How to Report Date Rape

Date rape, or acquaintance rape, is any form of sexual intercourse that has been accomplished against your will. This includes situations where sexual intercourse was achieved by means of force, violent action, while you were under duress or acting out of fear of immediate bodily injury. According to statistics compiled by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 70 percent of young women who have been sexually assaulted have been raped during the course of a date. If you have been raped by a date or acquaintance, you should report it to the proper authorities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Hospital
• Computer with Internet access
• Police officer

Take Action to Report Date Rape

1. Get as far away from your attacker as soon as you possibly can. Your first step in reporting this crime is ensuring that you are in a safe place where you will not be harmed again.
2. Go immediately to any hospital's emergency room. Do not bathe, shower or change your clothes.
3. Speak to a nurse who will arrange for evidence to be collected using a rape kit. You also will be given the option of being treated for any injuries or sexually transmitted diseases you may have been exposed to.
4. Call 911 after reaching the hospital to report your rape to the police or ask the nurse to get in touch with the police. Police officers will arrive at the hospital to take a statement and collect any evidence of the crime.
5. Call advocates at RAINN at (800) 656-HOPE or visit their Web site (see Resources below). This nonprofit advocacy group will connect you directly with the rape crisis center in your area and may provide valuable assistance in your recovery, including counseling, legal consultation and medical care.

Tips & Warnings

• As a victim of date rape, you have the right to accept or refuse treatment, including the use of a rape kit for gathering evidence, at any time.
• According to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, young women who have experienced intimate violence such as date rape are much more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse. These women are also at a higher risk of committing suicide. If you have been the victim of date rape and feel you are in danger of taking your own life, call 911 or call the suicide hotline at [phone].