Sexual Violence Support Guide

Sexual assault can be any form of non-consensual contact that feels sexual. It can include, but is not limited to, unwanted touching including kissing, hugging, groping, attempted penetration, penetration, etc. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, sex, socioeconomic status, culture, religion, race, etc. It can happen once, multiple times, or over a long period of time. It can be committed by anyone, including (but not limited to): friends, strangers, intimate partners, family members, persons of authority, etc.

How should I be feeling? There is no “right” way to feel. Sexual assault can cause trauma, and can result in a variety of feelings, thoughts, sensations and emotions, both during and after the incident. Responses to highly stressful situations vary from person to person and not all people will experience the same reactions at the same level of intensity, nor for the same length of time. However, it is important to recognize that whatever the reaction is, it is a normal human response. At the back of this booklet, you will find a list of agencies and their contact information that may assist you during this difficult time.

Sexual assault offences include (but are not limited to): sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, sexual interference, voyeurism, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, etc. There is no statute of limitations on sexual violence – you can report to police at any time, and if police have sufficient evidence and grounds to arrest, historical sexual violence charges can be laid.

Consent can be defined as the voluntary agreement of a person to engage in sexual activity, where agreement is expressed both by words and/or by conduct/actions. You can express that you do not consent non-verbally by your actions, such as struggling or trying to stop/leave, pushing away, being stiff/still/frozen, etc. You can consent and then change your mind at any point during a sexual encounter. You can also agree to one kind of sexual activity but not other kinds. Consent must be given for each and every sexual act. Someone can be assaulted if they have engaged in sexual activity with the individual in the past. This does not mean that there is automatic consent for future sexual conduct.

You cannot give consent if:

• You are incapacitated by alcohol or drugs
• You feel threatened, intimidated, afraid, forced, frozen, etc.
• You are coerced (through intimidation, threats, misuse of authority, manipulating, bribing, etc)
• You have a disability that prevents you from making an informed choice.

If you are being assaulted, you can use reasonable force to defend yourself. Use the force that is necessary to protect yourself from the attacker and get away. Police will not charge you with assault if you were acting in self-defence or attempting to prevent the assault from happening. Compliance is not consent.

Consent, as defined above, also applies to anyone working in the sex trade. Anyone can be sexually assaulted at any time, by anyone. A sex trade worker can be assaulted by a client. Any sexual contact that is not consensually agreed upon is sexual assault.

• You may choose to report to police and provide a statement along with evidence. This does not mean police will automatically lay charges (see “Sexual Assault Investigations” for more information). In Canada, there is no statute of limitations for sexual offences. You may report to police at any time, regardless of when the assault occurred.
• It is a good choice to seek medical/emotional care and/or have a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit completed at the hospital. The hospital will not call police unless you ask them to. You do not have any obligation to seek police assistance (see Medical Care for more information).
• You may choose to refrain from taking any action however, it is recommended that you reach out for medical attention and support. Sexual assault charges are victim-led in most cases, which means you may make a report or provide a statement to police without proceeding with criminal charges. The perpetrator can be cautioned and spoken to, or they can be unaware of the report altogether. This may be different in cases where the perpetrator is your intimate partner, if you are a person under 16, or there is a significant risk to public safety. Please see "Intimate Partner Violence and "Youth and Sexual Assault" for more information.
• You can choose to take civil action against the perpetrator outside of the criminal justice system. In this case, you can represent yourself in court, however you should consult a lawyer for further instruction.
• Crime Stoppers Guelph-Wellington is an anonymous reporting platform for all types of crimes. If you have witnessed a sexual assault, or have knowledge of an assault that has occurred, you can report this anonymously through Crime Stoppers. If you do decide to report through Crime Stoppers, you should keep this private and not tell anyone you have made a report. It will be kept on file, and you will be provided with a reference number once reported.

After reporting, who will investigate and how?

If police are called shortly after the assault, front line officers will arrive at the location, assess your physical and emotional condition, and request an ambulance or support if required. They will secure the scene and preserve/protect any physical evidence. They will conduct a brief interview to obtain basic details of the event and, if possible, obtain a video/audio statement from you and any possible witnesses. They will advise you of your option to have Victim Services Wellington attend or ask if you would like to attend the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre at the Guelph General Hospital. If required, police may need to interview others who were aware of the incident or who were possible witnesses. Police may also request a review of your phone and or social media records. However, this is voluntary and not required.

If the perpetrator is present and police identify reasonable grounds to lay charges, they will be arrested and transported to the station (if you choose to proceed with criminal charges). If the perpetrator is not present, police will advise you of next steps around charges and possible apprehension. Police will talk to you about preserving physical evidence by asking you not to bathe, clean the area where the crime happened, wash the clothing worn during the assault, etc. In addition, they will offer to help you get to the hospital to talk to a nurse about a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) (see Medical Care for more information around process). If you choose to complete the SAEK, it can be stored at the hospital for a period of one year. Police may ask you to sign a medical release form, so they are able to view the results of the kit for the criminal court process (this step is completely voluntary – see Medical Care for more information).

Police or Victim Services Wellington will transport you to a place of safety and ensure you have adequate physical and emotional support. A detective in the Sexual Assault Unit is responsible for follow up and/or additional investigation. They will be in contact with you in the coming days.

If the report is historical, front-line officers may take your initial statement and provide information. The investigation will then be passed on to the Sexual Assault Unit for further investigation and follow up. If you have questions during this time about the status of your investigation, or if you have not heard from the Sexual Assault Unit for follow up, you have the right to contact them directly for clarification. If the sexual assault occurred in a different jurisdiction than one in which you made your report, it will be forwarded to the division in that specific area for further investigation and follow up.

If you decide to pursue criminal charges, and police find reasonable and probable grounds to lay charges, the perpetrator will be arrested. Often, the accused will be released from custody after arrest. They will either be released from the station with conditions to abide by, or they will be held for a bail hearing in front of a Judge or Justice of the Peace. These conditions will often include a ‘no contact order,’ which means that the accused cannot contact you directly or indirectly. They may not be able to attend your home, school, place of work, or anywhere you frequent, and there may be a restriction on how many meters the accused will need to stay away from you. If the accused breaches any of the conditions in their release order, they will be subject to re-arrest and additional criminal charges may be laid.

Sometimes police will decide not to lay a charge – this does not mean that the sexual assault did not happen. It may mean that there is not enough evidence to prove a criminal charge in court. There may be other options available to you such as taking civil action, applying for a peace bond or restraining order, etc. In these cases, it is best to consult a lawyer. If the perpetrator is not apprehended, the case will be closed. However, your case can be reopened at any time pending any new evidence or information.

Domestic or intimate partner violence is any use of physical or sexual force, actual or threatened, in a current or former intimate relationship. Intimate relationships include those between opposite and same sex partners, and can vary in duration and legal formality, which can include current and former dating, common law, and married couples.

There is a provincial mandate that directs all police in Ontario to proceed with criminal charges specifically related to domestic and intimate partner violence. If it is determined that a sexual assault within an intimate relationship has been committed, and reasonable grounds are established, police must proceed with charges regardless of the complainant’s wishes. However, police are extremely aware of the personal and private nature of sexual assault cases and evidence, and as such, will take into consideration your thoughts, concerns, and wishes regarding laying sexual-related charges. They will have an in-depth discussion with you regarding how to proceed. Only the Crown Attorney can withdraw a charge once laid, however they will only do so after careful consideration of the investigation, evidence, and case as a whole.

The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre at the Guelph General Hospital is a team of specially trained individuals that include nurses, social workers, administrative persons and a trauma therapist. You may access the centre both immediately after a sexual assault incident through the emergency department, or at a later time for follow up care. The centre will not report to police without consent from the victim. If the centre obtains information about sexual violence with a person under the age of consent, they have a duty to report to Family and Children’s Services. See “Youth and Sexual Assault” for information on age of consent.

If you are accessing medical supports immediately after a sexual assault, the intake is through the Emergency Department. If you disclose that you have been sexually assaulted or have been injured as a result of intimate partner violence, you will be offered to have a sexual assault/domestic violence nurse paged to meet you within the hour. If you need to be seen by a physician as you have injuries, the nurse will arrive after your medical care has been provided. If you do not need to be seen by a physician, the nurse will take you upstairs to a more comfortable, private, medical setting.

If you are accessing supports for follow up care from the centre, you can call and make an appointment with the administrative assistant who will assess your needs and book you in with an appropriate person such as a nurse or counselor. If you have sought support through another agency (ie. Victim Services Wellington), that agency may make a referral on your behalf and the centre will reach out to you to make an appointment.

Medical care can be provided in the form of, but not limited to: testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV (and preventative medications), Hepatitis, emergency contraceptives if pregnancy is a concern, and medical attention for other injuries (i.e.. bruising/soft tissue damage, cuts/scrapes/lacerations, etc.). There can also be ongoing follow up care for the centre or referrals to specialists as well as follow up emotional support through counseling.

Participation in any of the above-mentioned practices or engagement with the program is completely voluntary, and there is no age of consent to obtain medical care.

The Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) is designed to collect and preserve possible evidence that can be used in a criminal investigation. It is never required to have an SAEK collected. However medical care is always recommended. The SAEK is collected by sexual assault nurse examiners specifically trained in the collection and documentation of evidence. There are 11 possible steps, all of which may be implemented depending on what happened during the assault; the nurse will explain each step and together you will decide if you would like to proceed. These steps can include:

• Clothing collection
• Oral/fingernail/skin swabs
• Blood and urine samples
• Public hair combing
• Internal/external genital swabs
• Photographs and documentation of injuries

These steps can potentially collect physical evidence (the offender's DNA) and this may aid in identifying the offender and/or confirming physical contact occurred. The details of the assault will also be documented on the SAEK forms.

If a SAEK is completed, it can be transferred directly to the police after collection at the request and signed consent of the victim. However, if the victim is undecided about reporting the assault/pursuing charges, the SAEK may be stored at the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre for a period of up to one year (it can be stored longer at the request of the victim). If you decide to provide the SAEK to police for investigation, it may be sent to the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto for analysis. They will work to obtain a DNA profile of the offender(s). However, it is important to know that not all SAEKs will determine sufficient DNA to create a profile. DNA evidence is not necessary for a sexual assault conviction and DNA is only one piece of evidence in an investigation. Other types of evidence will also be considered.

The laws around sexual assault and youth pertain to ages of consent. A person is not able to give consent if:

• The survivor is 12/13 years old, and the perpetrator is 2+ years older
• The survivor is 14/15 years old, and the perpetrator is 5+ years older a
• The survivor is 16/17 years old, and the person is in a position of trust, or authority.
• If anyone is under the age of 18 and the sexual relationship is exploitative in nature, or the perpetrator is in a position of authority, trust or dependence, there is never consent and the sexual activity is illegal.

Initial Process - Once charges have been laid, the accused will be required to attend court for several appearances. During this time, the accused will receive disclosure (the contents of the police investigation), may retain a lawyer or utilize duty counsel, and will decide how to proceed moving forward (plead guilty or not guilty, set a trial date, schedule a preliminary hearing, etc.). If the accused intends to plead not guilty, a date will be set for a trial, and a Crown Attorney will be assigned to the case. If a trial date is set, you may be required to testify in trial. If the accused pleads guilty, a date for sentencing will be set. In this case, you will not be required to testify as there is no trial. You will have an opportunity to complete a Victim Impact Statement (see “Victim Impact Statements”).

While the Crown Attorney considers your input in the case, they are not your lawyer; they are responsible for representing the community as a whole. As such, the information you share with them is not confidential. You do not require a lawyer, you are the victim in this case and the Crown Attorney is responsible for the conduct of the prosecution.

Your case will be referred to the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP). They are based in the courthouse and will assign you a worker to guide you through the court process. The role of your worker will be to inform you of the status of your criminal case, help you understand what to expect, provide you with copies of important documents, offer emotional support, coordinate with and provide victim input to the Crown Attorney, assist in completing a Victim Impact Statement, advocate and coordinate supports and provide community referrals, and assist in trial/preliminary hearing preparation if you are required to testify.

If you are a youth, your case will be referred to the Child Witness Centre (police will make this referral on your behalf). Children and youth will receive an individualized assessment by their case worker who has knowledge related to child development, children’s mental health, and the judicial process. The worker will ensure that each youth and their caregiver(s) will receive services to meet their needs.

The length of the court case will vary considerably depending on a number of factors. If the accused intends to plead guilty, the process will finish more quickly. Typically, court matters will be completed in 2.5-3 years maximum. If the court finds the accused guilty, sentencing will be scheduled. There are different types of sentencing that vary depending on the severity of the crime(s). Your Victim/Witness Assistance Program worker will be able to provide you with additional information around sentencing and what to expect after trial.

A Victim Impact Statement is utilized in sentencing to explain the fears for safety and security, emotional, physical, and financial impact that the crime has had on your life. It provides you with a voice in the court process to explain how the crime has affected you and the impact that it has had on various aspects of your life. The statement is voluntary, and you have an opportunity to either read the statement aloud in court, or written copies may be provided to the Crown Attorney, the prosecution, and the judge. Your Victim/Witness Assistance Program worker can assist you in completing this statement, as well as advise you of the best time to submit it within the court proceedings.

After the first court date, the Crown Attorney may be able to apply for an order banning the publication of any evidence that may identify you, which may include your name. Section 486 of the Criminal Code advises that a Judge may prohibit the publication of identifying factors of both the victim(s) and the witness(es).

The Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) provides short-term financial support toward essential expenses for victims, their immediate family members and witnesses in the immediate aftermath of a violent crime to help reduce the impact of the crime, enhance safety, and meet immediate practical needs. The VQRP+ program is administered and accessed through Victim Services Wellington, and the eligibility criteria and available supports can be discussed by connecting with the office staff (See "Resources" for contact information).

Eligible supports may include, but are not limited to, cell phones, home safety measures, emergency accommodation, counseling, crime scene clean up, transportation, basic necessities etc.

There is no longer a limitation period for civil lawsuits for crimes related to sexual assault (similar to criminal cases). In a civil case, the survivor often has more control over how the case proceeds. In a criminal case, the decisions are determined by the Crown Attorney, whereas in a civil case, the victim is responsible for making the decision on how the case moves forward in the court system. In a civil case, the survivor may choose to consult a lawyer, and if they choose to retain the lawyer they must pay for legal fees. There is also a possibility that if the survivor does not win the case, they could be responsible for paying a portion of the defendant's legal fees.

Below is a list, brief overview and contact card, of the resources in Guelph/Wellington that are able to assist and support survivors of sexual violence.

Victim Services Wellington: 

• Access to VQRP+ for emergency needs (safety, transportation, accommodation, counseling, etc.). See “VQRP+” for additional information
• Safety planning and service coordination, short term case management
• Connections and referrals to community supports
• Assistance and support around police involvement, as well as access to services without police involvement

Tel: (519) 824-1212 ext. 7304

Email: victim@vswguelph.on.ca

Victim Services Wellington Guelph website

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre, Guelph General Hospital

• Services available 24/7 through the Emergency Department
• Medical and emotional care
• Private, confidential, non-judgemental
• Trauma informed, victim centered
• Administration of Sexual Assault Evidence Kit
• Short term crisis trauma counseling/therapy
• Referrals to other community supports
• Services are free

Tel: (519) 837-6440 ext. 42728 (business hours) ext. 2210 (after hours)

Guelph General Hospital website

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis

• Individual and group counseling for women 16+ who have/are currently experiencing any form of sexual violence with the Sexual Assault Centre
• Offers support to families, partners and friends of survivors
• Services are free, interpreters available
• Sexual Violence counseling for University of Guelph staff and students
• Support in accessing Marianne's Place Shelter
• 24/7 Crisis Line
• Rural Women's Support Program for women in Wellington County (locations in Fergus, Palmerston, and Mount Forest)
• Referrals to other community supports
• Programs: family Court Support, Transitional Housing Support, Anti-Human Trafficking Support

Tel: (519) 836-1110 (business hours), (519) 836-5710 (crisis line and shelter) or 1-800-265-7233 (24/7 crisis line and shelter)

Email: adminrec@gwwomenincrisis.org

Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis website

Compass Community Services

• Individual and group counseling
• Publicly funded programs (Child and Youth Sexual Assault Team, Violence Against Women)
• Sliding scale for fees as well as geared to income programs
• Access to programs for all genders and sexes
• Locations in Guelph and Wellington County (Guelph, Fergus, Mount Forest)

Tel: (519) 824-2431

Compass CS website

Child Witness Centre 

• Provide support throughout the duration of the court process.
• See “Victim/Witness Assistance Program”

Tel: (519) 744-0904

Child Witness Centre website

Services at the University of Guelph 

Couple and Family Therapy Centre (Public)

Tel: (519) 824-4120 ext. 56426

University of Guelph Couples and Family Therapy Centre website

Counseling Services (for students)

Tel: (519) 824-4120 ext. 53244

University of Guelph Counselling page

Sexual Violence Support Coordinator (for students)

Email: svinfo@uoguelph.ca

University of Guelph Sexual Violence website