What to Do if You Are Raped

Find out what to do if you have been raped.

First, go to a safe place immediately, then do the following:

• Tell someone who will help and support you.

  Call a trusted friend, family member, and/or rape crisis hotline. The following rape crisis centers are available to help you:

  • Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC), (858) 534-5793 or sarc@ucsd.edu
    • After hours or on weekends, call the UCSD Police Department, (858) 534-HELP and they will contact SARC staff for you
  • Center for Community Solutions (CCS), San Diego County's rape crisis and domestic violence agency, (888) 385-4657
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline, (800) 656-HOPE

• Consider reporting the assault to the police.

  It is your choice to report the rape. For the quickest response, call 911 to be connected to the nearest police department.

  • If you want your assailant to be held criminally accountable for the rape, call 911 immediately to report what occurred. The police may request that you have a medical evidentiary exam (rape exam).

    Note: Your report must be made to the police department with jurisdiction over the location where the rape took place. If the rape took place on campus, report it to UCSD Campus Police at (858) 534-HELP (4357). (From a campus phone, dial Ext. 4357). You can reach someone at this number 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

  • You can report the assault and later choose not to pursue the criminal case.
    • If you choose not to report the assault immediately, you can still do so at a later time, but there may be less physical evidence against the attacker if you report it later.
  • To preserve evidence of the rape:
    • Do not wash your hands or face.
    • Do not shower or bathe.
    • Do not brush your teeth.
    • Do not change clothes or straighten up the area where the assault took place.
  • If you already cleaned up from the assault, you can still report the crime, and the police will take a report and investigate.
  • It is your right to have a friend, family member, or sexual assault advocate present with you while talking with the police. You also have the right to have a sexual assault counselor and a support person of your choice present with you during the rape exam.
  • If you don't know what to do, you can contact the UCSD Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC) or the Center for Community Solutions (CCS) and speak confidentially and anonymously with an advocate who can explain more about your options and rights.

• • Go to a doctor.

    It's a good idea to get medical attention to get treated for any internal or external injuries and tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or pregnancy.

    • Student Health Services, (858) 534-2669, provides medical treatment and follow-up care. They offer a full range of STD testing and emergency contraception.

  • Take care of yourself, and work toward recovery.

    Look into the following confidential services to see what is right for you:

    • The UCSD Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC) offers:
      • Informal but confidential advising
      • Crisis counseling
      • Individual and group counseling
      • Accompaniment to police interviews, medical evidentiary exams, court dates, and student judicial hearings
      • Advocacy on your behalf with regard to academic, housing, and safety concerns
    • The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) provides free and comprehensive services for survivors of sexual assault and their families, including:
      • A 24-hour hotline, (888) 272-1767
      • In-person counseling
      • Hospital, police, and court accompaniment
      • Advocacy and information
    • UCSD's Counseling and Psychological Services, (858) 534-3755, provides confidential support and counseling to UCSD students.