Sex victims

If you have just been raped

• Try to be somewhere that feels safe.
• Keep warm and drink plenty of fluids.
• If possible, see if a friend or someone you trust can be with you.
• Have any injuries treated by your doctor or at a hospital.
• If you want to report the assault, contact the police so they can arrange a forensic examination as soon as possible. They will want to get as much evidence as possible. So, don’t wash, eat or drink.
• If you change your clothes, put them in a bag to give to the police.
• Tell the police if you think you may have been drugged or your drink ‘spiked’. They will arrange for blood and urine tests.
• You might not feel like reporting now, but you might in time. So keep the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault, don’t wash them and put them in a plastic bag.
• If you wash yourself, use safe products, not household cleaning products as they can be harmful.
• If there is a possibility of pregnancy you may want to take the morning after pill (up to 72 hours after) or have a coil fitted (up to 5 days after). You may need to go to a doctor.
• Go to a doctor if you are worried about sexually transmitted infections.

 

Why should you consider having a sexual assault medical forensic exam?

In USA and some countries it won’t cost you. You should not be charged for the exam. The Violence Against Women Act requires states to provide sexual assault forensic exams free of charge if they wish to remain eligible for critical anti-crime grant funding. If you are charged for the exam, immediately contact your local sexual assault service provider.

You can have time to decide if you want to report. 
The decision to report the crime is entirely yours. It may take some time to decide what to do. Having a sexual assault forensic exam ensures that the forensic evidence will be safely preserved if you decide to report at a later time.
It increases the likelihood of prosecution. 
The importance of DNA evidence in sexual assault cases cannot be overstated. Not only does DNA evidence carry weight in court, but it may prevent future sexual assaults from occurring. Even if the perpetrator is not prosecuted, their DNA may be added to the national database, making it easier to connect the perpetrator to a future crime.
Your health matters.
 Rape can affect your physical health. You may have injuries and trauma related to the assaults that aren’t immediately visible. During an exam you may be able to access treatment for these injuries, receive preventative treatment for STIs, and obtain emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
How long will the evidence be stored?
It depends from the country. The amount of time an evidence kit will be stored varies by country, state and jurisdiction. A SANE, advocate, or law enforcement officer should let you know how long the evidence will be stored and the state’s rules for disposing the kit. It’s important to note that the amount of time the kit is stored doesn’t necessarily match up with the amount of time that legal action can be taken against a perpetrator, also known as the statute of limitation. If you have questions about timing, statutes of limitation, or any other concerns, contact your local sexual assault service provider.

 

If you are able to, try to avoid activities that could potentially damage evidence such as:

• Bathing
• Showering
• Using the restroom
• Changing clothes
• Combing hair
• Cleaning up the area

It’s natural to want to go through these motions after a traumatic experience. If you have done any of these activities, you can still have an exam performed. You may want to bring a spare change of clothes with you to the hospital or health facility where you’re going to have the exam.

In most cases, DNA evidence needs to be collected within 72 hours in order to be analyzed by a crime lab—but a sexual assault forensic exam can reveal other forms of evidence beyond this time frame that can be useful if you decide to report. Place your belongings, including the clothes you were wearing, in a paper bag to safely preserve evidence.

 

Feelings after rape

Everyone reacts differently to a traumatic event. Whatever you feel is a natural response to what has happened. Some examples are below. But you might feel none of these. Whatever you feel, it is important to get support if you need this.

If you have been attacked recently you may be in shock.
This can mean that you are feeling numb, unemotional, be in total disbelief, be crying, shaking, laughing or physically being sick.

• You may feel to blame and responsible for what has happened.
• You may be having nightmares or experiencing difficulties sleeping.
• You may be “reliving” the events (flashbacks), these can be triggered by a sound, situation or smell and can be very frightening.
• You may have lost confidence, trust in yourself and others.
• You may be feeling worthless or have feelings of self-hatred.
• You may be finding it difficult to cope with day-to-day life.
• You may be feeling angry, irritable and be short-tempered with those close to you.
• You may feel dirty and ashamed about what has happened.
• You may be depressed, upset and tearful a lot of the time.
• You may feel suicidal.
• You may be afraid for example of people, places, being on your own.
• You may be experiencing relationship or sexual difficulties.
• It is important to ask for help if you are feeling any of these things.
• Coping after sexual violence
• Take things at your own pace. There is no right or wrong about how long it can take to come to terms with something like this.