What should I do if I am sexually assaulted?
Being the victim of a sexual assault is an extremely traumatizing event, but it is important to seek the assistance of police and other professionals as soon as possible. If you, or a friend, are the victim of a sexual assault do the following:
- Contact police as quickly as possible
- Preserve evidence
- Seek medical care
Step 1:
Contact police as quickly as possible
Don't hesitate. As soon as you reach a place of safety, call 9-1-1 and the police dispatcher will send officers to assist you at once. They will take a report and arrange for you to go to the hospital for a physical examination.
Even if you are unsure about pursuing criminal charges, if you believe you have been the victim of a sexual assault it is important to call the police. The University of Iowa University Department of Public Safety is committed to ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive comprehensive care, regardless of whether or not they wish to press charges. To provide that care, the department works closely with trained professionals at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, UI Counseling Services and the Rape Victim's Advocacy Program.
Step 2:
Preserve evidence
In cases of sexual assault, the sooner evidence can be gathered the better. Chances that evidence will be damaged or destroyed increase with each passing hour.
If the assault occurred recently, do not change clothes, eat, drink, shower, or clean up in any way. Your physical condition, the clothing you are wearing and the crime scene should all be preserved without alteration so that they can be documented. Altering or disposing of any of those things may ruin valuable evidence.
If you suspect that your attacker may have used "date rape" drugs to facilitate the sexual assault it is especially important that you seek help immediately. Some of those drugs can leave a victim's system within hours. If you suspect you have been drugged, try to avoid urinating until medical staff can collect a sample. Prosecution may still be possible without such evidence, but having it makes a case much stronger.
Step 3:
Seek prompt emergency medical care.
The victim of a sexual assault is in a very unique situation. The victim's body is the crime scene, which adds to the trauma of the attack. It also means that a timely examination by trained medical professionals is extremely important.
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The physical examination and tests conducted by medical personnel not only assist police in their investigation, but are also extremely important to the victim as it allows doctors to determine what medical care is required and provide information about, or treatment for, sexually transmitted diseases that could result from the attack.
Bring a clean change of clothing to the emergency room so that you can change after the examination. The staff at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics can tend to your medical needs and conduct evidence collection.
Other Resources:
Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
University or Iowa Counseling Services
