The term “sexual assault” is often used to describe unwanted sexual contact or behavior when a victim did not consent or was unable to consent. Consent for sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time. Something that started as consensual can turn into a crime if the withdrawal of consent is not respected.
“Consent” is a choice where a person agrees, by free will, to engage in sexual acts. Consent is not automatic if a person is, or has been, in a relationship with someone. Submission is not the same as consent, if a person submits (gives in) to a sex act out of fear, it does not mean consent was given. Consent cannot be given by someone who is asleep, intoxicated (drunk) or drugged, unconscious, forced, threatened, or by someone who is unable to communicate, is too young to consent, or who is cognitively impaired.
The Colorado law defining consent is here.
Sexual crimes are crimes of power and control. They are never the victim’s fault.
Colorado has laws against “Unlawful Sexual Behavior”, which include crimes of Sexual Assault and Unlawful Sexual Contact. Colorado laws address:
- Penetration of the victim’s body, commonly called rape
- Attempted rape
- Forcing someone to perform sexual acts
- Fondling or unwanted sexual touching
Sexual crimes are usually carried out by someone the victim knows. For example, a partner or spouse, family member, friend, acquaintance, or coworker. Sometimes sexual crimes are carried out by strangers.
Sometimes people use the word “rape” to mean different things. In Colorado the legal term used to describe rape is Sexual Assault.
Sexual Assault can happen with no physical force. Offenders may use threats. For example, offenders may threaten to hurt victims or their families in order to get a victim to cooperate. While a victim may say “yes” in this scenario, this is not consent.
If you or someone you know needs help on this topic, click here to find local and national agenciesclick here to find local and national agencies that may be able to help.
To see Colorado statutes on Sexual Assault and Unlawful Sexual Behavior, click here and here.
Local Resources
Blue Bench (The) (formerly RAAP)
Sexual assault services (hotline, hospital response, case management, counseling, safety)
Center for Trauma & Resilience (The) (formerly DCCV)
Supportive services for crime victims (counseling, trauma-sensitive yoga), legal services for VAWA immigration matters, translation and interpretation services.
Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Policy, training, and technical assistance on sexual assault.
Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
Colorado program to provide a confidential address for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Advocate Safehouse Project
Serves sexual assault and domestic violence survivors/victims in Garfield County. 24 hour helpline, safehouse, legal advocacy, support groups, safety planning, immigration assistance.
Advocates Against Domestic Assault
Serving Huerfano County. crisis intervention, emergency shelter, emergency cell phones, advocacy, and legal referrals.
Advocates for Victims of Assault
Serves Summit County, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, legal advocacy, 24 hr crisis line,
Advocates of Routt County
Serves Routt County, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, confidential safehouse, 24/hr crisis line, legal advocacy, community advocacy via trainings and SART and DVRT
-Advocates of Routt County supports and empowers all people impacted by sexual violence and abusive relationships; while disrupting all systems that tolerate and perpetuate such violence.
Alternative Horizons, Inc.
Serves Archuleta, La Plata, and San Juan County, Domestic Violecne, Sexual Assault, legal advocacy, individual counseling, support groups, LGBTQ, Interpersonal Violence support, 24hr crisis line
Alternatives to Violence Inc.
Alternatives to Violence provides shelter, advocacy, education and resources for people impacted by domestic violence , sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Arkansas Valley Resource Center
Serving Bent, Crowley and Otero counties. Crisis intervention, shelter, counseling, 24 hr hotline
Bright Future Foundation
Bright Future Foundation empowers families and individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. As Eagle County’s only community-based domestic violence and sexual assault agency, Bright Future serves clients with prevention, crisis intervention, advocacy, and long-term healing services.
Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (DOVE)
Services for members of the Colorado Deaf community who are survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Denver Health Medical Center SANE Program
Serving Denver, Adams, Araphahoe, and Jefferson counties by providing adolescent and Adult medical-forensic examination, forensic photography, suspect evidence collection
Denver Police Department Victim Services
Information, support, and referrals for victims of crime, witnesses, and their families.
Domestic Safety Resource Center
Serving Baca, Cheyenne, Prowers, and Kiowa counties. Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, crisis intervention and support, emergency shelter, emergency transportation, emergency cell phones, court and legal advocacy
Estes Valley Crisis Advocates
Located in Estes Park serving the Estes Valley area of Larimer County, providing advocacy services to survivors of crime and trauma including safe housing, counseling, referrals, and community education.
Haseya Advocate Program
The Haseya Advocate Program will serve Native victims and survivors in El Paso County to rise up from the oppressive nature of domestic and sexual violence by providing them with culturally sensitive and appropriate advocacy including safety planning, providing information about local remedies and resources, accompaniment, and problem solving.
Littleton Adventist Hospital
Serving Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln and Arapahoe Counties by providing medical-forensic examinations of adults, adolescents and suspect
Medical Center of Aurora
Serving Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln and Arapahoe Counties by providing medical-forensic examinations of adults, adolescents and suspects
Medical Center of the Rockies SANE Program
Serves Larimer County. Provides adult/adolescent/pediatric medical forensic examinations.
Mercy Regional Medical Center SANE
Provides adult/adolescent/pediatric medical forensic examinations
Mesa County SART -St Mary’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center Emergency Rm
Area(s)/Counties served: Mesa County, Western slope and Eastern Utah Services Provided: Medical-forensic exams of adults, adolescents and children
Muslim Family Services of Colorado
Victim advocacy and support services for the Muslim community in Colorado. Emergency assistance, training.
Open Heart Advocates
Serves Moffat County, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence. Safehouse, human trafficking, Latina outreach and immigration advocacy, crime victim services/advocacy, community outreach and education
Porter Adventist Hospital
Serving Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, and Jefferson counties by providing adolescent and Adult medical-forensic examination, forensic photography, suspect evidence collection
Project Hope of Gunnison
Serves Gunnison and Hinsdale counties. advocacy, emergency services, and access to legal aid. The mission of Project Hope of Gunnison Valley is to support, educate and provide confidential advocacy to individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking.
Project Safeguard
Legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Civil protection order assistance. Offices in Denver, Broomfield, Adams, and Arapahoe Counties (go to www.psghelps.org for contact information)
Pueblo Rape Crisis Services, Inc.
Rape Crisis Services
Renew, Inc.
At Renew Inc., our mission is to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. We offer crisis intervention, public education, and awareness to those in our community and beyond.
RESPONSE: Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Rise Above Violence
Serves Archulta county, Hinsdale, and South Mineral Counties, Sexual Assualt, Domestic Violence, court and legal advocates, emergency transportation to shelter, victim compensation, youth programming
Sexual Assault Interagency Council (SAIC)
Collaborative of organizations working to improve services for survivors of sexual assault in Denver.
Sexual Assault Response Advocates Inc. (SARA)
Serving Morgan, Logan, Washington, Yuma, Phillips, Sedgwick, Kit Carson counties. Provides the following sexual assault and advocacy services for victims of all ages:
- Confidential, trauma-informed advocacy
- Forensic interviewing
- Forensic medical examinations
- Trauma-focused therapy
- Culturally-specific and language-accessible outreach and advocacy
- Community Education
- Multi-disciplinary team coordination
- Help Line (24 hours/7 days a week)
- Referral of victims and their non-offending family members to mental health and other community services
- Temporary shelter for homeless teenage girls
Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO)
Located in Durango serving La Plata, San Juan, and Archuleta counties. Provides advocacy to Sexual Assault survivors. SASO is dedicated to providing advocacy to victims of sexual assault and providing education and prevention programs aimed at increasing public awareness and safety to stop sexual violence through an anti-oppression framework.
St. Anthony North Hospital SANE
Serving Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, and Jefferson counties by providing adolescent and Adult medical-forensic examination, forensic photography, suspect evidence collection
St. Anthony Summit Medical Center SANE
Area(s)/Counties served: Summit, Eagle, Clear Creek, Park, Lake, Grand, and Chaffee Counties by providing Adult/Adolescent/Children/Suspect medical – forensic examination, forensic photography
TESSA
Support services and advocacy for victims of partner and sexual violence in the Colorado Springs area.
The Alliance
The Alliance provides crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional and long term housing, legal advocacy, women and youth support group, community education and prevention activities for women, men and youth suffering from domestic and sexual violence in Salida, Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and related areas in Colorado.
The Initiative
Founded over 30 years ago, The Initiative (previously known as the Domestic Violence Initiative for Women with Disabilities or DVI) is the only organization in Colorado that focuses our services on the intersection of cross-disability issues and abuse. “Cross-disability” means that we serve people with all kinds of disabilities, including physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, mental-health, and health-related. Through our advocacy and outreach programs, The Initiative strives to create an abuse-free culture for all.
Tu Casa Inc.
Serves Alamosa County, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, crisis intervention, shelter services, and advocacy for victims
- 24-hour Crisis/Assistance Hotline
- assistance in filing and modifying protective orders, divorce and custody paperwork; court and Sexual Assault Nurse’s Exam (SANE) accompaniment
- assistance in accessing social services, housing and resources, including transportation and translation services
- access to emergency shelter, gas, supplies and relocation services, and emergency financial assistance for rent, mortgage or utilities
- coordination of the SLV CAC’s services, including: forensic interviewing, family advocacy, info. and referral, and play therapy
Voces Unidas for Justice
To provide an environment for Latinas embracing the richness of our identities while building empowerment & leadership around issues of justice, equality, & safety; with the main objectives of access to safety services, creating community-based advocacy for accessing social networks and services, and building community leadership in order to end domestic and sexual violence, and stalking for all people.
Volunteers of America: Southwest Safehouse
Serving La Plata County, Domestic Violence, safe house in Durango serving women and accompanied children.
Western Slope Center for Children
Provides full service child advocacy center and SANE facility.
Area(s)/Counties served: Mesa County, Western slope and Eastern Utah
Services Provided: Medical-forensic exams of adults, adolescents and children
Wings Foundation
Support for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
National Resources
1in6
Helps men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences which also includes serving family members, friends and partners by providing information and support resources.
Joyful Heart Foundation
Healing, education, and advocacy for victims of sexual assault.
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault
Women of Color working to end sexual assault.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
National hotline and online hotline (live chat) to support victims of sexual assault.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
National resource for sexual assault information, research, and research.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
National Anti-Sexual Violence Organization, hotline, education, public policy.
SurvJustice
Training and assistance on legal rights of victims of sexual assault. Campus sexual assault and Title IX information.
WomensLaw.org
Legal information (National) for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
