WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

Take these steps right away

o IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, get away from the attacker to a safe place as fast as you can.

If you are on-campus: If you are off-campus:

Call Campus Safety by dialing 27343, Call 911 or the police/sheriff’s department

From any campus phone responsible for the area where the assault

or by calling from any occurred.

Emergency Call Box located

throughout the campus, or

(714) 992-7343 from your cell phone.

o Do not wash, comb, or clean any part of your body. Do not douche. Do not change clothes if possible. Do not destroy clothes if you do change. Hospital staff will need to collect evidence.

o Go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or if on-campus, to the Health Center as soon as possible whether or not you plan to file charges. The Health Center is not an “evidence collection” site but will assist you in securing the care you need. You need to be examined, treated for any injuries, and screened for possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. The emergency room doctor will collect evidence using a rape kit for fibers, hairs, saliva, or semen that the attacker may have left behind. You or the hospital staff can call the police from the emergency room to file a report if you have not already done so. Ask the hospital staff about possible support groups you can attend right away.

o Call a friend or family member you trust. You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.

Other important steps

o If the alleged assailant is a Fullerton College student or the assault occurred on campus or District property, report the assault to Campus Safety (714) 992-7343 whether or not you plan to file charges. Reporting a rape or other act of sexual violence does not commit you to filing charges. When you make your report, have someone go with you. You can go the next day, but the sooner the better. Rarely do rapists attack one person only; they get away with it and so, they continue to do it.

o Whether the assault occurred on-campus or off-campus, if the alleged assailant is a Fullerton College student, faculty or staff member, file a report with Campus Safety and with local authorities.

o Pressing charges can be a complicated process and their decision to file charges may be difficult. Each person must decide for themselves, based on the own circumstances. If you need support to make this decision, campus counselors are available in the Health Center (714) 992-7414.

o Do not blame yourself. Be compassionate with yourself. Even if your body responded sexually to the attacker, it does not mean you “enjoyed” the experience or that it is your fault. Even if you believe you were naïve, not cautious, or even foolish, it is not your fault. You have been through a trauma and need to make space for your own emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual healing. You may be overwhelmed by many different emotions – fear, grief, guilt, shame, rage. It is important to seek support. There are many different options, such as talking with a campus counselor, joining a victims group or talking with a friend. People who receive counseling tend to recover from their experiences faster and with fewer lasting effects than those who get no help. Recovery from sexual assaults means that, over time, you are not thinking about the assault and your emotions are not dominated by it. You will be able to envision a positive, happy and successful future for yourself.