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Our Philosophy

Violence and oppression are conditions that we believe must be uprooted in order to end domestic and sexual violence. White supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, colonialism and dominance must be addressed if we hope to end violence and abuse against all people.

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any sexual contact forced upon a person against their will and when a victim is unable to consent due to status, incapacitation, age, illness, disability, or the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Status” is a catch all term to reflect the large number of individuals that are unable to consent to sexual contact according to Montana criminal law. For a full list, access the current Montana Code annotated statute.

Types of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence, as defined by Montana’s criminal code, includes indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, and aggravated sexual intercourse without consent. These are defined in Montana law and can be found here. Other sexual offenses including sexual abuse of children and exploitation are defined in Montana criminal code here

Sexual violence may involve actual or threatened physical force but it can also be verbal coercion, intimidation, or pressure.

Perpetrators may be a stranger, friend, family member, or intimate partner, but, according to the 2000 National Crime Victimization Survey, most perpetrators know their victims.

 

**This page provides limited information about domestic and sexual violence in order to offer a baseline understanding of what this violence and abuse may look like in an individual’s lived experience. It is not meant to cover all of the issues we address or the needs of the reader.**

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MCADSV does not provide direct services. If you are in immediate danger,
call 911 and ask for emergency assistance. Otherwise, please contact your local
program to learn about their services.