Harvard University Health Services

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What to do if you are sexually assaulted

1. Get to a safe place.

2. If you think you want evidence collected, do not bathe, shower, brush your teeth or go to the bathroom. This is important for preserving evidence.

Go to the After Hours Urgent Care Clinic (AHUCC) on the fifth floor of HUHS at Holyoke Center (617-495-5711) where they will arrange transportation to Beth Israel Hospital for evidence collection, or go directly to the Emergency Room at Beth Israel Hospital at 1 Deaconess Way, Boston (617-754-2400).  Evidence collection must be done within five (5) days of the assault. If you would like someone to go with you to the hospital, call the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response at 617-495-9100.
The rape evidence collection kit will be held anonymously at the state crime lab (regardless of whether you choose to make a police report) for 6 months. If you make a report within 6 months, the kit is analyzed when it is needed for the investigation. Both the prosecution and defense will have access to the results.
Do not change your clothes (if you already have, put your clothes in a clean paper bag such as a grocery bag and bring them with you to the emergency room). 

3. If you suspect you were given any type of drug you should be tested, ideally within 24 hours of ingestion.

4. If you want to have a pill to prevent pregnancy (“Morning After Pill” or “Plan B”), you must begin medication within 72 hours.

5. If you are concerned about HIV, you can begin a regimen of preventive medication within 36 hours of exposure.

6. If you think you want to make a police report, the sooner you report the better. Legally, you have three (3) years to file a civil suit and fifteen (15) years to file a criminal suit. To file a police report call the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) at 617-495-1212, or the Cambridge Police Department at 617-349-3300.

7. Get support. No matter what decisions you make, you have done the best you can. You deserve to have all resources available to you. Contact OSAPR at 617-495-9100.