- Find safety. Go to a place where you feel secure.
- Avoid washing or changing clothes. Try not to bathe, shower, brush your teeth, eat, drink, or use the restroom before an exam. This can help preserve important evidence.
- Clothing. If you’ve already changed, place the clothes you were wearing in a clean paper bag (such as a grocery bag) and bring them with you to the hospital.
- Seek medical care. Go to the emergency room within 5 days/120 hours of the assault.
- Choose Advocacy. You do not have to do this alone! Call or text our 24-Hour Rape Crisis Hotline at (219) 218-2552 for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties, IN. An advocate will meet you at the hospital.
- Specialized care. Ask the hospital if they have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). The specially-trained nurse can provide medical care, treat injuries, and collect evidence through a forensic exam (rape kit).
- If drugs may have been used. Testing is most accurate within 23 hours of ingestion.
- Pregnancy prevention. Emergency contraception (Plan B) is most effective when started within 72 hours.
- Evidence storage. Evidence kits can be stored anonymously with law enforcement for 12 months, whether or not a police report is made. if a report is filed during that time, the kit can be tested for investigation.
- Police report. Reporting sooner may help with investigation, but legally, survivors have up to 3 years to file a civil suit and up to 15 years for a criminal case.
- Victim compensation.If a police report or protective order is filed within 5 days, survivors may be eligible for financial assistance with medical costs. Opening a claim ensures reimbursement is available for furure expenses.
- Support. Whatever decisions are made, survivors deserve care, respect and access to resources. Fair Haven Advocates are available 24/7 to provide guidance, accompany survivors, and offer emotional support throughout this process.
