Information for Victims

 

If you were just assaulted:

• First, go to a safe place. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

• Talk to someone:

  • Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential help, 24 hours a day: 1.800.656.HOPE.

  • Talk to a trusted friend or family member.

  • Speak to a trusted clergy member, teacher, or doctor.

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• Report the assault to police.

  • Call the police (dial 911 in most areas) to report the crime.

  • If possible, preserve evidence of the attack; don't bathe, brush your teeth, or change or destroy your clothing — your clothes are also evidence.

  • Write down all the details you can recall about the attack and the attacker.

  • If the assault took place in your home, do not rearrange and/or clean up anything.

  • While we encourage all victims to report the attack to police, we understand that you may have questions or concerns. Call 1.800.656.HOPE to find out more about the reporting process in your area.

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• Take care of yourself:

  • Get medical attention. Even if you aren't physically injured, it is important to determine the risks of sexually-transmitted infections and pregnancy.

    • To preserve the forensic evidence that will be crucial to a successful prosecution, ask the hospital to conduct a "rape kit" exam.

    • If you suspect you may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be collected (this is not part of the standard exam). The sample will need to be analyzed by a forensic lab.

    • If you have questions about how to access a forensic exam in your area please contact your local rape crisis center by calling 1.800.656.HOPE. Remember, what happened is not your fault, and you will recover.

 

If you were assaulted in the past:

• Talk to someone:

  • Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential help, 24 hours a day: 1.800.656.HOPE.

  • Talk to a trusted friend or family member.

  • Speak to a trusted clergy member, teacher, or doctor.

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• It may not be too late to report the assault to the police:

  • Call the local police or prosecutor's office to find out more.

  • If you have questions and are undecided about reporting, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. A trained hotline volunteer or staff can provide you with the information you'll need to understand the reporting process.

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• Recognize that healing from rape takes time. Give yourself the time you need.

  • You may be experiencing strong emotions. This is normal.

  • You may be re-experiencing the assault through flashbacks, body memories, or other stress reactions.