• Go to a safe location as soon as you are able. If threat is imminent call 9-1-1.
• Seek immediate medical attention at a local hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
• Make every effort to save anything that might contain DNA. Do not clean or move anything that might have been touched.
• Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances, including a description of the other party.
• Save any electronic communications with the assailant or relevant to the incident such as: voicemails, emails, text messages, social media messages or posts, etc
• If possible, do not shower, bathe, douche, brush your teeth, or consume any food or beverages before going to the hospital.
• Keep the clothing you were wearing. If you have already changed clothes but have not washed them, put each clothing item in a separate clean paper bag, plastic bags are discouraged.
• Photograph any visible injuries you have. Injuries may develop or become more visible over time.
• Physical evidence of sexual assault, like clothing, sheets, or menstrual products, can also be turned over to the medical staff at the local hospital.
• State law provides sexual assault forensic kits (SANE/Rape kits) and evidence gathering at the local emergency room.
• Evidence collection should be done within 120 hours of an assault, but fluids, hair samples, and DNA can be collected for a long time thereafter. Even if you have washed, evidence can often still be obtained After 120 hours, it may still be helpful to have medical attention, even if you are not trying to obtain evidence of an assault.
• Contact any of the following for assistance:

Immediate Title IX Assistance Call: 24 Hour Title IX Hotline at 308-430-0980

Note that campus officials may contact on call staff from other departments when their offices are closed or they are otherwise unavailable to assist immediately If you are experiencing an emergency situation, you can call the Police Department, County Sheriff, or Fire and Rescue by dialing 911 If in Chadron, you may also call the Chadron Police Department's non-emergency line at 308-432-0510.

What You Should Know

You have options when seeking medical treatment. Going to the hospital does not mean that you have to make a report to the police. That is your choice. There is no cost for a forensic examination and no bill should be generated.  Learn more about  the Nebraska Medical Sexual Assault Protocol.

Getting a medical exam after a sexual assault is helpful in identifying injuries and being tested for date rape drugs or STI’s. You always have the right to choose whether to report to law enforcement or not.

If you decide not to report to law enforcement, tell the nurse providing the forensic exam and they will file the evidence collected during the examination under non-repot. This means the kit will be assigned a number and will not be tested until a police report is filed.

Download the Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights

What Happens During the Forensic Exam?

When you go to the emergency room for a sexual assault medical exam you can expect the exam will be conducted in a private room by a registered nurse or medical practitioner. With your consent they can:

• Do a head-to-toe exam to check, document, and treat any injuries
• Conduct a pelvic exam if necessary
• Collect urine, saliva, and blood samples
• Look for evidence by getting fingernail samples and combing pubic hair
• Place items of clothing or other evidence with the sexual assault kit
• Provide emergency contraception (birth control)
• Provide STI prevention medication, including HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

If possible, bring a change of clothes with you. Typically, police will be called to the hospital to take custody of the rape kit, but it is up to you whether you wish to speak with them or file a criminal complaint.

If you think you were drugged, you can request the medical examiner to conduct a drug test to check for the presence of substances in your system. A urine test can detect the presence of a date rape drug within 24 to 48 hours of ingestion.

The exam is free, regardless of whether you choose to pursue criminal charges or not. You have the right to stop the exam at any time or op-out of any portion of the exam. You may also request to have an advocate from the local DOVES Program at the time of the exam. Learn more about  the Nebraska Medical Sexual Assault Protocol.

Utilizing Campus Resources

It is up to you on how you wish to proceed. You have options and are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Designees to discuss your options:

• Do nothing until you are ready
• Pursue resolution by the College: and/ or
• Initiate criminal proceedings; and/or
• Initiate a civil process against the perpetrator.

You may pursue whatever combination of options is best for you. If you wish to have an incident investigated and resolved by the College, you should contact the Title IX Coordinator. The college procedures will be explained. You may receive reasonable supportive measures the college offers. Supportive measures must be reasonable and are offered to restore and preserve equal access to the college’s education programs and activities. Supportive measures are offered equitably to all parties. Requests for supportive measures must be made directly to the Title IX Coordinator, who will facilitate implementation. Supportive measures may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Referral to counseling services
• Reasonable academic accommodations
• Changes to on-campus housing
• Changes to employment situations
• Use of Campus Security escort services
• Mutual bi-lateral no contact orders
• Other similar measures

Those who wish incidents to be handled criminally should contact the local police where the assault occurred. A campus official is available to accompany students in making such reports, if desired Contact the Title IX Coordinator for more information. Download a copy of the CSC Student Resource Guide on Sexual Misconduct

Survivor Options

You may choose one or more options on the flow chart below. We encourage medical treatment for all options. Sexual Assault medical forensic examinations are performed at the local hospital.

Local Victim Advocacy Resource