What To Do If...
You've been Sexually Assaulted
- In the Immediate...
- Get to a safe place as soon as possible. Reach out to someone you trust and ask them to stay with you for support.
- Contact someone who can help, such as:
- An advocate, a licensed counselor, or a medical professional
- Visit our Reporting Options page to learn about the different ways you can report or what resources are available to you.
- Evidence Collection
If you're feeling emotionally at capacity, it can still be helpful to jot down anything you remember, things like the time, location, or details about the person who caused harm. Even small things you recall can be important.
A Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (also called a “rape kit”) is one way to preserve physical evidence. These exams are conducted by trained medical professionals who specialize in working with survivors.
It’s completely natural to want to shower, change, or clean up after an assault. If you can, and only if it feels okay, try to place any clothing or items you were wearing in a clean brown paper bag (like the kind from a grocery store). This can help preserve physical evidence if you decide later that you want it collected.
- Not Sure What to Do Next...
First and foremost: there is nothing you have to do.
Everyone responds differently after experiencing harm, and that’s okay. The Safe Place website is here to offer information, so you can make the decisions that feel right for you.
You don’t need to have it all figured out right now. If you're feeling uncertain, that’s completely valid. Talking with someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, advocate, or counselor, can help you sort through your thoughts and options.
There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to feel or respond after an experience of sexual violence. Whatever you're feeling is real. You are doing your best to navigate something deeply difficult, and that is enough.
- Catalyst DVSV – 24-Hour Hotline (800) 895-8476
- If you are seeking information on rights, reporting options, or accompaniment to Enloe after experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence. This service is available to students, staff, and faculty.
- 24-Hour Protocol Line– (530) 898-6345 (press 2)
- In connection with the WellCat Counseling Center, if you are an enrolled student in need of mental health support outside of regular working hours. This service is only available to students.
- Enloe Emergency & Trauma Care
- Catalyst DVSV – 24-Hour Hotline (800) 895-8476
Sexual Assault Forensic Exam
- What is a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam?
A Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (sometimes called a SART exam or rape kit) is a medical exam that collects physical evidence after a sexual assault. It’s meant to support you while also preserving evidence, only if you choose to report immediately, later on, or at all.
For the best chance of collecting evidence, it’s encouraged to have the exam within 120 hours (5 days) of the assault. But it’s still okay to seek care after that timeframe , support and options are always available.
- What to Expect ...
The exam is voluntary and explained beforehand.
A SART nurse will walk you through each step and you can pause or stop at any time.An Advocate (PDF) (PDF) can be with you.
They can stay with you throughout or wait nearby. You may choose to be accompanied by a Safe Place advocate or a Catalyst advocate, whichever feels most comfortable and accessible to you.Evidence is collected gently and respectfully.
This may include swabbing your mouth, skin, or areas that came into contact with the person who assaulted you. It might involve hair collection, photographs of injuries, or a pelvic and/or rectal exam.The process can take a few hours.
The exam can last anywhere from a couple of hours to several hours depending on the severity of the assault
- Who is the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
There are 10 Forensic Registered Nurses (RNs) on staff and one currently in training. Each of the nurses are: Qualified in trauma-informed care, have extensively trained in forensic nursing, and highly skilled and compassionate.
The SART team is committed to providing sensitive, expert care to survivors during every step of the response process.
- Cost Associations
There is no cost to you for the Forensic Medical Exam itself — it is billed directly to Law Enforcement, not you.
If additional medical care is needed:
Your insurance may be billed, but Victim Services can help cover co-pays or deductibles.
If you're on a parent’s insurance and want to avoid the Explanation of Benefits (EOB), a summary insurers send showing billed services, Victim Services can be billed directly instead. You would contact Victim Services and start a claim.
We know that navigating bills and paperwork on top of trauma can feel overwhelming. An advocate is available to help guide you through the process.
- Law Enforcement Involvement...
Law enforcement is contacted any time a forensic exam is requested.
This is because, under state law, all healthcare workers are mandated reporters when certain violent crimes are suspected.Law enforcement agencies cover the cost of the forensic medical exam, which is another reason they are notified.
However, being contacted does not mean you are required to speak with law enforcement or file a report.
If you tell the medical team you do not want to speak with law enforcement, they will let law enforcement know that you do not wish to engage. However, they cannot prevent law enforcement from coming to the hospital if they choose to.
- What Happens to the Kit?
Based on your exam and what happened to you, the forensic nurse selects the most relevant swabs, the ones most likely to contain DNA from a potential suspect.
These selected swabs are packaged and sent directly from the exam room to the state crime lab. The lab has up to 120 days to process the samples and report the results.
If enough DNA is found to create a suspect profile:
- The DNA is uploaded to CODIS, a national database of offenders and unsolved crimes.
- Your DNA is not uploaded to CODIS.
The remaining evidence collected during your exam is carefully sealed and stored with the local law enforcement agency. If no DNA profile is found from the initial testing, law enforcement may request further testing of the full kit, depending on the investigation.
After your exam, you’ll receive a brochure that includes your unique kit number, which you can use to track the status of your SART kit. You can track your kit’s status online. You’ll see one of the following updates:
- Kit not received (enroute)
- Kit received
- Kit in process
- Kit resulted
Once you see “Kit resulted” you may contact the law enforcement agency where your kit was booked to ask about the outcome.
- The DNA is uploaded to CODIS, a national database of offenders and unsolved crimes.
- What if I am Unsure...
Under Senate Bill 733 (SB 733), you have the right to say whether or not you want your Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SART kit) tested.
What does that mean?
- You can choose to have evidence collected and stored without it being tested.
- This gives you more time to decide if or when you want to move forward with a report.
- You are not required to press charges or file a police report for your kit to be preserved.
- Queer, Gender Non-Conforming & Transgender Survivors
A legal name must be listed on all forms. However, the chosen name can be honored during the exam and noted in parentheses on the forms. Sex at birth must be documented as well as current gender identity, this is critical for accurate DNA tracking.
Exams are guided by the history of the assault and time elapsed since the incident. All patients receive the same exam regardless of gender, except patients without a vagina do not receive a pelvic exam.
You're Experiencing Relationship Violence
- What is Relationship Violence?
Relationship violence is an umbrella term used by WellCat Safe Place to describe dating violence, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV).
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to a pattern of abusive behavior where one partner uses power and control over the other. This abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional, sexual, digital, or financial and often escalates over time.
- If You're Considering Leaving...
Leaving, even considering leaving, an abusive relationship can be a complex and potentially dangerous process. It is important to prepare carefully to protect yourself
Consider creating a "go bag" containing essential items you may need if you have to leave quickly, such as:
- Important identification documents (ID, passport, birth certificates)
- Keys (house, car, office)
- Medications and prescriptions
- Contact information for trusted friends, family, or support services
- Any legal documents related to custody or protection orders
Consider speaking with an advocate to explore safety strategies, whether you choose to remain in the relationship or plan to leave. Guided by our core principles, WellCat Safe Place does not require you to leave your relationship but instead provides educational resources to help you maintain safety within your relationship.
- Safety Planning...
A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave.
Below are links to safety plan templates:
Catalyst - Safe Plan (PDF)
National Domestic Violence Hotline - Virtual Safety Plan
An advocate can assist you in developing a personalized safety plan for your specific situation
- After Leaving...
Leaving an abusive relationship is a complex step, and it’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions. Healing doesn’t happen all at once, its been said before; healing is not linear.
Here are some things to be aware of after leaving:
- On-going Safety Concerns: In some cases, the person may try to contact, follow, or threaten you after you leave. It’s important to develop a safety plan, this might include changing routines, securing housing, or getting a restraining order.
- Emotional Ups and Downs: Even if the relationship was harmful, you might still miss the person or parts of the relationship, and that's okay. Please check our Resource Hub for additional support.
You've experienced Strangulation
- Understanding the Risks of Strangulation
Many people are unaware of the serious risks associated with strangulation. While we acknowledge that some individuals may engage in consensual choking during sexual activity, it’s important to have accurate information about the potential dangers involved.
Strangulation, even when brief or seemingly controlled, can cause serious and sometimes lasting harm, including unconsciousness, brain injury, or death. These risks can be heightened if one partner is not fully informed, prepared, or has not given clear and ongoing consent.
If you experience choking during sexual activity that was not discussed or consented to, this can be both physically dangerous and emotionally activating. We encourage open, honest communication, enthusiastic consent, and awareness of safety risks in any sexual encounter. If you have concerns, need support, or want to learn more, resources are available.
- Strangulation Resources
Below are resources to better understand Strangulation, and things to keep in mind:
You Want to Support Someone Experiencing Harm...
- Things to Keep In Mind...Supporting someone through trauma requires ongoing care and understanding
- Use language that supports, not blames
- Be patient. Healing isn’t linear and doesn’t follow a set timeline. There’s no “right” way to feel.
- Promote self-care: Encourage rest, grounding practices, whatever self-care looks like to them
- Validate their feelings. Everyone responds to trauma differently. Affirm their emotions without judgment.
- If You Need Support...It is normal to struggle with your own emotions when told or to even be triggered from your own past experiences