Medical Care/Forensic Exam

 

Medical Care:

In general, medical help should be sought as soon as possible. Medical professionals can help identify and treat injuries and evaluate risks for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Also, some medical options are able to assist with collecting forensic evidence (“rape kit”). The Pat Walker Health Center can help students with medical care, but is not able to provide forensic evidence collection.

 

Forensic Evidence and Examination:

Following a sexual assault, a victim/survivor has the option for a forensic medical exam by a trained professional. In the state of Arkansas, a victim/survivor has 96 hours from the time of the incident to have a forensic evidence examination, which will be paid for by the State. A police report is also made, unless the evidence is collected as a “Jane Doe kit”. During the forensic evidence collection and exam, assessment for injury is documented and treated, if necessary. Contents of the forensic collection include various swabs that are used to collect potential evidence. Clothing and other materials that may contain forensic evidence are also gathered, if possible. The sooner forensic evidence collection is done after an assault, the greater the likelihood of finding potential evidence for collection. 

 

Where can I get forensic evidence collected?

You have a couple of choices in Northwest Arkansas for sexual assault forensic evidence collection.

NWA Center for Sexual Assault (800) 794-4175

Northwest Arkansas for Sexual Assault provides forensic exams at their location in Springdale, AR.  Exams are completed by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). To obtain an exam with a SANE at NWA Center for Sexual Assault, call their hotline number (800) 794-4175. They may also provide a victim advocate to provide support through the examination, evidence collection, and afterwards. University of Arkansas students are encouraged to also reach out to the Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Center (SRVC) for ongoing  advocacy where additional help related to matters specific to the college population may be received. SRVC staff specialize in college students needs and are knowledgeable of many campus and community resources.

Campus Victim Advocacy

Students may use the campus victim advocacy services of the Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Center (SRVC) of the Pat Walker Health Center.  Victim advocacy services are available at no cost and are confidential. A victim advocate may assist in a number of ways. Victim advocates may be called out to the police station or to medical facilities to provide support through reporting options. They may also assist in various ways of support and referrals to help with individual needs.  For more information, about victim advocacy, please see the SRVC victim advocate brochure.

Need help outside of Northwest Arkansas

If you are away from the Northwest Arkansas, you can find a local provider for help and evidence collection by visiting https://centers.rainn.org/

Study Abroad Resources

If you are studying abroad, help is available. Please contact these organizations to get help when outside of the United States.

Sexual Assault Support and Help for Americans Abroad (SASHAA) and Pathways to Safety
https://pathwaystosafety.org

What is a “Jane Doe kit”?

A “Jane Doe kit” may be collected in situations in which the victim/survivor is uncertain about making a police report. That is, if you are uncertain if you want to make a police report, but still want the evidence collected in case you do decide to report to the police later, you can have the evidence collected within the 96 hours in which evidence collection must be done in Arkansas. Then, in the days/weeks to come, if you decide to report to police, you also have any potential evidence that has been collected.

The NWA Center for Sexual Assault has been maintaining storage of Jane Doe kits collected at their facility.  Please be advised to ask the facility how long they will hold onto the kit before it is destroyed. If you are in an area where a local police department will hold onto the Jane Doe kit in their evidence room, it is best to ask the police department who is handling the Jane Doe kit as to what their policy is with regards to holding onto Jane Doe kits before destroying them. An advocate or medical provider may assist with asking the police.  Although Jane Doe kits serve a purpose, you should carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of making an immediate report or waiting to report. A victim advocate can help you process these options.

Preserving Evidence

To preserve potential evidence that may be used to corroborate the report of a sexual assault or to help identify the offender in the event of a stranger as the rapist, the following steps should be taken to best preserve potential evidence:

  1. Do not bathe or shower or douche
  2. Do not use the restroom
  3. Do not change clothes
  4. Do not comb hair, wash face, wash hands
  5. Do not eat or drink
  6. Do not brush your teeth
  7. Do not clean up where it happened
  8. Do not wash clothes, bedding, rugs, or anything else in the area of the assault
  9. Do not move anything that the offender may have touched
  10. DO have a forensic evidence collection exam (“rape kit”) done as soon as possible.

If it was unavoidable and anything from 1-9 above was done, do not think that all is lost. In the state of Arkansas, forensic evidence (“rape kit”) can be collected up to 96 hours after the assault. However, the more time that passes, the greater the likelihood for potential evidence to be lost. Thus, the sooner you can have evidence collected and the better you can adhere to the above list, the greater the possibility of finding forensic evidence.

 

Victim’s Reparations

In Arkansas, if a police report is filed within 72 hours since the time of the assault, a victim/survivor is eligible to apply for the Victim’s Reparations program. This program serves to reimburse victims/survivors for any personal out of pocket expense that they may have incurred as a result of the crime.  A victim advocate can assist you with completing the required forms. Remember to hold onto all receipts for expenses incurred as a result of the crime. Visit Crime Victims Reparations Board website to learn more and to access application forms.