Health, Personal, Emergency

Sexual Assault: Reporting The Crime

The FBI ranks rape as one of the most serious of violent crimes, second only to murder. If you or someone you know has experienced a sexual assault, the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) is there to help guide and support you. You aren’t required to report the crime, but if you become a rape survivor and do make the decision to talk to cops, there are a few things you can expect about the process:

  • The first step is to call 911. Do it immediately after the attack.
  • Have the evidence collected immediately before it can become contaminated or lost; don’t change your clothes or take a shower.
  • A doctor or nurse will collect hair, fiber, or other samples from your body or clothing that might be useful evidence in identifying your attacker. They will take this evidence, as well as your clothing and place it in a large envelope or box: this is called a rape kit.
  • The samples collected are sent to a lab to run DNA tests in an attempt to identify your attacker.

Reporting the crime is a very personal decision, and it can be very hard to ask for help, but by talking to police you are taking an important step towards putting the person behind bars–and off the streets before they can harm anyone else. Check out RAINN’s site for more information about reporting a sexual assault and other support services that are available to you. We also have much more information to help you or a loved one cope with the pain of sexual assault right here at the AMW Safety Center.

17 Comments on "Sexual Assault: Reporting The Crime"



susan johnson
January 22, 2009 at 8:26 pm

I live in delaware when my daughter was attacked nothing has been done we know where the man lives and work but nothing has ever been done to this very day and I doubt it ever will be so what is calling a crisis center going to help when the Millsboro police won’t even help



Kathleen Hitchcock
January 28, 2009 at 11:23 am

For Many years Nurses have been combating Violence Against Women by educating our selves and the public on collection, preservation, and the most important aspect of caring for a victim of violence starting the emotional road to healing..
As we know the justice system is one step behind the times when it comes to prosecuting the assailants of Sexaul abuse/Child/Adult/and DV..
SANE/SARTS do not get enough recognition for thier part in the care of the Sexual Assault patients



Latoya
February 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm

I am a victim of sexual assault. I have been fighting the system here in Alabama for a while. They expect you to prosecute the attacker but want you to do all the leg work. I finally decided that I will not report it to anyone. The only difference between me and any other victim is I have known my attacker for many years. I don’t expect any justice here. Reporting it is a waste of time and a emotional whirl wind. Where is the help? I actually spoke with a counselor here with the RAINN organization who did me more harm than good. After one week of seeing her, I wanted to commit suicide. They pushed and pushed until I could not take it any.



kristy stauffer
February 5, 2009 at 5:53 pm

i thought this was a informative video. It is scarry when a trauma like this happends to you . many things run threw your mind and you are scared . normally it is people that know you or strangers but what about your boss or co workers . I had that happen to me back in 1999 i repoorted it to the police since it happen on company grounds i also reported to the ceo tof the company i had to go threw many chains of compands to get to the ceo of the company i worked at they gave me money advance in py they told me i took it a hush hsh money i pressed it further

the police and i managed a way to take it to court and have the boss and co workers fired and arrested they are still spending time in jail they did it to other women that worked there this is a never ending thing and if many woman or men who are rapped step up and report this then maybe more morons nd douch bags will end up where they belong in jail /prison . only if some one or people that are not scared see this happening to say something not just cover up and hide it. it will leave long term effects to the mind body and your soul.



unknow
February 19, 2009 at 6:35 pm

is makeing some one kiss you under Sexual Assault



tayna todd
February 28, 2009 at 10:33 pm

i don’t let my daughters out of my site.because where we live it is not safe.there is a lot of bad people out here that loves little children.



tayna todd
February 28, 2009 at 10:35 pm

watch your children on the computers.because i sure do.there is to many bad guys on here waitin ti get little kids.the sick bastards.



Still Suffering
March 14, 2009 at 10:16 pm

unknow I hope that you check back here is the information you asked:

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault and abuse is any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to, including:

* inappropriate touching
* vaginal, anal, or oral penetration
* sexual intercourse that you say no to
* rape
* attempted rape
* child molestation

Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment. It can happen in different situations, by a stranger in an isolated place, on a date, or in the home by someone you know.



Amy
April 4, 2009 at 10:03 am

It is sad but true that most rapes don’t get reported and then when they do the guilty party isn’t convicted. Look at things that happen during a trial - the woman’s sexual history is brought into the picture which has NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO HER and more than someone making you eat a hamburger has to do with the fact that you ate 15 before that incident!!! It is a sad but true fact. Where are the people who stand for TRUTH?



Toni
April 4, 2009 at 3:12 pm

I was a survivor of sexual assault 5 months ago. Fortunately for me, I reported it immediately, unfortunately for me, the assailant was released the next day. However, since then I had the pleasure of being present at a court appereance he had recently on an unrelated crime, and was able to extend his sentence with my testimony. The situation of course was twisted to make it look like I had done something wrong, and it felt as if the attack was happening all over again. I survived the trial and now I am living my life one step and day at a time.
My advice to anyone, who has ever been in a situation such as this, when all is said and done you have to get help you cannot move forward with your life until you do. It will be difficult to move forward until you let yourself begin the healting process. Even if the person that hurts you says to not report the crime, you have to other wise they will be allowed to hurt other people.



LAVONNE
April 5, 2009 at 1:32 am

One problem seldom brought up is…once a female has been the victim of rape….it seems like she is more likely to be re-victimized. WHY? The only answer I’ve been able to come up with is that the other monsters out there seem to sense that - like any animal - which is what they are - who is the wounded one. Which we are….and too often….we are more powerless to stop them because our sense of worth is gone. Our fear is worse….making us weaker. If we think anything at all…it may be that to survive…it may be safer to just let them get it over with.

Then we go into a deeper depression and more self-destructive behavior. WE MUST NOT DO THIS. WE MUST KEEP IN MIND - THEY ARE THE GUILTY ONE - NOT US. To fight to live….and then deny one’s self a decent life makes no sense at all. It took me over 50 years to finally get to a place to handle it all better….what a waste. I still have the ‘bad’ times but not like before. The worst part? I’m sure the abusers had a good time all these years and have long forgotten what they did to me…while I agonized almost daily. WHAT SENSE HAS THIS MADE? NONE!!!!!

PEACE SISTERS….AND PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER….MAYBE LIFE CAN NO LONGER BE WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN….BUT….IT CAN BE BETTER IF WE LET IT.



Tami
April 5, 2009 at 1:00 pm

My earliest memory of my Dad raping me was 3 yrs old. I am now 33,(almost) and he has done it again. I didn’t think I could be “stuck” like that still, but he wouldn’t stop. I have already tried to talk the law before, they didn’t believe me. In fact they started asking around my little town about me, and what kind of Mom I am. So how would I trust to tell anyone now? I don’t let my parents around my kids at all.



helena
April 8, 2009 at 8:55 pm

There are sexual slavery concentration camps and rape houses all over the US,where sex slaves, usually women and children are held prisoner and
sold for snuff. They are in most cities, and out in the countryside. Why dont you investigate them?



Tami
April 10, 2009 at 9:12 am

Helena- that’s exactly what I was getting at. This is Tami, the comment above yours, and it wasn’t just my Dad who raped me, my parents prostituted me out to a group of satanists. They subjected me to rape, torture, and beatings; same with the others kids, that they kidnapped, but the others didn’t survive. Detectives didn’t believe me, and what they told me was to “not throw out allegations against innocent good people like that. There’s no way that happens around here.” These men are still doing whatever they are doing….. Tami



bonnie richard
April 10, 2009 at 12:28 pm

i was a victim at 17, inside a doctors office he hand raped me–I was his patient–i was a virgin–this was 1970—-no police was told—he got way with it he walks free, as sometimes I walk in fear–he tred to “shut me up” in 1994 whenI threat to report him
i survived to tell–I told–someone but no one belived me, until the memories were repressed and came out at the wrong time—it was horrible
i am sorry for anyone who has to endure abuse sexually–please God protect them and John Walsh and God Bless hislittle boy who is with God



Tami
April 11, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Law enforcement fails the victims!!!!!



Micah Green
April 12, 2009 at 10:37 am

My personal opinion is that women who are sexually assaulted should come together and protest the police system. We are living in a time where police are insensitive to our needs. There is a flipside to this, what about women who use law enforcement and the judicial system to harm someone out of spite???? There have been many cases where blackmail is apparent. I think if an abundant amount of victims, including men, come forward as a team, we can make a difference! Police should be more involved because there are also many cases where the victim(s) have committed MURDER against their attacker! Remember there is no I in team! Come together and muster up gumption to battle against sexual assault not by violence but by being smart.



Please Leave a Comment!






Submit your text or video safety question, and you could be featured on America's Most Wanted or on this site.

Subscribe to the AMW Safety Center
RSS updates now available