Being the victim of a sexual assault is an extremely traumatizing event, but it is important to seek the assistance of police and other professionals as soon as possible. If you, or a friend, are the victim of a sexual assault do the following:
Don't hesitate. As soon as you reach a place of safety, call 9-1-1 and the police dispatcher will send officers to assist you at once. They will take a report and arrange for you to go to the hospital for a physical examination.
Even if you are unsure about pursuing criminal charges, if you believe you have been the victim of a sexual assault it is important to call the police. The Northern Illinois University Department of Public Safety is committed to ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive comprehensive care, regardless of whether or not they wish to press charges. To provide that care, the department works closely with trained professionals at University Health Service, the Student Counseling and Development Center, University Judicial Office, Kishwaukee Community Hospital, and Safe Passage.
In cases of sexual assault, the sooner evidence can be gathered the better. Chances that evidence will be damaged or destroyed increase with each passing hour.
If the assault occurred recently, do not change clothes, eat, drink, shower, or clean up in any way. Your physical condition, the clothing you are wearing and the crime scene should all be preserved without alteration so that they can be documented. Altering or disposing of any of those things may ruin valuable evidence.
If you suspect that your attacker may have used "date rape" drugs to facilitate the sexual assault it is especially important that you seek help immediately. Some of those drugs can leave a victim's system within hours. If you suspect you have been drugged, try to avoid urinating until medical staff can collect a sample. Prosecution may still be possible without such evidence, but having it makes a case much stronger.
The victim of a sexual assault is in a very unique situation. The victim's body is the crime scene, which adds to the trauma of the attack. It also means that a timely examination by trained medical professionals is extremely important.
The physical examination and tests conducted by medical personnel not only assist police in their investigation, but are also extremely important to the victim as it allows doctors to determine what medical care is required and provide information about, or treatment for, sexually transmitted diseases that could result from the attack.
Bring a clean change of clothing to the emergency room so that you can change after the examination.
The staff at the Kishwaukee Community Hospital can tend to your medical needs and conduct evidence collection. The Staff at the Universtiy Health Service will provide medical care and follow up treatment, but will not conduct evidence collection.