Remember - sexual assault by someone you know, including sexual assault by your spouse, is a crime (California Penal Code, Section 262). The police will need all the information you can give them to apprehend and prosecute your attacker. Provide this and any information regarding possible witnesses to the police. Write down what you remember about his appearance, his car, and the direction he went when he left you. If possible, take a change of clothes with you to the hospital. The police will assist you in obtaining medical attention to determine the extent of your injuries, rule out pregnancy and/or possible sexually transmitted diseases, and collect evidence. Do NOT touch, move, destroy, or discard anything at the crime scene.Do NOT bathe, douche, or comb your hair.In order to prevent the destruction of evidence that may be used to convict your attacker(s): If you are the victim of a sexual assault: You should be aware that despite official restraint of the person alleged to have committed domestic violence, the restrained person may be released at any time. The officers will then be able to take the necessary action. The officer will explain the procedure to you and ask you to sign the private person's arrest form, which the officer will provide. Under certain circumstances, officers cannot make arrests themselves but may ask you to make a private party arrest. Orange County Human Relations - (714) 480-6580.If possible, write down a description of the perpetrator and the perpetrator’s vehicle.Get the name(s), address(es) and phone number(s) of other victims and witnesses.Take photographs of the evidence, writing down exactly what was said, particularly any words that indicate bias motivation, and other information that may be valuable Do not touch, remove or clean up anything Be sure to keep all medical documentation Otherwise, call the non-emergency line at (714) 754-5252 to make a report Examples – the distribution of non-threatening racist flyers in a public place displaying non-threatening anti-gay or lesbian placards at a parade or funeral writing a letter to the editor ridiculing people with disabilities painting racist graffiti on a freeway overpass. If this type of activity escalates to threats being made or carried out against a person or property, or becomes an incitement to commit violence it would be classified as a hate crime. Typically these behaviors are protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. These crimes include, but are not limited to, racist, homophobic, and/or religious graffiti, destruction of other religious symbols, cross burnings, physical assaults, or criminal threats of violence against an individual or a group.Ī hate incident is behavior that is motivated by hate or bias towards a person’s actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation but that is not criminal in nature. Hate Crime What is a hate crime?Ī hate crime (California Penal Code, Section 422.6) is an act, an attempted act, or a threatened act by any person or group of persons to cause physical injury, emotional suffering or property damage against the person of property of another individual or group which is or appears to be motivated, all or in part, by race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The local police agency will investigate any criminal conduct and file appropriate charges with the District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution. The victim of domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, or any other abuse or assault that results in great bodily injury should file a criminal report with the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the incident. The Adult Abuse Service is a County of Orange Social Services Agency service that provides aid in circumstances involving elder abuse or abuse to dependent adults. ![]() Below are external resources available to victims of crime not accessed through the Costa Mesa Police Department. ![]() The Costa Mesa Police Department enforces laws designed to protect the victims of domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, hate crimes, and other types of abuse.
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