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Other options
There are other options available if you do not feel comfortable with a criminal or civil action.
You may want to apply for 'crimes compensation' in your state. Crimes compensation is when you receive money from the state to compensate for a crime that has been committed against you. It is also possible to be compensated for crimes that occurred many years ago. There are time limits in most States as to when compensation can be granted, although these can be extended if a good case can be made. Crimes compensation may pay for your counselling or other medical expenses. Ask a lawyer, a sexual assault service or a community legal centre about how to apply for crimes compensation. Often you can elect to make the application on paper and there is no need to go before a tribunal or court. If your case is going to court, it may be best to wait until afterwards before you apply for compensation, as, in some cases, the fact that a victim has sought compensation can be used against them in court.
You can give them a statement telling the police what happened, but also give them a statement of no further police action. This way, the police have what happened to you on record, as well as the name of the offender. If you decide you want to go to court later, the police already have your statement. You can change or add to a statement at any time.
You may want to use 'restorative justice' rather than going through the traditional justice system. Restorative justice involves conferencing between survivor and perpetrator.
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