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The purpose of this information is to define steps
that members of the university community can take to
provide a caring and effective institutional response to
students involved in a sexual assault.
Staff from Sexual Health & Violence Prevention serve as
a primary resource for a survivor reporting an assault,
as well as a resource for a responder (anyone approached
by a survivor seeking support and/or assistance). Our
staff can assist the survivor in understanding,
evaluating, and choosing the services outlined below, as
well as ensure the continuity of services by providing
the survivor follow-up contacts as needed. The Sexual
Health & Violence Prevention office will also serve as
an important resource to responders for any concerns
regarding sexual assault issues. Responders should
maintain a close working relationship with the staff at
the Sexual Health & Violence Prevention office for both
crisis-intervention services and on-going staff
development.
The following serves as a guide for the University
community to follow regarding the appropriate response
to a survivor of sexual assault. Certain situations may
dictate some variation in the course of events. However,
these guidelines should be followed as closely as
possible to provide survivors with the appropriate
support and information to enable them to make informed
decisions and begin the healing process. These
guidelines include not only the recommended offices and
authorities to contact, but also some helpful
information regarding support that is critically needed
by a survivor after an assault.
As soon as possible during this process, you should
contact the Sexual Health & Violence Prevention office
for assistance at 777-8248. For each sexual assault
incident, responders will file an anonymous report with
our staff. The Director will assign a common
identification number (for the purpose of anonymity) to
the reports received from responders and open a file to
track the incident. The Director or Program Directors
will contact the responders to follow-up on the services
they provided. Such follow-up with responders will help
ensure consistent implementation of these guidelines and
generate feedback necessary for future revisions. Such
follow-up will also help responders stay informed about
evolving services available in the University and
surrounding community. Responders should also encourage
the survivor to speak directly with the Director or
Program Directors for support in seeking additional
services.
How To Respond Within 72 Hours Of The
Assault:
Encourage the survivor to:
1. Call the Police: Reporting the assault is not
the same as prosecuting. The decision to prosecute can
be made later. If the assault occurred on campus,
University Police should be notified at 911. If the
assault took place off-campus, local law enforcement
will handle the case. The police will arrive at the
location of the survivor; take an initial report and
then transport the survivor to the hospital for medical
attention. Discourage the survivor from showering,
bathing, douching, eating, drinking, or brushing their
teeth so that evidence will not be disturbed. Clothing
worn during the assault should be saved in a paper bag,
and the location at which the assault took place should
not be disturbed.
2. Go to a Hospital Emergency Department:
Receiving medical attention is important immediately
after an assault regardless of whether the survivor
decides to report the assault to the police or not. It
is important to determine the presence of physical
injury, sexually transmitted infections, or pregnancy.
If the police are contacted, they should transport the
survivor to the hospital, or the survivor may choose to
have a friend or family member take them. If the
survivor goes to the hospital before calling police, the
hospital usually contacts law enforcement if the
survivor says he/she has been sexually assaulted.
However, the survivor is not required to file a report
when the police arrive at the hospital. Hospital
personnel are prepared to conduct a standardized medical
exam known as a "rape protocol exam." This exam ensures
relevant evidence is collected and certain observations
are recorded. The cost of the exam is covered by special
government state funds set aside for crime victims. The
survivor must file a police report for the cost of the
rape protocol exam to be covered by the state. This does
not obligate the survivor to pursue criminal charges.
Questions regarding the rape protocol exam and state
assistance can be directed to USC's Office for Sexual
Health & Violence Prevention. The hospital should also
call Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands and a
volunteer advocate should arrive at the hospital to
support the survivor throughout the exam. A
survivor/witness advocate from law enforcement should
also be available. These services are confidential. If
USC Police are involved, a representative from the
University (either a Housing Department or a staff
member from the Office for Sexual Health & Violence
Prevention) may also go to the hospital to support and
assist the survivor with security matters (lock change,
room change, phone number change, etc.) These same
offices can provide the survivor with academic
assistance. Again, these services are confidential.
3. Obtain Follow-Up Counseling: The following
agencies are available to survivors of sexual assault
and should be strongly recommended to a survivor:
USC's Counseling & Human Development: 777-5223
USC Sexual Assault Support Group: 777-8248
Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands: 24-Hour Hotline
at 771-7273
How To Respond If More Than 72 Hours
After The Assault:
Many survivors of sexual assault do not come forward
until days, weeks, months, or even years after the
assault. When a survivor reports a sexual assault that
happened more than 72 hours ago, all of the same
procedures apply with the EXCEPTION of the necessity to
go to the hospital for evidence collection (rape
protocol exam.) The survivor should still be encouraged
to report the assault to the police and go to a medical
center to check for internal injuries, sexually
transmitted infections, and pregnancy. Counseling should
be emphasized to assist the survivor in the healing
process. Certainly, the type and extent of police
involvement, medical exam, and counseling will depend on
the amount of time that has lapsed since the assault,
but should be encouraged regardless. You should also
follow the same reporting procedure by contacting the
Office for Sexual Health & Violence Prevention as soon
as possible and file an anonymous report.
Reasons To Report the Assault: Reporting helps
the survivor regain a sense of personal power and
control. Reporting allows the survivor access to
specialized medical care. Reporting helps preserve
evidence which could be valuable in prosecuting.
Reporting helps survivors resolve concerns about
personal safety and security. Reporting does not mean
prosecution is certain, but if pursued later, the first
steps have been taken.
In Brief, Encourage The Survivor To:
- Call the police and preserve physical evidence.
- Go to a hospital emergency department.
- Seek counseling, information, and legal
assistance.
As A Responder, You Should:
- Contact the Sexual Health & Violence Prevention
office as soon as possible, 777-8248. You can also
file an anonymous report here.
- Let the survivor know that you want to listen. Let the
survivor talk, do not interrupt. Show interest, nod your
head to let the survivor know that you are listening.
Give whatever expressions of concern that are
comfortable. There is no "correct" way to respond to a
survivor. The important thing is for the survivor to be
able to talk to a reassuring and supportive responder.
- Believe the survivor. People rarely make up stories
about sexual assault.
- Let the survivor be in control of the situation and make
decisions about reporting to the police or going through
the rape protocol exam, etc.
If you are not sure how to handle the situation, or
need help for yourself, contact an SH&VP advocate to
provide tips on how to speak with a survivor, or to
discuss your own reactions and needs as a responder. |
