For Survivors
For immediate assistance call the Orange County Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-WE-LISTEN. This is a free and confidential service.
Making the decision to reach out and tell someone about your experience of sexual violence can be difficult. It can also be empowering.
The Rape Crisis Center will honor your feelings and decisions about your own healing process.
If you are assaulted…
- Get to a safe place as quickly as possible.
- Know that you did nothing wrong. You are not to blame!
- Consider getting medical attention for injuries and for the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and pregnancy.
- It is best not to shower or change clothes. During a medical examination, in addition to providing treatment, medical staff can collect evidence from your body and clothes. However, you can still receive medical care even if you decide not to press charges against the attacker.
- Get emotional support from family, friends, and/or the Rape Crisis Center. You may want to think about filing out a police report. If you want, you can make a report without giving your name. This is called a blind report.
- Companions, specially trained volunteers and staff who answer the Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour crisis line, provide emotional support to sexual violence survivors. They can provide you with information that may help you decide what your options are and advocate for you if you choose to seek medical attention or file charges.
To learn more about the other services that the Rape Crisis Center offers, click here.
