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Hospital & Law Enforcement Support
Standing with You Every Step of The Way
At the Hospital:
RCEA works with the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program in East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) in Opelika, AL and EAMC Lanier in Valley, AL. EAMC has a number of dedicated SANE nurses who are well-trained and volunteer their time specifically for forensic work.
When a victim of sexual assault goes to the hospital, they are taken to a SANE nurse who then calls RCEA. A victim advocate from RCEA will go to the hospital to meet the victim and offer our services.
The SANE nurse takes very good care of the victim in the hospital, and we are mainly there for moral support. However, once the victim leaves the hospital, the SANE nurse can no longer be a strong support for the client, thus our involvement.
After the hospital:
An RCEA staff member or victim advocate will be sure to check in on the survivor the following day and periodically as the survivor and our advocate see fit.
If a survivor decides to press criminal charges, our advocates can accompany them to the police station, go to hearings and the trial, and serve as a support for the survivor throughout the process. Our advocates provide great support emotionally and intellectually to help survivors navigate through these overwhelming and trying situations.
What is a Rape Kit?
A rape kit is done by a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse to preserve any DNA evidence and receive medical care after a sexual assault. DNA evidence is collected from your body, clothes, and other belongings. A sexual assault forensic exam can take up to a few hours, but it is of no cost to the victim and increases the likelihood of prosecution if you decide to press charges.
The process of receiving a rape kit is as follows:
1. Any injuries requiring immediate action will be addressed.
2. The SANE nurse will ask for a patient history and details of the assault.
3. The SANE nurse will complete a head-to-toe evaluation, but you can decline any part of the examination that you are uncomfortable with. The SANE nurse may take photos of your body to document any injuries.
4. If you are a minor, the SANE nurse may be obligated to report the assault.
5. You will be offered follow-up care including treatment for STDS and other medical care.
Law Enforcement Support
Our victim advocates can help you if you decide you want to make a police report or press charges. The most important thing to remember is that our victim advocates are mandatory reporters, and must break client confidentiality if there are reports of child or adult abuse, threats to harm self, or threats to harm others. However, if none of these situations apply, our victim advocates are required to keep your information confidential. If you decide you want to press charges or file a police report, you will have an interview with the police, where they will ask you for a verbal and written statement. The police will investigate the allegations and follow up with the perpetrator and any witnesses. If there is enough evidence, the police will present the case to the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury will decide if there is enough evidence to continue with legal proceedings, and if it does, the DA office will take the case. This will be a very long process, and it sometimes takes years to go to trial.
Also, it is important to remember that there is no statute of limitations on when a victim can report a rape to police. This means that you can report a rape from two days ago or twelve years ago. You do not have to report or press charges to have a rape kit done, but the rape kit must be done within 72 hours of the assault in Alabama. If you are unsure about reporting, you can have a Jane Doe kit done, which gives you a chance to store evidence should you decide to report at a later date. The rape kit will be stored at the hospital for 90 days under the name "Jane Doe."