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Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office

Help and assistance is available

If you are in need of immediate assistance or do not feel safe, call 911.
If you are on the USNA yard, call 3-3333.

You do not have to go through this alone. You have options.  Each of the resources provided below can offer you support, information and assistance on reporting options.  For direct confidential assistance call the USNA Sexual Assault Response Victim Advocate at the 24/7 Response Line (443) 336-2637

You may also choose the 24/7 confidential DoD Safe HelpLine, which can be reached via the Internet, text or phone.DoD Safe Help Line

Reporting Options:

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY

Restricted Report

In order to ensure the Restricted report option, the sexual assault should be reported directly to a SARC, Victim Advocate, Chaplain, health care provider, or any SAPRO staff member.

  • No law enforcement involvement 
  • Medical care and forensic evidence collection exam available 
  • Counseling available (mental health services) 
  • Confidential
  • Can be changed to an Unrestricted report at any time

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY

Unrestricted Report

Anyone who is not a Restricted reporting resource (see italicized list left) cannot protect a Restricted report. Call or contact a SARC when in doubt about reporting options.

  • Law enforcement involved, investigation
  • Medical care and forensic evidence collection exam available
  • Counseling available (mental health services)
  • Confidential and limited (restricted) to specific individuals
  • Chain of Command notified on a need to know basis - command assistance provided
  • Military Protection Order (MPO) available if needed

CIVILIAN

If the survivor wants resources ONLY – NO law enforcement

  • Contact USNA SARC or local rape crisis agency for advocacy and support
    • USNA 24/7 Response HelpLine (443) 336-2637
    • YWCA Crisis Hotline (410) 222-7273
  • Medical care and forensic evidence collection exam available at local area hospitals
  • Counseling or mental health services available
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 1-800-222-0364
    • YWCA counseling services (410) 626-7800

CIVILIAN

If the survivor wants law enforcement involvement:

  • Contact USNA SARC or local rape crisis agency for advocacy and support
    • USNA 24/7 Response HelpLine (443) 336-2637
    • YWCA Crisis Hotline (410) 222-7273
  • Contact local law enforcement
  • Medical care and forensic evidence collection exam available at local area hospitals
  • Counseling or mental health services available
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 1-800-222-0364
    • YWCA counseling services (410) 626-7800

Important issues to consider:

  • Seeking Medical Care – Getting medically checked over is recommended after a sexual assault.  A victim may have external and/or internal injuries from the assault that require medical attention.  Health care providers can also provide emergency contraception (up to 72 hours after the assault) and STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing.  If the sexual assault is not a recent occurrence, it is still encouraged that victims get tested for possible sexually transmitted infections (STI). 
  • Protecting Evidence – For a sexual assault, forensic evidence can be collected up to 120 hours (5 days) later. If you want to have forensic evidence of the assault collected, it is not recommended that you bathe, shower, brush your teeth, change clothes or move or touch anything at the location of the assault. However, if you have already bathed or showered, you can still seek a forensic evidence exam.  The sooner you choose to have the exam done, the better.
  • Forensic Evidence Collection Exam – Also known as a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam or SAFE, is a head-to-toe examination looking for injuries and taking samples that may be used as evidence in a police investigation and any subsequent prosecution. A forensic examination can be very time consuming but is vitally important. Clothing worn during or after the assault may also be taken as evidence.  Forensic evidence exams are performed at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore-Washington Medical Center or National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda.  If you choose to have a forensic evidence collection exam, you can choose to be accompanied by a friend, a SAR Victim Advocate or NCIS.  
    • Protecting Evidence Quick Points
      • Evidence can be only collected up to 120 hours after a sexual assault.
      • Keep evidence intact – bathing, showering, washing, brushing of teeth, drinking, eating, or changing clothing before an exam is NOT recommended.
  • Talk to Someone – Calling a sexual assault Victim Advocate or a helpline is certainly helpful and these individuals can provide support and connection to resources.  Feelings of loneliness and isolation are common after a traumatic experience like a sexual assault.  Every person responds differently, but common reactions include numbness, denial, shock, disbelief, hostility, tearfulness, being easily startled, a feeling of loss of control, a feeling of having been violated, difficulty concentrating, depression, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, withdrawal, nightmares, phobias, recurrent thoughts about the assault, and rage.  For immediate online confidential support you can also utilize the RAINN online hotline.

Remember there is no one right way to respond and everyone does not heal at the same pace. Your reaction will depend on the type of assault, your relationship to the offender, your personality, your prior life experiences and your support system. Just do not forget, you have experienced a trauma. Like any other trauma, you can not just make the feelings and reactions disappear by ignoring them. Talking with a trained counselor can help a victim of sexual assault sort through these reactions and gain more control.  

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