Making a police report

Making a police report after a sexual assault can be a very difficult decision for survivors. It can be an especially difficult decision if you know the perpetrator. When making the initial report, the officer will ask you for a description of the incident. The officer will also ask you about location of the incident, what happened, who was present and other detailed information. Some questions an officer may ask will probably be difficult for you to answer, especially since it can be very emotional to talk about the assault or you may feel you have already told your story. Keep in mind that the officer’s duty is to be objective and gather as many facts as possible. The officer is not trying to blame you when he/she ask questions about the assault. It may be embarrassing to tell the officer details of the attack, but it is very important to provide as much information as possible to the police.

Advocacy

An advocate from the law enforcement agency can assist you throughout the investigation process and serve as a liaison between you and the police or courts.

Prosecution

The court process begins when the state takes legal action against the alleged perpetrator. The prosecutor will make the decision to go forward with a case based on the evidence gathered by the police investigator. The process may take quite a while, and sometimes people wait up to a year before the case is formally charged.