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Surviving sexual assault is traumatic. Knowing what to do next shouldn’t be.
This step-by-step guide—based on insights from RAINN and other leading advocacy groups—explains how to:
- Protect your immediate safety
- Preserve physical evidence
- Understand your reporting options
- Seek medical and emotional support
- Explore potential legal action
Whether you choose to report the assault or not, these first steps can help you regain control and begin the healing process on your terms.
Steps To Take Immediately After The Assault:
Ensure Your Safety
- Call 911: If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical assistance, call 911. Law enforcement will respond and ensure your safety.
Preserve Evidence
- Avoid Bathing or Cleaning Up: As hard as it may be, try not to bathe or shower. Intuitively, you will want to, however, doing so can destroy important evidence.
- Do Not Change Clothes: Again, the urge to do so will be strong, but resist the signal. If you do change clothing, place what you were wearing at the time of the assault in a paper bag to preserve evidence.
- Avoid Eating, Drinking, or Brushing Teeth: If there was oral contact, evidence such as DNA may be collected, which will strengthen your case.
- Document the Incident: Write down all details you remember.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you’re unsure about reporting the assault, seeking medical care is an important step to protect your health and well-being.
Visit a hospital or health clinic as soon as possible. Medical professionals can treat any injuries, provide options to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, and help you document the assault.
If you’re open to it, you may also choose to undergo a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE), also known as a rape kit. This optional exam is performed by a specially trained provider to collect physical evidence that may be used in a legal investigation, now or in the future. It’s best to have the exam within 72 hours of the assault, though some evidence may still be collected afterward. If you suspect you were drugged, notify medical staff immediately, as urine or blood samples must be collected quickly.
Many hospitals also have sexual assault advocates on call. These trained professionals offer emotional support, explain your legal rights, and guide you through the medical and reporting process. You don’t have to go through it alone.
Filing A Report With Law Enforcement:
If you’re nervous about talking to police alone, consider asking an advocate or trusted support person to go with you. You can call the police directly or visit a police station to file a report. An officer will take your statement and may ask for details about the assault.
Want to report anonymously? Anonymous reports can help authorities track repeat offenders, even if you’re not ready to press charges. Many jurisdictions allow filling anonymous reports.
Not ready to report? That’s entirely your choice—and that choice is valid. You know what feels right for you. No matter what you decide, support, care, and resources are still available.
Providing Evidence
If you underwent a forensic exam, inform the police so they can obtain the evidence collected. You may also provide any additional evidence, such as text messages or social media posts. Inform law enforcement about any other forensic exams or other available evidence.
Participating in the Investigation
If you choose to report the assault, law enforcement will typically launch an investigation. This may include interviewing witnesses, gathering additional evidence, and working to identify the perpetrator. You may be asked to provide further statements, participate in a lineup, or assist in other parts of the investigative process.
Reporting at School, Work, or in the Military:
College Campuses
If the assault occurred on a college campus, you can report it to the school’s Title IX coordinator. This person is responsible for addressing sexual misconduct and will explain your rights under Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions.
Campus Police
Most colleges and universities have campus police or security departments that can take your report, ensure your immediate safety, and initiate an investigation. They may also coordinate with local law enforcement if the incident falls outside their jurisdiction or requires further resources.
Workplaces
If the assault occurred in the workplace, report it to your company’s HR department. HR is responsible for handling complaints of sexual misconduct, initiating internal investigations, and ensuring the workplace complies with anti-harassment and discrimination policies. They should also inform you of your rights and available support resources. If HR fails to act appropriately, you may have additional options through outside agencies.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
If your employer fails to adequately respond to your complaint, you can file a charge with the EEOC. This federal agency investigates claims of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment, and may pursue legal action or offer mediation to resolve the issue.
Military
Restricted vs. Unrestricted Reporting
In the military, survivors have two reporting options. Restricted reporting allows you to access confidential support services—such as medical care, advocacy, and counseling—without initiating a formal investigation. Unrestricted reporting triggers an official investigation and command notification, while still providing access to the same support services.
Legal Options and Considerations:
You don’t need to process everything all at once. The information below isn’t urgent right now—but if and when you feel ready to explore your legal options, this section can help you understand what’s possible. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed after such a deeply personal and painful experience. You’re not alone. Advocacy organizations can walk with you in the days ahead, offering support, resources, and reassurance.
And if you decide to explore legal action, we may help connect you with a caring attorney who understands what you’ve been through. In the meantime, here’s a brief overview of what legal action can look like:
Criminal Prosecution
If law enforcement gathers enough evidence, the person who harmed you may be formally charged and the case could move forward in the criminal justice system.
If that happens, you have important rights throughout the process, such as the right to be kept informed about court dates, the right to share your voice through a victim impact statement, and, in some cases, the right to seek restitution to help cover expenses related to the harm you experienced.
Civil Lawsuits
Even if no criminal charges are filed—or if the case doesn’t move forward in court—you may still have the option to pursue justice through a civil lawsuit.
A civil suit is different from a criminal case. Instead of seeking punishment for a crime, it allows you to seek financial compensation for the harm you’ve experienced. This might include coverage for medical bills, therapy costs, lost income, or emotional suffering.
Many survivors choose the civil route because it gives them a sense of agency, closure, and a path to healing on their own terms.
Statute of Limitations
In recent years, nearly all U.S. states have significantly expanded or removed statutes of limitations for both civil and criminal cases involving sexual abuse, particularly those against minors.
These changes reflect a growing recognition of the unique challenges survivors face in coming forward, often taking years or even decades to process their trauma and seek justice. Many states now allow survivors to pursue criminal charges or file civil lawsuits long after the abuse occurred, with some providing “lookback windows” that temporarily revive previously time-barred claims. These reforms may hold perpetrators accountable and provide survivors with greater access to justice.
To look up the statute of limitations (SOL) in the state where the abuse occurred, consult the state’s laws directly, usually available on official government or legislative websites. Alternatively, seeking advice from a local attorney specializing in sexual abuse cases ensures accurate and up-to-date information. If you need a referral, we may be able to connect you, and the first step is filling out the brief, confidential form below to have your case reviewed free of charge.
You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out at Once—Or Alone
There’s a lot to take in. And after experiencing something traumatic, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Just remember: you’re not expected to make sense of everything right away—or by yourself. Support is available whenever you’re ready, whether that’s today, next week, or even years from now. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided is not legal advice and should not be interpreted as such. Contact a licensed attorney for legal guidance in your jurisdiction.