active, not passive.

Consent is a clear "Yes", not the Absence of "No".

Coercion is not consent.

© 2018 Clear Creek County Advocates