Our ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advisors) will never put pressure on you to report and will not judge you but support whatever decision you make. There is no time limit to when you must report a sexual crime, so you may want to talk your options through with one of our ISVAs before making your decision.
If you do decide to report, your dedicated ISVA can help you along your legal journey all the way from reporting through to going to court, providing advice and information, discussing your options and liaising with other agencies that may be involved before and after the trial. They can also make referrals or signpost you for other specialist support you might request. Your ISVA will help you by:
“She helped me understand the process and never judged me or talked me into doing anything I didn’t want to do. I decided not to report but feel safe and able to put the past behind me. She made sure we took some time to build a relationship before court, she made sure I knew she was there for me, she called me by first name and challenged things at court to make sure I felt safe and was able to give my evidence.”
Jennifer talks about her experience of taking her abuser to court and how important her ISVA was in this process.
Shane talks about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and his experience working with one of our ISVAs.
IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
