
Rape is the only violent crime in Utah that has a higher rate than the national average according to the Health Indicator Report of Sexual Violence
Lori Jenkins, sexual assault services director at The Refuge Utah
Jenkins said Utah has the 11th highest number of cases of sexual assault and rape in the country. However, a lot of people don't think it could happen to them, their children, their siblings or their friends.
'Happy valley'
Jenkins said many people think because Utah doesn't have more populated cities such as New York City, sexual assault or rape won't happen here in 'happy valley.' However, she said the statistic of Utah having the 11th highest rates of sexual assault and rape in the country shows it can happen anywhere, at any time, including Utah.

According to 2016 Stats of Sexual Assault Among Utah Women
Jenkins said many Utahns, including BYU students will go on famous dating apps like Mutual, an LDS dating app that launched in 2016. Many people will sometimes be too trusting of the people on the apps, she said. For example, seeing mission pictures or pictures of someone with a niece and nephew may cause both men and women to be too trusting since these people seem to have the same values as them.
However, dating apps might not be as safe as people think they are. While people shouldn't distrust everyone, it might be good to be cautious of who they do trust, Jenkins said.
Furthermore, according to Stats of Sexual Assault Among Utah Women

Rape and sexual assault is only a 'women problem'
Lisa Leavitt, lead advocate for BYU's Sexual Assault Survivor Advocacy Series

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
False reporting
According to Title IX
Statistics from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
'Stranger in the bushes'

Leavitt said one of the biggest misconceptions people have is that 'the stranger in the bushes is going to jump out and attack somebody,' but she said that is rarely the case.
Approximately 90% of all sexual assault cases consist of the perpetrator being someone the survivor knows, whether it be someone in their intimate relationship, a family member, a friend or even a co-worker, Leavitt said.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
'If you're in a relationship and you're sexually assaulted over and over again, you must have wanted it.'
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Leavitt said another prevalent, common misconception is that those who are in a relationship and are sexually assaulted multiple times must have wanted it. If someone is in an abusive relationship, Leavitt said it is far from a normally functioning one. Therefore, manipulation and coercion can be normal, leading to the person being assaulted multiple times while in a relationship before they can finally reach out for help.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
Consent and intimate relationships
Jenkins said people have a misconception that if the victim didn't yell, fight or run away, they were consenting to the rape or sexual assault.
However, most people don't know that the most natural body response for people who experience sexual assault or rape, or are facing any form of danger is to freeze, Jenkins said. When someone freezes, their body tenses up and they are unable to move, scream or fight. According to The Washington Post

Leavitt said there are many misconceptions and myths around what consent means. Consent, she said, consists of a mutual agreement by both parties to do what it is they're about to do intentionally.
Consent is verbally saying the word yes, and this is the only way to know if someone is consenting, Jenkins said.
'If it's anything other than that, it is not consensual,' Leavitt said.
Victim blaming
'Victim blaming is still a thing and will probably always be a thing,' Turley said.
The misconception that women or men get sexually assaulted or raped based on what they are wearing is common, Jenkins said.
Sexual assault is one of the few crimes where the victim is put on trial and people try to figure out why and how it's their fault, Jenkins said. 'What were you wearing, what time did you go out, and were you drinking?' are all common questions that are asked.
Jenkins said many people tend to shift the blame onto the victim. She said asking victims what they were wearing and what time they were out makes it seem like it's their fault, when in reality, it is never, ever the victim's fault.
Responsibility needs to be shifted onto the perpetrators, not the victims
'One of the biggest problems that I come across is that our society still gives women almost 100% responsibility for stopping sexual assault,' Leavitt said, adding that the responsibility needs to be shifted onto the perpetrators, not the women.

Jenkins also said perpetrators need to be held responsible for their actions.
'We need to put the blame where the blame belongs with the perpetrators and we need to follow up with electing people and backing people that will hold perpetrators accountable,' Jenkins said.
According to the Health Indicator Report of Sexual Violence
Leavitt said there is more that can be done. 'There is misplaced responsibility, we hold women primarily responsible for keeping themselves safe from sexual assault.'
Victims can find free resources
There are many resources for those who are sexually assaulted or raped in Utah and on BYU's campus.
There are services that are free, Jenkins said, including services at The Refuge Utah
The Refuge Utah provides additional resources including hotline advocates and volunteers used to help survivors with medical, physical, psychological and emotional help, Jenkins said.
Leavitt said BYU's Sexual Assault Survivor Advocacy Services
The office also helps with negotiating, Leavitt said. If survivors are in need of a rape kit or anything in the hospital, there are advocates who will accompany them there or to the police station. She said if the survivors are BYU students and need to communicate with professors about coursework or exams they need to take soon, the services will communicate with the professors for them. Counseling, psychological services and support groups can also be provided through BYU's Sexual Assault Survivor Advocacy Services.
Turley said Title IX
A domestic abuse hotline and sexual assault services are also provided by The Refuge Utah