Get Help — Survivors/Complainants

Immediate Steps

• Go to a safe place. On-campus, your RA’s room, a friend’s room, or any open offices are good choices.
• Call someone you trust. A friend, family member or victim advocate are all good resources. You do not have to go through this alone.
• Preserve evidence. After sexual violence, do not shower until you have considered whether to have a no-cost sexual assault forensic exam. You do not need to make a formal report or press charges to have a sexual assault forensic exam. Save the clothes you were wearing (unwashed) in a paper or cloth bag. After sexual violence, relationship violence, and/or stalking, take photos of any damage or injury and keep communication records (i.e. texts, emails, letters).

Within 24 hours

• Seek out support. You may want to turn to a confidential advocate or counselor or any of the on-campus resources for support and information. They will talk with you about your options for additional support services and reporting.
• After unwanted physical contact get medical care. A medical provider can check and treat you for physical injury, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. You do not need to make a formal report or press charges to receive medical care. But if you decide to report the assault in the future, getting medical care, including a sexual assault exam within 72 hours (3 days) of an assault can allow for collection and preservation of important forensic and/or DNA evidence.

• Consider making a report. There are two channels to make a report regarding what happened to you. The first is with the Campus Public Safety and the other is with WVSU’s Title IX office. You are encouraged to report through both channels but, ultimately, that decision is yours and yours only. Keep in mind that the WVSU Title IX office is a University office and there are differences between reporting to Title IX and filing criminal charges with the police.

It is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after incidents of relationship violence and sexual assault not only to address physical injuries, but also, to begin coping with the complex emotional issues surrounding these types of incidents. In times of emotional stress, people tend to minimize their own feelings out of self-protection or consideration for the feelings of people they love. Although you may feel fine physically, your body may be numbed by a state of shock, so it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. You may need treatment even if there are no visible signs of physical injury. If you choose to have evidence collected, the sooner this is done, the more reliable and potentially useful the evidence will be. A sexual assault exam and evidence collection can be conducted up to 72 hours (three days) after the assault.

It is important to seek medical care after a sexual assault in order to:

• be examined and treated for any injuries;
• be treated for exposure to sexually transmitted infections;
• be offered emergency contraception;
• collect physical and biological evidence should you decide to report the assault to the police for possible prosecution of the offender.

Consent & Rights:

• You must be awake and oriented, and able to participate in your care in order to consent to have a sexual assault exam.
• Healthcare providers should not conduct a sexual assault exam or collect physical evidence without your permission.
• You do not have to report to law enforcement in order to have a sexual assault exam conducted and evidence collected, or to have the state pay for it.
• Once you consent to the non-reporting sexual assault exam, there is no time limit for you to decide if or when you wish to report to the police.
• You have the right to have a certified sexual assault counselor/advocate person present during the sexual assault exam, if you choose. Their services are confidential and free of charge.
• You have the right to decline any part of the examination or treatment and the right to ask any questions you may have. You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
• You have the right to culturally sensitive care in a timely manner, without judgment or bias.

Basic components of a sexual assault exam include:

• History: consists of a narrative and questions related to the assault, as well as past and present medical history. It is intended to help identify injuries related to the assault and guide evidence collection.
• Physical Assessment: the purpose is to identify injuries and document physical findings.
• Evidence Collection: the WV Sexual Assault Evidence Collection kit is the standardized sexual assault kit used by all SANE’s in WV.
• The evidence collection kit includes retrieving a variety of samples including debris (soil, fibers, grass, etc.), blood, hair, urine, and genital swabs.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy risk evaluation and preventive care: medications are given to prevent STIs and emergency contraception is offered to prevent pregnancy.
• Discharge, follow-up and referrals: instructions are given regarding follow-up care for medical and counseling purposes.
• The sexual assault exam takes an average of 3-4 hours. This may be less or more, depending on the circumstances and extent of needed care.

SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS ON THE WVSU MAIN CAMPUS

• Sexual Assault Exams are currently unavailable at WVSU Health Services

Off-campus health care services are available as follows:

CAMC Women’s and Children’s Hospital
800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 388-2550

In the event of a sexual assault, various resources are available to students:

Trained on- and off- campus advocates and counselors who can provide an immediate confidential response in a crisis situation:

Contact Information: (304) 766-3262; 125 Sullivan Hall, East

Contact Information: (304) 766-3224; 129 Sullivan Hall, East

Contact Information: REACH Advocate, The Counseling Connection
1021 Quarrier Street, Suite 414
Charleston, WV 25301
304-340-3676; www.tccwv.org
24-Hour Number: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) 

Follow-up care for medical and counseling purposes is important.

You may be seen by your private physician or, as a WVSU  student, follow-up care can be provided at WVSU Health Services. It’s best if you call as soon as possible to make a follow-up appointment. WVSU students also may receive follow-up care through WVSU Counseling Services.

A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) can be found or a rape kit can be obtained at the following locations. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, called SANEs, conduct sexual assault exams (also called medical-forensic exams) to identify injuries, collect and document physical evidence using a standardized evidence collection kit including assessment and evidence collection in suspected drug-facilitated sexual assaults. They also conduct risk evaluation for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, and ensure the provision of preventive medications and emergency contraception. Additionally, SANEs provide resources and referrals for follow-up at discharge. SANEs are trained in courtroom testimony.

A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) can be found or a rape kit can be obtained at:

CAMC Women’s and Children’s Hospital
800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 388-2550

CAMC General Hospital
501 Morris Street, Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 388-5432 

CAMC Memorial Hospital
3200 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 388-5432

A sexual assault exam and evidence collection can be conducted up to 72 hours (three days) after the assault.

If seeking treatment directly after the assault, please do not:

• Change clothes (bring, or have someone bring, a change of clothes)
• Shower or bathe
• Wash or wipe
• Douche
• Drink
• Eat
• Smoke
• Brush your teeth
• If you must use the bathroom, do no wipe, only dab.

Taking these precautions before the sexual assault exam allows you to keep your legal options open as long as possible. These activities can destroy evidence.

If seeking treatment and it is not directly after the assault:
Place the clothes you wore at the time of the incident in a clean paper bag (not plastic). Bring them with you to the forensic exam. Let your SANE nurse know you have them, and tell them if you have done anything else (washed, etc.) before you arrived. Bring a change of clothes with you to include underwear in the event they will retain your clothing for evidence purposes. If you do not have time to obtain clothing, new, basic clothing, will be available at the SATC if needed.