About Forensic Exams

Following a sexual assault, you can choose to go to your local emergency room for a forensic exam (commonly known as a rape kit).  During the exam, trained nurses may collect DNA evidence from your body, clothing, and other personal items.  This evidence may be submitted as part of an investigation, if you choose to report the assault to police (right away, or in the future).  You can choose to do as much or as little of the kit as you want.  An advocate can support you at the hospital if you would like.
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The forensic exam gives you the chance to store evidence if you decide to report to police now or at a later time.  If you choose to have evidence collected, it is best to do that as soon as possible, to collect as much evidence as possible.

We Can Support You at the Hospital.

​SARSSM Advocates are available 24-hours a day to go with you to any emergency room in York or Cumberland County.  We can be there to offer information and support.

You can call our free, confidential, 24-hour helpline at 
​1-800-871-7741 to ask for an advocate to meet you, or ask the hospital to call us for you.

Like all of our services, this is offered free of charge.

Preserving Evidence

If you plan to have evidence collected, here are some ways that can help preserve as much evidence as possible:
  • Avoid changing or washing your clothes;
  • Avoid bathing, showering, brushing your hair or teeth; 
  • Try not to go to the bathroom until you have seen a nurse; 
  • Avoid eating or drinking (the hospital will have meals available);
  • And, avoid smoking or vaping.​

​It’s okay if you already did those things. You can still go to the hospital for help and have evidence collected.

There may be evidence on your clothing that can be collected. If you have already changed your clothes, they could still contain evidence. You can bring the clothes you had on at the time of the assault with you to the hospital. We suggest carrying the clothes in a clean, brown paper bag like the kind you get at the grocery store.

Cost

You don’t have to pay for sexual assault forensic exams (rape kits), and the costs will not be billed to your insurance. You may qualify for victim’s compensation for other costs such as medical care and testing. Our SART Advocates can help you to submit that paperwork.

Kit Storage & Timing

If you have evidence collected, it will be held for you for up to 8 years.  This gives you the chance to decide whether or not you would like to make a police report during that time.  Your evidence will be stored anonymously without your name on it, to keep your information private.  If you choose to file a report within those 8 years, the evidence collected right after the assault may be used to support your case.
Sexual Assault Helpline:
For support, please call our free, private, 24-hour helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
In accordance with federal regulations, Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine does not discriminate in the access to our provision of its services. If you have any concerns or complaints, please send an email to info@sarssm.org.

SARSSM provides free services in York and Cumberland Counties.
​Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine is funded in part by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, the United Way of York County, and generous public and private donations.