Prodecures for Handling Sexual Assault Cases


1. Report the Assualt
2. Seek Medical Attention/Preserve Evidence
3. Seek support and Assistance

Reporting the Assault

Report Sexual assaults as soon as possible. You may make an informal, confidential report to the Campus Violence Program Program (CVPP) at 752-3299, which is housed in the UC Davis Police Department annex, a temporary building behind the police and fire departments . In addition, you have the right to make a formal criminal report to the police department having jurisdiction over the incident. If you request, a CVPP Advocate will assist you in notifying the appropriate police agency.

If you request a police response after an on-campus assault, a UC Davis Police officer will explain the police and medical procedures, and, with your consent, transport you to the nearest hospital equipped to perform evidentiary medical exams. You can decide later whether or not to seek prosecution, but evidence must be collected promptly or it is lost.

Seeking Medical Attention/Preserving Evidence

You should seek immediate medical attention whether or not you report the incident to the police, even if you do not feel you have been seriously injured. A medical examination is important to check for sexually transmitted diseases or other infection/injuries, or for pregnancy. Physical evidence must be collected within 72 hours of the assault, and only at a certified medical facility, upon request of a law enforcement agency. To preserve evidence, you should not change clothes, bathe or shower, brush your teeth or use mouthwash, comb your hair, or take other action to clean up before going to the hospital. The CVPP Advocate and/or a police officer will accompany you to the exam.

Support and Assistance

In order to ensure that you are provided with support and assistance, a CVPP Advocate is contacted by the Police Department as soon as you contact the police. If you do not want to speak to an Advocate, you will be provided with written resources describing options and available support services. The CVPP Advocate can provide individual crisis counseling, and will accompany you as desired during medical treatment, interviews by law enforcement, student judicial proceedings, court hearings, etc. In addition, the CVPP Advocate serves in an advocacy role for your interests and needs, and will discuss options and procedures regarding academic assistance, housing, safety, medical and counseling needs, etc. The Advocate will refer you as necessary to other resources, including support groups, individual psychological counseling, and outside agencies. With respect to academic matters, the Advocate serves as liaison between you and instructors, departments, and dean's offices to make necessary arrangements for accommodations. The Advocate also serves as liaison for issues of housing and safety, and will assist you in changing on-campus housing if necessary.