Sexual Assault Nurse Examination
Students, faculty or staff who have experienced a sexual assault may choose to access a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E.) at the SHC at no charge. The exam is offered through a partnership with Turning Point Rape Crisis Center. Someone from Turning Point will complete the exam in the SHC during business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need an exam outside of SHC hours, call Turning Point to arrange a time.
Choosing to have a S.A.N.E. does not mean you have to report the assault to law enforcement. The exam can only occur within the first 120 hours (five days) after a sexual assault with police involvement and 96 hours (four days) without police involvement. The non-report option preserves the evidence for two years, during which time a survivor can make the decision about whether to report the assault.
If you choose to have a S.A.N.E. at the SHC, nothing about the assault or exam will be added to your health record unless there is a need for you to see a SHC provider due to a physical injury, in which case your privacy is protected by state and federal law. Due to legal requirements, a report will be submitted to the university, which would contain anonymous, non-identifying information about the assault. This is not the same as informing or filing a report with the police.
If you are uncertain about whether to pursue a S.A.N.E., consider the following support options:
- The Turning Point Hotline (available 24/7): 800-886-7273.
- 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 972-641-7273.
- Student Health Center Nurse Advice Line (available 24/7): 972-883-2747.
- Student Counseling Center: 972-883-2575. Students who inform the Student Counseling Center they have been sexually assaulted within the last two weeks will be seen promptly for a crisis consultation.
Preparing for a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam
Your exam will be provided by a qualified nurse who will meet with you before the exam to discuss the process. You have the right to have an advocate present during the exam. The advocate is there to support you, provide resources and help explain your options. What you say to the advocate is confidential.
If possible, do not change clothes, shower, brush your teeth, eat or drink or use the bathroom until after your exam. If you have already done any of these things, it’s okay; you can still have the exam.
The exam may include:
- Medical care.
- Medicines to prevent infection and/or pregnancy.
- Discussion about the assault.
- Examination for and photography of injuries.
- Skin swabs.
- Clothing collection.
- Blood and urine samples.
If there is any part of the exam you are uncomfortable with, you can skip that portion. After the exam, you will receive information about follow up care and who to call with questions.
File a Report with the University
Marco Mendoza, Director, Title IX Initiatives
Office of Institutional Compliance, Equity, and Title IX Initiatives
Administration Building 3.108
800 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75080
File a Report with the Police
Regardless of whether the alleged perpetrator was a UTD student at the time of the incident, you may choose to file a report with the police. If you decide to move forward with making a police report, it is important to note that police jurisdictions depend on where the assault occurred.
If the incident occurred on campus, a report may be filed with the UTD Police Department by calling 972-883-2222 or visiting their headquarters at the northeast corner of campus. If the incident occurred in Richardson but off campus, a report can be filed with the Richardson Police Department by dialing 911, regardless of how long ago the assault happened. Upon calling, a uniformed officer will be dispatched to your location to take the written report.
If the incident occurred in another city, the local police department with jurisdiction over that area should be contacted. Call 911 for assistance, and you will be directed to the correct police department.
Additional Campus Resources
Safe-Walk Campus Escorts: 972-883-2332
Dean of Students Office: 972-883-6391
