Rape Crisis Program

Thousands of rapes and sexual assaults are reported every year in New York State, yet it is estimated that only one in every six rapes is reported. The Department has taken a number of actions to improve the health system's response to sexual assault.

Rape Crisis Centers (RCCs)

With 55 projects providing services in 77 sites, rape crisis centers (RCCs) offer a variety of programs designed to prevent rape and sexual assault. The programs ensure that quality crisis intervention and counseling services, as well as a full range of indicated medical, forensic and support services, are available to victims of rape and sexual assault. RCCs provide:

  • 24-hour crisis hotline services,
  • client counseling,
  • medical and criminal justice accompaniment and advocacy,
  • sexual assault prevention and education programs, and
  • training of professionals, including the medical and criminal justice professions.
Counseling is provided to over 37,000 clients annually.

In conjunction with a panel of experts and advocates, the Department has updated and released a revised "Protocol for the Acute Care for the Adult Patient Reporting Sexual Assault." The Protocol is designed to ensure consistently high quality treatment of rape survivors as well as to facilitate proper collection of forensic evidence in hospital emergency rooms.

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Programs

The Sexual Assault Reform Act, enacted in FY 2000, significantly expanded the Department's role in addressing sexual assault. The legislation directs the Department to designate interested hospitals in the State as sites of 24-hour sexual assault forensic examiner (SAFE) programs. These hospitals will be centers of excellence for the provision of sexual assault services modeled upon the State's trauma centers.

The Department, in conjunction with an expert workgroup, has developed standards for certification of SAFE programs, individual sexual assault forensic examiners and training programs for sexual assault forensic examiners. The program and individual examiner standards and certification requirements for the SAFE initiative have been disseminated to all hospitals in New York State.

Additional Resources