What You Should Do After a Sexual Assault

Sexual assault has been in the news lately. Recently the University of Virginia has shut down fraternities after a student described being sexually assault by frat brothers in 2012. In celebrity news, a growing number of women have accused comedian Bill Cosby of rape. In addition, there’s the Sayreville football players who will be charged as juveniles for their part in alleged hazing ritual.

Sexual assault is a serious matter. According to a 2012 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have reported rape sometime in their lives. In addition, approximately 1 in 20 men and women have experienced some sort of sexual violence such as sexual coercion or unwanted sexual contact.

In New Jersey, aggressive sexual assault is defined when one party commits an act of penetration with another person without consent. It is considered a first degree crime and carries a hefty punishment. But if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, what is your first step?

The Safe Helpline offers the following tips after being assaulted:

• Find a safe location and call 911.
• If you can’t leave the scene of the crime, do not touch or remove anything from the surroundings.
• Although you may feel the urge to do so, do not bathe, eat, wash any part of your body or smoke. Doing so may erase important evidence.
• Take a moment to write down what you remember of the event, as painful as it may be. This will help you later in court.
• Seek medical care as soon as you can. Even if you have no injuries, you may be at risk of getting a STD or, if you’re a woman, you may get pregnant.

And most importantly, call the Law Offices of Antony Carbone as soon as you’re able. We’ve handled sensitive cases such as domestic abuse and sexual assault for more than 25 years and know how to get you the justice you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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