Citation
II, J.W.C. (2014), "Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 37 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2014-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
Article Type: Policing on the web From: Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Volume 37, Issue 2
Law enforcement officials often encounter victims who have been through the unthinkable. At those times, it is imperative that such officers be able to refer victims to appropriate resources. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, or RAINN, offers several services that can assist victims of sexual assault, rape and incest, as well as the general public. These resources fall into two primary categories: hotlines and education.
RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline which offers free services to victims of sexual violence. When a victim contacts the hotline's national telephone number (1-800-656-HOPE), the call goes to the nearest RAINN-affiliated crisis center, each of which is staffed by RAINN-trained volunteer counselors. Nationwide, RAINN has more than 1,100 trained volunteer counselors available to assist victims of sexual violence. These calls are confidential and anonymous unless the victim wishes to provide identifying information.
In addition to the phone-based hotline, RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, accessible via the agency's web site. The online hotline uses a text based live-chat system to provide free counseling services to victims of sexual assault. These services are offered confidentially and anonymously − no IP addresses are recorded, no transcripts of chat sessions are recorded and all data are encrypted to insure privacy and confidentiality.
Educating victims and the general public about sexual violence is also part of the mission of the RAINN. Through RAINN's web site and the web site for the online hotline one can access statistics concerning sexual violence, tip-sheets for reducing one's risk of sexual assault or even tip-sheets for identifying various forms of sexual assault. One particularly interesting section includes information concerning male victims of sexual violence. The web site for RAINN's online hotline provides several links to information group by consumer. For example, one can obtain information intended to assist victims or information intended to assist family and friends of victims.
In conclusion, the web site for the RAINN is a resource that can assist law enforcement officers in locating services for victims of sexual violence. Whether one needs counseling services or just some information regarding sexual violence RAINN's web site can serve as a starting point for those needing assistance.
J.W. Carter II
Department of Criminology, College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
About the author
Dr J.W. Carter II received his BA in Criminal Justice with a concentration in law enforcement in 1995 from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. He completed his MS in Criminal Justice in 1997 which he also received from Marshall University. In 2011, Dr Carter completed his PhD in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. His doctoral dissertation examined the responses of local law enforcement to the growing threat of internet crime. In 2012, Dr Carter became a certified instructor of the ALiCE program. Since that time, Dr Carter and two of his colleagues have trained over 600 members of the Mount community to survive an active shooter situation. His current research focusses on developing innovative pedagogical approaches to criminal justice and criminology. He is also interested in internet crime. In his spare time, Dr Carter is an avid book collector who enjoys exploring dusty used book stores. Dr J.W. Carter II can be contacted at: mailto:James_Carter@mail.msj.edu