Sexual assault is a violent crime, motivated by the rapist's desire to degrade and dominate the victim. Precise profiles of victims and rapists can not be constructed, since every person is a potential target of sexual assault, and the rapist does not have characteristics that necessarily distinguish him from nonrapists, although rapists tend to have severe problems in relating to others, particularly women, and are prone to aggressive behavior. Prevention tactics are described for when in the home, in public places, and in the car. Alternatives for dealing with the offender when an encounter occurs are indicated. Forceful resistance should be used as a last resort, since it may escalate the offender's use of force. Should a rape or attempted rape occur, immediate reporting to the police is advised. The victim's involvement in the investigation and any subsequent trial proceedings is explained. The kinds of techniques and information the police generally use in investigating rape complaints is delineated with particular attention to evidence required under the Florida statute covering sexual battery. The appendixes contain the Florida statute, definitions, a magazine article describing a woman's personal experience in outsmarting a rapist, and a suspect's I.D. chart.