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New York State Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights’

Survivors’ Bill of Rights

The ‘New York State Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights’, reproduced below was created by the New York State Department of Health. It is required by New York State Law to be provided to every sexual assault victim before a medical facility begins a physical examination, or before any law enforcement agency begins an interview. It is a general information document, and you may download a copy to keep.

The ‘New York State Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights’ is a list of general information about your rights. If you wish, all the information can be explained to you in more detail before any exam or interview takes place.

General Rights

  • You cannot be treated differently based on certain characteristics, such as race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, source of payment, sex, gender identity, or gender expression.
  • Your immigration status or national origin cannot affect your emergency care or services. You can ask for an interpreter if it is hard for you to understand or speak English.
  • Minors under the age of 17 have certain rights to make their own decisions without a parent or legal guardian.

Hospital Emergency Department Rights

  • You can have an advocate from the local rape crisis program stay with you during the exam.
  • You can have an exam in any hospital emergency department to collect evidence and provide certain medical care related to the sexual assault at no cost to you. If you do not have health insurance, or you decline to use your health insurance, you can ask the hospital to bill the Office of Victim Services.
  • You can have medicine to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as STDs) for free. For HIV prevention, a 7-day pack of medicine can be started at the hospital.
  • You will be provided information on appropriate follow-up medical care.

Law Enforcement Rights

  • You can choose to report to the police or not.
  • You can choose to have or not have an advocate from the local rape crisis program stay with you during your interview with the police or prosecutor.
  • You will be given contact information for the police or prosecutor handling your case.
  • You can contact the police or prosecutor for information on the criminal investigation or legal proceedings. The police or prosecutor will inform you of any legal action related to your case.
  • If you choose to report to the police, your evidence will be tested within 100 days. You may contact the police for information on a DNA match.
  • If you choose not to report to the police, your evidence will be stored for 20 years, or until you decide to release it. You will be notified if your evidence is moved and before the storage period ends.

If the contact information for the police or prosecutor is unknown, please call:

  • If the crime occurred in NYC: New York Police Department Special Victims Division at (646) 610-7273.
  • If the crime occurred anywhere else in the State: New York State Police Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-(844) 845-7269.
  • If the contact information for the rape crisis or victim assistance agency is unknown, please call: New York State Hotline for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence at 1-(800) 942-6906

For more information, please visit the New York State Office of Victim Services or the Sexual Violence Prevention Unit

Local Off-Campus Resources

Off-Campus Confidential Support

In addition to speaking with a confidential therapist, doctor or member of the clergy off-campus, students and employees may access these confidential resources and hotlines are for crisis intervention, resources, and referrals within the local community. Note: They are not a reporting mechanism for campus, meaning that disclosure on a call to a hotline does not provide any information to the campus. Reporting individuals are encouraged to additionally contact a campus confidential or private resource so that the campus can take appropriate action in these cases. 

Family Services Center for Victim Safety and Support

The Center for Victim Safety and Support provides 24-hour comprehensive assistance to all primary and secondary crime victims (i.e. domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, assault, etc.) in the form of crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, advocacy, accompaniment (courts, police department, medical, social services, etc), individual and support group counseling, information and referral, children services, assistance with filing a claim through the NYS Office of Victim Services for compensation, and 24-hour crisis hotlines for domestic violence, rape crisis, and crime victims.

24-Hour Hotlines

SAFE Exams (Sexual Assault Forensic Exams)

Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFE Exams) provide free, confidential, compassionate, patient-centered, and professional care for sexual assault survivors after an assault. Survivors are treated by trained Department of Health-certified sexual assault forensic examiners in a private examination room. Exams include evaluation, treatment, referral, and follow-up. The exam ensures the quality of collection, documentation, preservation, and custody of physical evidence. This service is free of charge for survivors. Having a SAFE Exam does not mean that you need to speak with law enforcement or press charges.

Preserving Evidence

Regardless of whether an incident of sexual violence, domestic or intimate partner violence is reported to the police or the College, Vassar strongly encourages individuals who have experienced sexual assault or other form violence to preserve evidence to the greatest extent possible, as this will best preserve legal options for them in the future. Such evidence may include:

  • A forensic sexual assault examination;
  • Any clothing, sheets or other materials (items containing bodily fluids should be stored in cardboard boxes or paper bags);
  • Electronic exchanges (e.g., text messages, emails, and Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or other social media posts, to the extent that they can be captured or preserved);
  • Photographs (including photographs stored on smartphones and other devices)
  • Voice-mail messages and other physical, documentary and/or electronic data that might be helpful or relevant in an investigation;
  • Electronic and photographic evidence that may be lost through the upgrade or replacement of equipment (including smartphones), software and/or accounts or may simply be lost to the passage of time.

For purposes of evidence collection, the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) should be conducted within 96 hours of an incident. If individuals do not opt for forensic evidence collection, health care providers can still treat injuries and take steps to address concerns of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections. It is important not to bathe, wash, douche, smoke, change clothing, or brush one’s teeth prior to the examination. If possible, it is also best not to take fluids or use the bathroom before the examination. 

Vassar SAVP Advocates and the Rape/Sexual Assault Hotline (Dutchess County) (845) 452-7272) can assist with access to this free medical examination and be an advocate to provide support and accompany you to the hospital. In addition, the Title IX Coordinator, Campus Safety, and other College administrators can assist with accessing support off-campus.

Report to Law Enforcement

To file a criminal complaint with local law enforcement and/or state police.

New York State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit

To report a sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and/or stalking incident within a college campus in New York State, call the NYSP CSAVU hotline.

Town of Poughkeepsie Police

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department can assist survivors in filing a police report. Campus staff can assist you and accompany you to make a report, or you can contact the police directly. The Center for Victim Safety & Support also has an advocate who is co-located within the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

District Attorney’s Office—Victims Bureau

The Special Victims Bureau prosecutes through trial Sex Offense cases, including Child Sex Abuse, Domestic Violence crimes, and Elder Abuse cases. Phone: (845) 486-2300, visit their website.

Reporting Quick Links

News

Office for Institutional Equity

124 Raymond Avenue, Box 645, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604-0645

Main Building, South 182

(845) 437-7924 | equity@vassar.edu

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