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Sexual assault: what it is and what to do

Updated Oct 21, 2026

Sexual assault is any sexual contact or behavior that happens without clear, freely given consent. It includes rape, attempted rape, unwanted touching, and sexual contact with someone who can't consent because they're asleep, intoxicated, underage or being threatened. If it happened to you, it is not your fault, and you have options: medical care, confidential support, reporting to police, reporting to an institution, and civil legal action.

What counts as sexual assault

Exact legal definitions vary by state and country, but sexual assault generally covers:

• Rape and attempted rape: penetration of any kind without consent.
• Unwanted sexual touching (sometimes called sexual battery or indecent assault), over or under clothing.
• Sexual contact with someone who can't consent: because of age, intoxication, unconsciousness, disability, or force or threats.
• Coercion by someone with power over you: a boss, teacher, coach, doctor, clergy member, guard or officer who uses their position to pressure you.

Consent has to be clear, ongoing and freely given. Silence, a past relationship, or not fighting back is not consent.

What to do after a sexual assault

1. Get to a safe place. Call 911 if you're hurt or in danger, or reach out to someone you trust.
2. Consider medical care. A hospital can treat injuries, offer emergency contraception and medicine to prevent HIV and other infections, and perform a forensic exam (often called a "rape kit") with a specially trained nurse. Evidence is usually best collected within about 72 to 120 hours, but you can get care at any time.
3. The exam is free and doesn't require a police report. Under federal law, states must provide forensic exams at no cost, and you can choose later whether to involve police.
4. Preserve evidence if you can. If possible, avoid showering or changing clothes before an exam, and keep texts, messages, photos and anything else that shows what happened or how the person contacted you.
5. Write down what you remember when you're ready: dates, places, people present, and anyone you told afterward.
6. Get support. RAINN (800-656-4673) can connect you to a local rape crisis center, which can send an advocate to the hospital, police station or court with you.

Your reporting options

• Police: you can report to law enforcement, now or later. Criminal time limits vary, and many states have extended or eliminated them for rape and child sexual abuse.
• The institution involved: if it happened at work, school, a church, a medical practice, a youth program or a government facility, you can report to HR, a Title IX office, leadership or an oversight agency. Many of the cases on this site began with reports that institutions ignored, so keep copies of what you submit and the responses you get.
• Confidentially, to an advocate: you can tell the Hollywood Council for Restorative Justice what happened, anonymously, or you can call a rape crisis center.

Civil lawsuits: holding institutions accountable

Separate from any criminal case, survivors can sue the person who assaulted them and, often, the institution that enabled it, for example by hiring someone with known complaints, ignoring warnings or covering up abuse. These suits have produced some of the largest settlements in American legal history: USC, Michigan State and USA Gymnastics, Catholic dioceses, the Boy Scouts and Los Angeles County. Many states have opened "lookback windows" that let survivors file claims that were once too old. Deadlines vary widely, so if you're considering a lawsuit, talk to a lawyer soon. See how to find a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

More help

• What to do after a rape
• Finding a sexual harassment lawyer
• Report anonymously to the Hollywood Council for Restorative Justice