Reporting Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Victims, unlike victims of other crimes, are often reluctant to report assaults to the police or public safety. They often fear that they will be blamed or disbelieved, or they may know the assailant and fear the consequences to him/her. There are many good reasons to report sexual assaults:

• You may need medical attention. You may have internal injuries of which you are unaware, and you should be checked for sexually transmitted diseases/sexually transmitted infections and for pregnancy
• Reporting the assault does not obligate you to prosecute. It does give you the option to prosecute if you decide to do so. Reporting keeps your options open.
• If you delay in reporting, it may be too late to collect physical evidence, making prosecution extremely difficult or even impossible.
• Even if you do not ever prosecute, reporting the crime gives the police facts such as a description of the assailant and the method of committing the crime. This information may be helpful in solving other cases. It also insures more accurate statistics on the incidence of rape/sexual assault which is an important tool in enacting rape/sexual assault laws and developing prevention strategies.
• You may be eligible for crime victims compensation which covers medical and psychological care if you have no insurance. To qualify, you must file a police report.
• People who commit sexual assault are often repeat offenders. Reporting may help authorities spot a pattern in an offenders behavior.
• Reporting a sexual assault is an active way of regaining control and fighting back. It is a healthy way to channel anger and to stand up for your rights.
• If the offender is a student, we may explore the possibility of University disciplinary action against the perpetrator (only with the victim's consent).
• It allows the University to know the truth about what is happening to students; and know this can better plan programs of intervention and education.

Please remember that any sexual assault victim should never feel guilty or that it is their fault that something of this nature has taken place. The bottom line is that "yes" means "yes" and "no" means "no".

(Franklin Memorial Hospital as well as the UMF Health Center are both capable of taking physical evidence.)

To report a sexual assault confidentially, please CLICK HERE.

Victims Rights