Time Sensitive Information for Rape Survivors
Rape is a violent act of power and control where sex is used as a weapon. It is NOT motivated by sexual desire and affects all genders/gender identities from every race, class, age, religion, and sexual orientation. When someone has been sexually assaulted they have options about what to do next. The decision of what option(s) to take is theirs to make, however, some options are only available for a short time.
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Time-Sensitive Information To Know
Emergency room staff can contact your local Rape Crisis Center so a survivor can have an advocate be present with you to provide resources and emotional support throughout the entire evidence collection or for as long as needed..
Within 72 Hours
Survivor should start HIV Prophylaxis if needed.
Within 96 Hours
Test for any drugs (toxicology report) if the survivor believes they were drugged.
Within 120 Hours
Survivors 18 and above do not need to report the assault if they choose not to. For Minors under 18, the hospital will automatically report the incident to the police to get or receive medical treatment or to have evidence collected.
Start pregnancy prophylactic (the morning after or PlanB pill).
Receive a medical exam (evidence collection kit).
Get STI prophylactic treatments.
Contact your local Rape Crisis Center to have someone go with the survivor to the hospital so that an advocate the survivor can trust to be there with them throughout the entire process.
If the survivors DO want to get a rape kit to have evidence collected properly, the survivor should try NOT to do the following if possible to ensure the best chance of collecting viable evidence.
The survivor should NOT:
DO NOT bathe, take a shower, or brush their teeth. The hospital can STILL collect evidence even if the survivors have showered or used the bathroom. The hospital can still do a full processing kit and should do so if the survivors want evidence for future options of pressing charges.
DO NOT brush your teeth. But, if you do brush your teeth, they can still obtain the collected evidence.
DO NOT change their clothes. The survivor should bring the clothes in a PAPER bag if they have already changed or are not wearing the clothes that were present during the assault any longer.
How to Help a Survivor
Rape and Sexual Assault are extremely traumatic events and people rarely lie about it happening. If someone confides in you about their assault.
LISTEN nonjudgmentally.
Be sensitive to what the survivor tells you.
Believe them.
Do NOT judge or ask blaming questions.
DO remind them that what happened was NOT THEIR FAULT!
Respect their choices, and refer them to additional services if they need or want more support during the healing process.
Helpful Resources
These resources are here to empower and support you. Feel free to reach out to any of them as needed. You are not alone, and there is help available.
Jane Doe, Inc.
Contact: (617) 248-0922
The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence brings together organizations and individuals committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC)
Contact: (978) 744-8552
HAWC provides free services to survivors of domestic violence throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts.
(for domestic violence only)
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
Contact: (978) 834-9710
Serving survivors and children who witness domestic violence in the Greater Newburyport/Merrimac Valley area of Massachusetts.
(for domestic violence only)
The Network/La Red
Contact: (671) 695-0877
Bilingual services (English y Español) for Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender survivors of domestic abuse.
North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth (NAGLY)
Contact: (978) 224-2014
NAGLY hosts events to honor, respect, educate, and empower GLBTQ youth throughout the North Shore region. They also offer free and confidential HIV, Hep C, and STI testing.
Health Quarters
Contact: (978) 705-4039
A sexual and reproductive health center with locations in Lawrence, Haverhill, and Beverly.
Younity Drop-In Center
Contact: (978) 270-0428
Younity is a drop-in center for youth ages 16-26 in Gloucester, MA. They offer regular meetings as well as access to necessities and harm reduction supplies.
Victim Rights Law Center
Contact: (617) 399-6720
This organization provides legal representation to victims of rape and sexual assault. Their services include free legal representation, legal training, and technical support to professionals.
Drug Rehab
GLCAC
Contact: (617) 686-0090
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is to improve and maintain the health of individuals and families in the Merrimack Valley by providing a network of high quality, comprehensive healthcare services and by training healthcare professionals to respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population.
(for domestic violence only)
Hospital Emergency Contact Info
Contact: (978) 683-4000
The Merrimack Valley's Premiere Health Care Provider | Lawrence General Hospital