I was raped. What should I do next?

 

First, please make sure you are in a safe place. Whether you’re with a friend, neighbor, police officer, at home or at the hospital, we want to make sure that you are safe from further harm. 

Once you're in a place of safety, you will need to make some decisions. It might be hard to think through your options after going through trauma. Below you'll find a list of things to consider:

Q. Do I need medical attention?

 

A. Even if you believe you haven’t been injured, consider going to the doctor or hospital to receive an examination. It’s important to be checked for injuries and tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you can get pregnant, you might also be worried that a pregnancy may result from your assault. You can ask to have a pregnancy test done and request emergency contraceptives.

DOVES may be able to help with expenses related to your medical care. Please call to speak with an advocate.

 

Q. Do I have to report the rape to the police?

 

A. No. The decision to make a report is yours. You can decide not to talk with the police if that’s what you feel is best for you. It's important to know that the hospital is not obligated to report a sexual assault to the police (except when a minor or vulnerable adult is the victim); however, they are still required to report serious wounds or injuries that appear to have been received in connection with a crime. 

 

Q. Can I report my assault anonymously?

 

A. Yes. In Nebraska, you have the right to have forensic evidence collected without giving your name or any personal information to law enforcement. This process, called an anonymous report, allows you to preserve evidence that might otherwise be lost, giving you time to decide what to do next.

If you choose an anonymous report, the examiner will use a kit number instead of your name to track the evidence. They will notify the law enforcement agency where the exam took place and hand over the evidence for storage or transport to the jurisdiction where the assault happened. Your name will not appear anywhere on the kit or accompanying paperwork.

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The evidence collected in an anonymous report is stored by law enforcement for 20 years. During that time, you can decide to change your report to a full or partial law enforcement report if you choose.

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Please note that anonymous reporting is not available in cases where there was serious bodily injury or a weapon was used during the assault.

Q.  The hospital mentioned a rape exam. What is it and do I have to do it?

 

A.  A forensic exam is conducted to collect evidence from your body. This exam is solely for evidence collection and is not a medical exam to treat you for injuries from your assault. The exam is conducted either by a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) or a nurse or doctor from the hospital. You are not required to have a forensic exam; however, if you decide later you wish to report your rape to law enforcement, the physical evidence of the rape on your body will not be available if you don’t consent to the exam. 

If you aren’t sure you want to report the assault to the police, you can still have the evidence collected to have available in case you change your mind. Evidence can only be collected from your body within the first 5 days of your assault. And the longer you wait before asking for a forensic exam, the more likely evidence from the assault will be lost or destroyed.

Q. What does the exam entail?

 

A. There are a number of steps in the evidence-collection process. You might not feel as if you have any control over the process, but you do: you can decide if there are steps you do not want to take, and you can say no to any part of the exam. Remember, the more evidence the nurse collects, the more evidence is available to prove your case.

Also, if there’s ever a moment when you need a break, ask for one. If you need to smoke or get a drink of water or soda, talk with the nurse about doing parts of the exam that need to collect evidence from your mouth first so that you can have your drink or smoke. If an advocate is with you, they could ask for a break on your behalf if you aren’t comfortable asking yourself.

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If you are interested in seeing the step-by-step process for the sexual assault exam or reading more about the Nebraska Medical Sexual Assault Protocol, please click here.

It’s important for you to know that the evidence the nurse collects will be the property of the police and will no longer be your possession. Some victims find it hard to know that such personal and intimate parts of themselves are in someone else’s possession. 

Law enforcement pays for the evidence kit. You are responsible for any other expenses not related to the collection of evidence, such as STI or pregnancy testing, or treatments for your injuries, such as stitches, bandages, or pain relief. Please talk with your advocate about how DOVES can help with these expenses.

Q. What will happen if I decide to report my assault to the police?

 

A. You have the right to have an advocate with you when you talk to the police. The advocate would be available to support you while you tell your story. You may feel embarrassed, scared, or worried. Having an advocate with you may help. The police will want to know all the details and it’s up to you to tell the police exactly what happened. If you were drinking or doing drugs at the time of the assault, don’t hide or lie about those facts when you talk with the police. 

You may find that it’s hard for you to remember what happened. You may skip over details only to remember them later. The brain records memories differently during traumatic situations which makes it difficult to remember things clearly. Do your best and be easy on yourself. What you’ve gone through isn’t easy and recalling a traumatic event can be painful.

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Q. Can I get a protection order?

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A. Yes, you can. Nebraska now has three types of protection order: a Domestic Abuse Protection Order, a Harassment Order, and a Sexual Assault Protection Order. An advocate can help you decide which type of order would be best for your situation.

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A Sexual Assault Protection Order does not depend on relationships and is granted because someone subjected or attempted to subject you to sexual contact or sexual penetration without your consent.