What to Do If You’re Assaulted

• Go to a safe place and tell someone you trust what happened.
• In an emergency call campus or local law enforcement:
  • Worcester State University Police: 508-929-8911
  • City of Worcester Police: 508-799-8466

• Any person who has experienced sexual violence is encouraged to take steps to preserve evidence of the incident as doing so may be necessary to prove that a crime occurred, or to obtain a protection order from the court.
• Save copies of any electronic communications (pictures, videos, texts, social media posts, etc.)
• Avoid showering, bathing, douching, drinking, eating or brushing your teeth. Do not throw away any clothing or objects that might contain evidence. Save every article of clothing worn during the incident without laundering it or altering it and place them into a paper bag (not plastic), if available. If you choose to go to the hospital, bring the bag with you.
• Survivors can receive a forensic evidence examination, regardless of factors that may affect the validity of a sample, such as time elapsed, use of soaps or detergents, or temperature and humidity.

• Not all injuries are evident. For your well-being, it is strongly recommended that you receive a medical exam at a local hospital or Worcester State Health Services as soon as possible.
• Survivors can receive a forensic evidence examination, regardless of factors that may affect the validity of a sample, such as time elapsed, use of soaps or detergents, or temperature and humidity.
• Some medical actions are more effective if taken within a few days after an offense, such as preventative treatment for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, evidence collection, toxicology testing, if there are signs that drugs or alcohol facilitated the offense.
• Medical staff are confidential resources who can help assess your needs, including prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy, and emotional counseling.
• Trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are specially trained, certified professionals skilled in performing quality forensic medical-legal exams.
• Review the list of medical resources and other related information.

• After an incident seek out a confidential resource who will keep your information and the incident confidential as well support your emotional well being.
• Confidential resources and advocates can help with crisis intervention, review your reporting options and rights, provide crisis support and coping skills, assess and engage safety planning, encourage medical follow up, and assist with connection to additional on or off campus resources.
• Review the list of on and off campus confidential and emotional support services.

• Impacted individuals have a number of reporting options available. You may make a confidential report, a non-confidential report, or no report at all.
• Review information about, and a list of reporting options.

Access online and hotline resource information for 24/7 support.