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Adult Sexual Assault Services

Medical care, evidence collection and support after sexual assault

Doctor talking to woman about sexual assault

You Are Not Alone

Experiencing sexual assault can leave you feeling an array of emotions, from shock and numbness to shame or anger. These responses to trauma are completely normal, but you do not have to face them alone.

  

The Forensic Care Center at Carroll Hospital provides medical care, forensic examination and education for adults who have experienced sexual assault. Individuals are evaluated by a specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiner in a private setting designed to support comfort, dignity and confidentiality. 

Learn More about the Forensic Care Center

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is any nonconsensual sexual act, including:

 

  • Vaginal or anal rape
  • Attempted rape
  • Forced oral penetration
  • Unwanted touching or groping
  • Voyeurism  
  • Sexually obscene communications
  • Sexual exploitation  
  • Sexual harassment
  • Child sexual abuse or incest

Sexual assault can be committed by a partner or spouse, family member, friend or acquaintance you thought you could trust, or even a stranger. It may involve threats, coercion, drugs or alcohol, physical force or a weapon.

 

Whatever your experience, nothing about your identity, clothing, behavior or relationships makes you responsible for another person’s actions. Responsibility lies solely with the offender. 

If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted

  • Get to a safe place away from the offender.
  • If you are injured or need help, call 911 when it is safe to do so.
  • Reach out to someone safe—a trusted friend, family member or support person.
  • Contact CARE Healing Center at 410-857-7322 for confidential support, advocacy and next steps.
  • Go to Carroll Hospital’s Emergency Department for screening and treatment of injuries and the Forensic Care Center for a medical forensic examination and sexual assault evidence kit (rape kit) collection. 

Sexual Assault Reporting and Examination Options

If you’ve been assaulted, a medical forensic examination can help address medical concerns, document injuries and collect evidence. But every survivor’s situation is different, and your care preferences may look different than someone else’s.

 

The Forensic Care Center offers three approaches. 

    Option 1: No Police Report, No Forensic Examination, No Evidence Collection

    Medical Care and Support 

    After Your Visit 

    • Discharged with follow-up instructions 

    Please Note 

    • No forensic examination is performed 
    • No sexual assault evidence kit (SAEK) is collected 

    Option 2: Delayed Police Report, Forensic Examination, Anonymous Evidence Collection

    Medical Care and Support 

    • Examined and treated by Emergency Department provider 
    • CARE Healing Center advocate contacted 
    • Medications offered for STIs and pregnancy prevention 

    Forensic Examination and Evidence Collection 

    • Forensic Care Center on-call Forensic Nurse Examiner contacted 
    • Medical forensic examination completed 
    • Sexual assault evidence kit collected 

    What Happens to My Evidence? 

    • SAEK stored off-site for up to 75 years or until you decide to report 
    • SAEK will not be tested unless a report is made to law enforcement 

    After Your Visit 

    • Discharged with follow-up instructions 

    Option 3: Immediate Police Report, Forensic Examination, Evidence Collection

    Medical Care and Support 

    • Examined and treated by Emergency Department provider 
    • CARE Healing Center advocate contacted 
    • Medications offered for STIs and pregnancy prevention 

    Police Involvement 

    • Police contacted for an immediate report 
    • Police interview conducted 
    • Police may recommend sexual assault evidence kit collection 

    If Evidence Collection Is Recommended 

    • Forensic Care Center on-call Forensic Nurse Examiner contacted 
    • Medical forensic examination completed 
    • Sexual assault evidence kit collected 
    • SAEK provided to law enforcement for processing at the crime lab 

    If Evidence Collection Is Not Recommended 

    • You still have the right to request a sexual assault evidence kit collection 
    • If collected, the SAEK will not be tested unless law enforcement opens an investigation 
    • SAEK may be stored for up to 75 years in case an investigation resumes 

    After Your Visit 

    • Discharged with follow-up instructions 

    Before You Decide

    • In most cases, a medical forensic examination can be done up to five days after an assault for injury documentation and evidence collection. Some evidence may be collected up to 15 days after the event. 
    • If possible, avoid bathing, brushing your teeth, changing clothes or using the bathroom to help preserve evidence. Even if you have already done these things, you can still receive an exam and sexual assault evidence kit collection. 
    • You do not need to have visible injuries to have a medical forensic examination. 
    • You do not have to talk to the police to have a forensic medical examination or sexual assault evidence kit collection. 
    • A specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiner will assist with police notification if you choose to report your assault. 
    • You can decline any part of the examination. 
    • You may have a CARE Healing Center advocate and/or one additional support person present throughout the process.