After sexual assault, it is hard to know how to react, what to do. Learning more about steps and options can help you ground.
Steps you can take after rape and sexual assault
You are not alone. If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, please call 911.
- Get to a safe place
- What happened was not your fault
- Reach out to someone you trust for support
You don’t have to go through this difficult time alone. Call NC State Women’s Center Sexual Assault Helpline at 919.515.4444, InterAct Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 919.828.3005 or 866.291.0853 (toll-free) in Raleigh, National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), NC State Counseling Center at 919.515.2423 for support and guidance 24/7. Try not to isolate yourself.
Seek medical attention
When you call Helpline and Hotline, you will be guided to connect with a local sexual assault service provider to address injury, pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. You may wish to have a sexual assault forensic exam (“rape kit”) within 120 hours in which Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or someone trained to provide the exam will collect DNA evidence that can help identify the perpetrator. You don’t have to agree to the forensic exam, but doing so may give you a stronger case against the perpetrator if you decide to report the crime now or in the future. Do not shower or discard your clothes in order to preserve evidence. If you are on or near NC State campus, Student Health Services and its Gynecology Department 919.515.2563 (see Rape and/or Sexual Assault Resources) can provide medical attention, and InterAct Solace Center 919.828.3067 or 866.291.0854 (toll free) can provide a sexual assault forensic exam. The cost would be covered by the victim compensation program.
Recovery from Sexual Assault or Abuse
Sexual assault is any nonconsensual sexual contact including all forms of rape or attempted rape. Any individual with all gender identities may be victimized in sexual assault. Emotional responses to sexual assault vary greatly from person to person. Healing and recovery looks different for different people. What you do can be at your own pace and aligned with your own values and needs. Our page on Interpersonal Violence & Sexual Assault outlines many of the steps you can take and the resources that are available to you and to those you are supporting.
Appointments at the Counseling Center are confidential, and you are not required to report the assault to the university or police when you seek counseling. Your counselor will help you manage your feelings and help you decide what will help you recover from this traumatic event. It is never too late to seek help for a sexual assault, even if it happened a long time ago.
Getting Supportive Measures and Protections
NC State University can help survivor students of sexual assault get through the difficult time by providing supportive measures, such as extensions of deadlines or other course related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, no-contact orders, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absence, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus and other similar measures. You do not have to make a report or press criminal charges in order to receive supportive measures. To request supportive measures, please contact the Title IX coordinator at the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity.
You may seek civil “no-contract” protective order or domestic violence protective order. You can consult with Student Legal Services, InterAct, or an attorney.
Reporting Options
When you or someone you know were victimized in sexual assault and/or interpersonal violence, you have options to report to the university and/or police. You can decide how much you would like to participate in any process.
You can report to NC State University Police at 911 (for emergencies) or 919.515.3000, Equal Opportunity and Equity (EOE) at the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity at 919.513.0574 or equalopportunity@ncsu.edu, and/or Title IX Coordinator at 919.513.0574 or any of NC State’s Title IX Officers.
You can also report anonymously online via the Discrimination, Harassment, Title IX and Retaliation Report Form (see https://diversity.ncsu.edu/report-a-concern/).