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Office of Domestic Violence Strategies

Sexual violence resources

Find local resources for people impacted by domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence.

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About sexual violence

What is sexual violence?

Sexual violence is broadly defined as any sexual act performed without a person’s consent.

Sexual violence can happen to anyone. It can affect a person regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, disability, religion, etc. Sexual violence is wrong and never the victim’s fault.

What behavior or acts are considered sexual violence?

Sexual violence can include acts involving physical contact, such as unwanted touching, fondling, or penetration, as well as non-physical acts like coercion, threats, or forcing a person to view sexual content.

  • Rape and sexual assault: Forcing or coercing someone to have sex or be touched in an intimate way without their consent.
  • Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual behavior that makes a hostile environment. It can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, or electronic.
  • Tech-enabled sexual abuse: Sexually abusive or exploitative behavior committed through technology or artificial intelligence. Examples include revenge porn or deepfakes.
  • Grooming: Building trust with a vulnerable person to sexually exploit them.
  • Commercial sexual exploitation: Coercing, forcing, or manipulating someone into sexual acts for financial profit. Also called sex trafficking.

Support for you or someone else

If you need help now

If you experienced a sexual assault, call 911.

If you believe that you are or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, but want to speak with someone before getting medical or police attention:

In Philadelphia

WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence

Outside Philadelphia

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

If you are a witness to an assault or know about a plan for a future assault

  • Emergency: Call 911
  • Non-emergency: Contact the Philadelphia Police Department at (215) 686-3388.

Medical help

Where to get medical help and forensic examination after a sexual assault:

Philadelphia Sexual Assault Resource Center (PSARC)

Who: Survivors 16 and older can get support at PSARC.

Where: 300 E. Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19124

PSARC is in the same building as the Special Victims Unit (SVU) of the Philadelphia Police Department to make it easier to file a police report, should survivors choose to do so. PSARC is housed in a separate space to provide survivors with privacy and confidentiality.

Phone:

The nearest hospital

Anyone can get help at a hospital after a sexual assault. If you’re helping a child younger than 18 who experienced sexual assault, a children’s hospital is the recommended resource:

  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
    3401 Civic Center Blvd.
    Philadelphia, PA 19104
  • St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
    160 E. Erie Ave.
    Philadelphia, PA 19134

The hospital will do a physical exam and then offer the option to complete a forensic sexual exam there or at PSARC.

Forensic sexual exams

You can choose to get a forensic sexual examination, also known as a rape kit, at PSARC or at a hospital. You’ll be examined by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), a registered nurse specifically trained to provide medical care and collect forensic evidence from sexual assault survivors.

A SANE will assess and treat injuries, screen for sexually transmitted infections, and provide emergency contraception. They can also gather evidence kits by documenting injuries with photographs and body maps, and collecting urine, fingernail scrapings, or clothing debris.

Adults have the option of getting a rape kit anonymously. This means you can get the forensic exam with evidence collection without making a police report.

Police reports

How to file a police report

Adults can choose whether they want to make a police report or not following a sexual assault. If you don’t want to file a police report, you can still get legal protection from an assailant.

By phone

Call 911

In person

Philadelphia’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) office
300 East Hunting Park
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 685-3251

An officer may escort you to PSARC to collect evidence.

If you want an advocate for emotional support, contact the WOAR Sexual Assault Hotline at (215) 985-3333.

How to follow up on a report to law enforcement

Legal protection options

If you want legal protection from an assailant but don’t want to file a police report:

  • A Protection from Sexual Violence and Intimidation (PSVI) order is a civil court order that can protect someone from the person who sexually assaulted them.
  • A Protection from Abuse (PFA) order protects a survivor from a current or former intimate partner, family member, or certain household member.

These agencies can assist with filing for protection:

Court advocates

If your assailant was arrested and you need to go to court, an advocate can come with you. You can receive assistance from:

Protections and rights for survivors of sexual violence

Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are protected by city, state, and federal laws. In Philadelphia, survivors:

To learn more, visit the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

Housing

Counseling

Where to get counseling after experiencing sexual violence

Counseling for children who experienced sexual assault

Counseling for past assaults

Experiencing sexual violence can be traumatic and take time to process and heal. Counseling is available when you’re ready to speak with a professional, even if the assault wasn’t recent.


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