Sex-Based Harassment and Nondiscrimination

What to Do if You Are a Victim

Get to a Safe Place

Talk with Someone You Trust
Find community resources for sexual assault and domestic violence for all 11 counties CVTC serves. 

Preserve Evidence
The preservation of evidence is critical to potential criminal prosecution and to obtaining restraining/protective orders, and it is particularly time-sensitive. CVTC will inform the Complainant of the importance of preserving evidence by taking actions such as the following: 

• Sexual Assault - Preservation of Evidence 
  • Seek forensic medical assistance at the nearest hospital, ideally within 120 hours of the incident (sooner is better). 
  • Avoid urinating, showering, bathing, washing hands or face, or douching, if possible, but evidence may still be collected even if you do. 
  • If oral sexual contact took place, refrain from smoking, eating, drinking, or brushing teeth. 
  • If clothes are changed, place soiled clothes in a paper bag (plastic destroys evidence) or a secure evidence container (if provided one by law enforcement) 
  • Seeking medical treatment can be essential, even if it is not for the purpose of collecting forensic evidence. 
• Stalking/Dating Violence/Domestic Violence/Sex-Based Harassment - Preservation of Evidence 
  • Evidence in the form of text and voice messages will be lost in most cases if the Complainant changes their phone number. 
    • Make a secondary recording of any voice messages and/or save the audio files to a cloud server. 
    • Take screenshots and/or a video recording of any text messages or other electronic messages (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook). 
  • Save copies of email and social media correspondence, including notifications related to account access alerts. 
  • Take timestamped photographs of any physical evidence, including notes, gifts, etc., in place when possible. 
  • Save copies of any messages, including those showing any request for no further contact. 
  • If at all possible, preserve physical evidence. Do not bathe, wash your hands, use the toilet, drink, smoke, change clothing, or brush your teeth following a sexual assault. 
  • Keep emails, text messages, social media postings, screenshots, or other digital information about the incident or other methods of contact from your attacker. 
  • Obtain copies of call logs showing the specific phone number being used rather than a saved contact name if possible.
• Seek Medical Attention 
  • Local hospitals can provide services and evidence collection after an assault - you don't have to file charges to preserve evidence. 
  • For severe injuries, call 9-1-1 immediately.