Emergency & Community Resources

1-800-VICTIMS https://1800victims.org/resources

This website offers comprehensive, searchable information about services and resources available across the state of California specific to the type of incident or crime that the individual has experienced

Unit 877-433-9069 victimservices@doj.ca.gov https://oag.ca.gov/victimservices

The Victims’ Services Unit offers support and information to victims and their families at every stage of the criminal process by advocating for victims, helping identify and close any gaps in services, and working in conjunction with victim service providers and frontline prosecutors all across the state.

https://victims.ca.gov/

They provide financial assistance to victims of crime and help them restore their lives through reimbursement of crime-related expenses and connection to services and support.

A sexual assault forensic medical examination provides comprehensive treatment for any injuries, preventative medications for pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, and assistance with emotional recovery. It also preserves an individual’s ability to file a police report, now or in the future if they choose. Forensic medical exams are available within 5 days (120 hours) of an attempted, completed, or suspected sexual assault. However, evidence may still be collected for an assault that occurred more than 5 days ago. Call the SART center to consult. Individuals who have a forensic medical exam are not required to file a criminal report or report to PCC, and may choose to instead remain anonymous.

Best Practices for Preserving Evidence:

• It is recommended that you do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, urinate, defecate or change clothes before the exam. Even if you have already taken these actions, you are still able to have prompt medical care.
• Gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing and any other pertinent articles that may be used for evidence and secure them in a clean paper bag or clean sheet. In the event of you choosing to file a criminal complaint, securing evidence will assist you in pursuing legal action in the future.
• Do not delete or alter electronic evidence, photographs, texts, emails, social media posts and messages, etc.
• If you suspect that you may have been drugged, urinate into a cup as soon as possible. Do not wipe after, or wash your hands. Bring the cup with you to the emergency room or SART center.

Forensic medical exams “rape kits” are available to individuals who experience an attempted, completed, or suspected sexual assault. Individuals who undergo a forensic medical examination receive comprehensive treatment for any injuries, preventative medications for pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, assistance with emotional recovery, and preserve their ability to file a police report, now or in the future.

What to Expect

Depending on the types of sexual contact/activity that occurred, the collection of physical evidence may include taking samples from the vagina, mouth, or rectum to test for sperm cells and semen. If the victim/survivor was possibly drugged or consumed a sedative-like substance, the medical provider may also take a urine sample. Other evidence may be obtained from fingernail scrapings, foreign matter on your body, and the clothes worn at the time of the assault. All exam findings are completely confidential and can only be released with the written consent of the victim/survivor. If there are visible injuries, they may be photographed. Photographing injuries is important because by the time the assailant is prosecuted, the injuries may have healed. The victim/survivor is also permitted to have an advocate or support person with them throughout the exam.

Things to note about a forensic examination:

• The exam can be done up to five days (120 hours) after an assault. If the assault occurred more than 5 days ago, there still may be evidence that can be collected. Call the SART center to consult.
• There is no cost for a forensic examination
• Reporting to law enforcement is not required to receive a forensic exam

To preserve evidence:

• It is recommended that victims/survivors do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush their teeth, urinate, defecate or change clothes before the exam. Even if one or more of these actions has been taken, it is still best to seek prompt medical care.
• Gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing and any other pertinent articles that may be used for evidence and secure them in a clean paper bag or clean sheet. Securing evidence assists with pursuing legal or criminal action in the future.
• Do not delete or alter electronic evidence, photographs, texts, emails, social media posts and messages, etc.
• If drugs may have been involved in the assault, urinate into a cup as soon as possible and save it. It’s important not to wipe or wash hands afterwards. Bring the cup to the emergency room or SART center.

• Based on the type(s) of abuse the victim/survivor experiences, there may be one or more options for and kinds of evidence to preserve. The police, the Title IX Office, or a victim advocate can further advise on ways to preserve evidence on a case-by-case basis.
• Retain police reports of when you or a witness called the police
• Retain medical and psychological reports from professionals. Emotional abuse can show up in physical ways (e.g. anxiety, weight loss, depression, etc.). By reporting this to your medical provider or therapist, it can be noted in their records.
• Physical abuse or violence:
• Retain medical reports of injuries from the abuse inflicted on the victim/survivor, child(ren), pet, or others (if medical assistance was sought). If physical injuries occurred, photograph or have them photographed. Date and timestamp any photos of injuries.
• Household objects torn or broken by the abuser
• Pictures of your household in disarray after a violent episode
• Pictures of weapons used by the abuser against you
• Psychological or emotional abuse: Maintain a diary and/or calendar documenting the abuse as it happened and summarizing verbal interactions. Keep voicemails or voice messages, videos, as well as screenshots of text messages, social media posts or messages, emails, and/or other virtual communications.
• Financial abuse:
• Log incidents, seeking medical care, etc.
• Sexual abuse or assault (see above)
• Stalking behaviors (see below)

Stalking is demonstrated through a pattern of unwanted contact or conduct which may occur in person, digitally, through a third party, or by some combination of these methods.

• Recording information about the stalking behavior you may be experiencing will help to document the behavior for College resolution processes, protection order applications, divorce and child custody cases, or criminal prosecution should wish to hold the individual engaging in the behavior accountable. It can also help preserve your memory of individual incidents about which you might later report or testify.
• A stalking log can be used to record and document all stalking-related behavior, including harassing phone calls, text messages, letters, e-mail messages, acts of vandalism, and threats communicated through third parties. It’s important to capture the following information in as much detail as possible in this log: date, time, description of incident, location of incident (physical location, technology used, online platform, witness names and contact information, evidence (e.g. photos, video, screenshots, call logs, gifts, etc.), and details regarding a corresponding report filed (e.g. name of office or organization, report #, contact person).
• When reporting the incidents to law enforcement, always write down the officer’s name and badge number for your own records. Even if the officers do not make an arrest, you can ask them to make a written report and request a copy for your records.
• In addition to logging unwanted contact, an advocate or police officer may recommend you save and photograph unwanted text messages, emails, letters and gifts and store them in a secure location.

• Document verbal and written communications and interactions. Some instances of sexual harassment may occur over text messages, emails, social media, voicemail, pictures, recorded messages, videos, or other digital platforms. Download, screenshot, and/or save these correspondences. If incidents occur in person and there is not written or video evidence, document in writing in as much detail as possible the in-person incidents. Without taking notes soon after the incidents occur, small details can be forgotten. Be sure to include dates, times, and locations of all incidents.
• Document unwelcomeness of the behaviors. It’s important to document that the behaviors were unwanted on your part.
• Document the impact on you emotionally, physically, academically, etc.
• Witness names. there may be a chance that other people were around while the harassment took place, even if it was just briefly. Having another person confirm that they witnessed the harassment can be extremely important. If you believe someone else may have witnessed the behavior(s), write down their name(s) and the dates of the behaviors they may have witnessed.
• Document the report made to your supervisor or employer.
• Document any negative actions. If you experience any negative consequences as a result of refusing sexual favors, as a result of indicating your objection to such sexually inappropriate behaviors, or as a result of reporting the incident, document those as well and include the dates and times. This may include, but is not limited to:
• Demotion
• Reduced salary
• Reduction in hours
• Being given undesirable work shifts
• Being assigned undesirable work tasks that you previously did not have to perform
• Being assigned a high volume of work beyond your normal capacity
• Giving you a performance evaluation that is lower than it should be
• Transferring you to a location or position that’s less desirable
• Engaging in verbal or physical abuse
• Threatening to or making reports to authorities (e.g. immigration)
• Experiencing increased scrutiny
• Spreading false rumors
• Making your work more difficult (e.g. changing their work schedule to conflict with known family or other responsibilities)
• Being fired