Helping Survivors

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you may find the following information helpful:

• First, remember that what happened is the survivor's fault. Help to reinforce that the survivor did not cause the assault, and no matter what happened, they did not deserve it.
• Get to a safe place. If you can safely do so, help the survivor get away from the assailant to a location where you can call for help. If it may not be safe to intervene, call for help from a safe location. Ideally, find a secure place where you aren’t alone. This can include a campus health center, or the home of a nearby friend or family member.
• Consider contacting the authorities. Call 911 to report the incident right away. Provide the dispatcher with the time, place, and description of your assailant. Wait for the police to arrive so that they can collect your statement. If you do decide to call the police, please consider the following:
  • Try not to change anything at the location where the assault occurred.
  • Remember that eating or drinking, showering, brushing teeth, going to the bathroom, and changing or altering clothes could destroy physical evidence the police can collect.
• Get medical attention. You do not have to file a police report to receive medical attention and preserve evidence. Any hospital in Texas is required to provide sexual assault exams for up to 120 hours after an assault, but the sooner the better for both treatment and evidence collection (patient is not billed for the forensic costs of evidence collection). The Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners (TXFNE) can perform a sexual assault forensic exam at the UH Student Health Center during regular business hours. Getting a medical exam helps ensure any injuries are treated, that the survivor has options to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, and may preserve valuable evidence that could be useful in the future, even if the survivor is not ready to pursue legal action now.
• Preserve evidence. Physical evidence can only be collected for a short period of time after an assault, but in many cases, a survivor years to decide whether to pursue a criminal case (and typically the longest if they were a child at the time of an offense). Try to save anything that might contain the perpetrator’s DNA, because investigators and medical professionals can collect this and use it to build a case against an assailant. Even if a survivor doesn't think they want to file a police report, they might change their mind at a later date. Help the survivor avoid these activities until they can get to a hospital (they can destroy evidence):
  • Bathe or shower
  • Brush teeth, rinse mouth, etc.
  • Use the restroom
  • Change clothes
  • Comb hair
  • Clean up the crime scene
  • Move anything the assailant may have touched
• Consider contacting the Title IX Coordinator for your campus. The Title IX coordinator can provide you with resources and various options that are available to you.

Ongoing

Consider the following steps to assist a survivor of sexual assault:

Make safe arrangements

If they live with an abusive partner, make arrangements with dorm staff, a safe home, or friends to relocate to a new residence. Domestic violence shelters can also provide temporary or long-term housing at undisclosed locations. To prevent future incidents, do not let the assailant know the new location.

Seek counseling

Contact a campus health service office and inform them of the need for a crisis counselor who specializes in sexual assault. The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE is also available to speak with a counselor over the phone.

File a civil protection order (CPO)

Survivors can also pursue a protection order, also known as a restraining order. A court can order an attacker to stay away from the survivor and not communicate with them. An assailant who violates a CPO can face criminal charges. The Texas State Law Library provides multiple resources for requesting a CPO, including a Protective Order Kit.

If you are a friend of a victim of sexual assault, you may find the following information regarding ongoing care helpful as you support them:

• Many survivors blame themselves for an attack. Inform them that the sexual assault was not their fault.
• Be a supportive listener. Thank them for telling you about this. Avoid phrases that evoke powerlessness at first, including "I'm sorry."
• If you saw the attacker or witnessed any part of the assault, take detailed notes regarding the incident.
• Accompany the survivor to the hospital and ensure they meet with medical professionals who specialize in sexual assault trauma.
• Follow up with the survivor. Encourage participation in counseling sessions and support groups.
• Watch the survivor's emotional and physical status. According to The White House Council on Women and Girls, survivors of sexual assault or rape are at higher risk for mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or suicidal ideations.

Reprinted and adapted from Preventing Sexual Assault on Campus - Best Colleges, 2014-10-07.

Campus Supportive Measures

Help a survivor contact a Title IX Coordinator to gain access to additional University services.

Where appropriate, UH System will implement supportive measures on its own initiative or in response to a request from a complainant (the reported victim of sexual misconduct) or respondent (the alleged perpetrator of sexual misconduct).

Supportive measures for students may include, but are not limited to:

• Access to on-campus counseling services and assistance in setting up an initial appointment;
• "No-contact directives" (also known as stay away orders or directives to desist) issued by the campus Title IX Coordinator;
• Rescheduling of exams and assignments;
• Providing alternative course completion options;
• Changing class schedules, including the ability to transfer course sections or withdraw from a course without penalty;
• Changing work schedules or routines, job assignments, or job locations for University employment;
• Changing residence hall assignments;
• Providing an escort between classes, facilities or activities;
• Providing academic support services, such as tutoring; or
• Student-requested records changes or leaves of absence.

Supportive measures for faculty and staff may include, but are not limited to:

• Access to on-campus counseling services and assistance in setting up an initial appointment;
• Changing work schedules, job assignments, or job locations;
• Limiting or barring an individual’s or organization’s access to certain Vanderbilt-owned facilities or activities;
• Providing an escort to ensure safe movement on campus;
• Administrative leave;
• UHS-imposed leave or physical separation from individuals or locations.

Risk Assessment and Interim Action

Based on an individualized safety and risk analysis, UH System institutions may determine to take one of the following actions due to an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual: 

• Limiting or barring an individual’s or organization’s access to certain UHS-owned facilities or activities;
• Interim residential removal of the respondent; or
• Interim suspension of the respondent.

During any of the actions above, the respondent will receive notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision. If a survivor faces an immediate threat from a respondent on campus, help them report to the Title IX Coordinator so that a risk assessment can be completed.