If You Have Been Raped ... Important Things to Do

1) Go to a Safe Place

2) Get Help

3) Don't shower, wash your hands, change your clothes, brush your teeth, drink anything, douche, urinate, etc.

All of these things will destroy evidence. If you can, get a rape evidence kit done before you shower. If you decide to press charges, it will be easier for the police to make a case with this important evidence.

A medical evaluation is important to have as soon as possible.

• Even if you do not want to have a rape kit performed, you should still go to the hospital. They will check and treat you for injuries, STDs and pregnancy (if female). They will, with your permission, administer the morning after pill to prevent pregnancy. They will give you HIV prophylaxis to prevent the transmission of HIV, if you feel you may have been exposed to the AIDS virus. Make sure to tell the doctor if you believe you have been drugged.

A rape kit will preserve evidence in case you decide to press charges. It must be performed within 72 hours of the assault.

• A rape kit collects evidence. This involves photographs, mouth, anal and vaginal swabs, hair combing and/or pulling (the nurse will let you pull hairs out yourself if you ask), collection of clothes and underwear, fingernail scrapings and/or clippings, drawing blood and a pelvic exam (if female). They may want to keep your clothes, but will provide you with something to wear.



• You do not have to make the decision about pressing charges right away - the Hospital will not force you to call the police. They will just collect evidence in case you decide to press charges



• The state will pay for the evidence collection. NYS Crime Victims Board will pay for evidence gathering at the hospital, including Emergency Room registration fee, doctor's fee, and two lab tests.

The Hospital is Required to See You As Quickly as Possible, and to Make You as Comfortable as Possible

• A rape crisis or victim assistance advocate will come to the Hospital to talk to you if you want them there. They can also be with you during the examination if you would like them to support you.



• At hospitals, rape victims have priority after life-threatening cases. If you have been waiting for a long time, ask, or have your friend ask to be seen more quickly.



• New York Law, (NY PUB HEALTH § 2805-i - Treatment of Sexual Offense Victims) requires that you be met by a sexual assault forensic examiner within sixty minutes of arriving at the hospital. This law also requires that the examination be performed in a private room.



• You may request, or have a friend ask, for a private area to wait, instead of the waiting room. You may request a doctor of the same sex as yourself if it will make you feel more comfortable (depending on the hour, this may make your wait time longer). You can have your friend stay with you during the exam. You should expect to be at the hospital between 2 and 5 hours. The exam usually takes about an hour and 1/2.



• Under New York Law, promptly after the examination is completed, you can shower, and will be provided with a change of clothing, and will receive follow-up information, counseling, medical treatment and referrals.

5) Contact the Police - Call 911 or Have the Hospital or Crisis Counselor call for you

• Getting treatment at the hospital does not mean that you are required to talk to the police. However, if you can talk to the police, and if you do decide to press charges, it is a good idea to talk to them right away when events are fresh in your mind.



• In most states, a sexual assault survivor has three options when filing a police report: a report can be filed with the intent of prosecuting the offender, a report can be filed but without the intent of prosecuting, or a third party report can be filed where the survivor remains anonymous (the survivor's name is withheld from the report) and no prosecution takes place. It is the survivor's right to change their mind at any time during the judicial process. This means: just because you file a report, does not mean you are required to prosecute.



• If you would like to be assisted in making a report of the incident to the Schenectady Police Department, the Campus Safety Department and members of Safe Space will help you.

6) Consider reporting the crime to the campus safety department (388-6911) or the Office of the Dean of Students (388-6116 or 6061).

The College has a separate disciplinary proceeding for victims to bring disciplinary action against the assailant, if that person is a student at the College.

• After you report the assault, there will be a subsequent campus disciplinary hearing. Union College requires that both the accused and the victim are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present.

It will be easier for the College to help you if you report the crime to them. For example, the college claims, "every effort will be made to honor reasonable requests from victims of sexual offenses for changes or accommodations in academic and residence matters (schedule or room changes etc.)"

• Safe Space (beeper #349-6669) provides peer counseling for students who would like to talk about their experience.



• The College Counseling Center (388-6161), located on the 3rd floor of Silliman Hall and Health Services (388-6120) offer post-rape services and individual therapy to victims.



• The Schenectady Rape Crisis Center (346-2266) offers a variety of services to victims of sexual offenses.



• Call RAINN's national sexual assault hotline at 800-656-HOPE. It is completely free and confidential.

8) Look into the Victims Compensation Fund

• This is something to do once you are safe, have been treated at the hospital and have decided which legal route you are going to take. This fund assists victims with things like lost wages, medical bills and counseling. The crime must have been reported to the police and the claim must be filed within 5 years. You can get more information about this by calling (502) 564-2290 or writing to: Victims Compensation Board 115 Myrtle Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.

Important Things to Try to Remember

It was not your fault. You are not responsible for the actions of others and it is not your fault that someone decided to hurt you. Whatever choices you made were the right ones, because you are alive.

You will not feel bad forever. Things will get better. It may take a long time, and sometimes it may feel like you're getting nowhere, or you're getting worse, but if you keep trying, you can get through it.

There are many other survivors experiencing the same kinds of things in the aftermath of their assault. Many find themselves being extremely fearful, to the point of hypervigilance. Some develop an exaggerated startle response and scare very easily. Many survivors deal with anxiety and depression and feelings of anger, guilt and shame. Some survivors manifest this pain by becoming extremely promiscuous, others turn to alcohol or drugs, while some develop eating disorders. Many withdraw from the life they had before the assault and lose interest in the things they once enjoyed. Most survivors experience flashbacks (a reliving of the assault), panic attacks and other symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However the traumatic experience is manifesting itself in your life, there are people who have gone through the same thing, understand, and want to help. You are not alone.

There are people who will help you get through this. Call Safe Space (beeper #349-6669) and we will help you find the right resources for you.