Medical-Legal Evidence Collection (SART Exam)

A person who has experienced a sexual assault (particularly rape, forcible oral copulation, or sodomy) is encouraged to request collection of medical-legal evidence. Collection of evidence entails interaction with police, a police report and interaction with the County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at a medical facility off-campus. Prompt collection of physical evidence through an Exam is essential should a person later decide to pursue criminal prosecution and/or a civil action.

• If oral, vaginal or anal assault or molestation has occurred within 72 hours a SART exam can usually be done. In some situations, a non-emergency SART exam will be done even if the assault was more than 72 hours ago.
• Law enforcement will come to the sexual assault victim and determine if a SART exam can or will be done. All SART cases are authorized by law enforcement.
• Law enforcement will take the victim to a SART facility. The SART nurse examiner and rape crisis advocate will respond to the hospital within 1 hour.
• The SART interview, evidence collection, counseling, and exam will take approximately 3 hours.
• The SART process and support is without cost to the victim.
• The SART process does NOT provide emergency medical services.
• The SART process does NOT provide STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing (e.g. HIV, Hep B, Hep C). However, it DOES provide immediate STI treatment for gonorrhea and Chlamydia.
• The SART process does NOT provide pregnancy termination. However, it DOES provide pregnancy testing and prevention with Plan B (“morning after pill”).
• The SART process provides a Sexual Assault advocate that responds to the hospital for crisis intervention, support, referral information, and ongoing support throughout the criminal justice process.

Medical Treatment: A person who has experienced a sexual assault is urged to seek appropriate medical evaluation as promptly as possible.

• For life-threatening conditions, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (if you need assistance getting there call Public safety at 619-260-2222).
• For treatment of less serious injuries, students can use the Student Health Center (SHC), Camino Hall 161 (619)-260-4595, (After-hours emergencies call 619-260-2222)

SHC professional staff is available for consultation, assessment, medical treatment, evaluation and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as consultation for other health concerns.  Remember, the SHC cannot perform the procedures to collect medical evidence for legal purposes.