Stranger Rape

Stranger Rape

3 Major Categories

1. Blitz sexual assault- The perpetrator rapidly and brutally assaults the victim with no prior contact. Blitz assaults usually occur at night in a public place.
2. Contact sexual assault- The suspect contacts the victim and tries to gain her or his trust and confidence before assaulting her or him. Contact perpetrators pick their victims in bars, lure them into their cars, or otherwise try to coerce the victim into a situation of sexual assault.
3. Home invasion sexual assault- When a stranger breaks into the victim's home to commit the assault.

Common Reactions

• Shock
• Numbness
• Loss of control
• Disorientation
• Helplessness
• Sense of vulnerability
• Fear
• Self-blame for "allowing" the crime to happen
• Feeling that these reactions are a sign of weakness

Reference:

This section was adapted from materials provided by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.