Sexual Assault Policy
Sexual Assault
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is any unwanted, coerced, or forced sexual contact or intercourse OR sexual contact or intercourse with someone who is not able to give consent (e.g. under the influence of alcohol or drugs or asleep). Sexual assault can involve the sexual penetration of a body orifice, but also includes other unwanted sexual contact. Victims can be either women or men. Most victim/survivors know the perpetrators who may be the victim’s/survivor’s best friend, lover, partner, date, family member, neighbor, teacher, employer, doctor, or classmate. The perpetrator can be a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sexual assault can occur between members of the opposite sex or same sex. Alcohol, rape drugs, or other substances may be involved.
What if this happens to me?
If you are sexually assaulted you may want to consider:
- Finding a safe place
- Calling a friend
- Calling for assistance
- Contacting hospital or community police
- Seeking medical treatment
- Preserving evidence
Preserving Evidence: Things you need to know to make decisions It is very difficult to know in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault whether or not you might eventually wish to pursue legal charges. Having evidence collected does not commit you to reporting the assault; the evidence can be sent to the crime lab anonymously and held for six months. Evidence can usually be collected up to five days after the assault, though the likelihood of capturing evidence decreases with time. Showering, urinating, and brushing your teeth may destroy evidence. Your clothing or bedding may contain evidence; take these with you to the Emergency Department in a PAPER BAG (not plastic). You may stop the exam at any time, and you may have someone with you during the exam.
The drugs used in drug-facilitated sexual assault leave the body very quickly. If you suspect that you may have been drugged and need to urinate before arriving at the Emergency Department, try to collect the urine in a clean container and take it with you.