If You Have Been Assaulted
Are you in a safe place?
If you aren't, do you need transportation or some other means to help you get to a safe place?
If you are 17 and older
If less than 96 hours ago
If you were assaulted less than 96 hours ago, call the police in the jurisdiction in which the assault occurred, and file a police report. The police will escort you to the nearest hospital with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program or other appropriate facility if major trauma is involved.
1. San Antonio Police Department: 207-7273
2. SAPD Sex Crimes Unit: 207-2313
3. Bexar County Sheriff’s Department: 270-6000
4. Bexar County Sex Crimes: 270-6070
5. Other Helpful Numbers
You can also ask a friend to take you to the following local hospital:
Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital
8026 Floyd Curl
San Antonio, TX
If you want to talk to someone, call (210) 349-7273.
This number is available 24/7 and someone is waiting just for you to make the call
If more than 96 hours ago
If the assault happened more than 96 hours ago, contact the police department in the jurisdiction in which the assault occurred. Explain what happened. The police will set up an appointment for you to come in and make an official statement. You can also call a Hotline Operator at the Rape Crisis Center. An operator can help you know your options. The hotline is always answered – (210) 349-7273.
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If you are 16 and younger
If less than 72 hours ago
If you were assaulted less than 72 hours ago, call the police in the jurisdiction in which the assault occurred, and file a police report. The police will escort you to the nearest hospital with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program or other appropriate facility if major trauma is involved.
1. San Antonio Police Department: 207-7273
2. SAPD Sex Crimes Unit: 207-2313
3. Bexar County Sheriff’s Department: 270-6000
4. Bexar County Sex Crimes: 270-6070
5. Other Helpful Numbers
You can also ask a friend to take you to the following local hospital:
Santa Rosa Children's Hospital
519 W. Houston
San Antonio, TX
If you want to talk to someone, call
(210) 349-7273.
This number is available 24/7 and someone is waiting just for you to make the call
If more than 72 hours ago
If the assault happened more than 72 hours ago, contact the police department in the jurisdiction in which the assault occurred. Explain what happened. The police will set up an appointment for you to come in and make an official statement. After you have filed a police report, contact CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Emergency Room (210) 704-2190 and ask to speak with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. They will help you to determine if you should go there to complete an examination. It is possible they may have you contact the Alamo Children's Advocacy Center at (210) 675-9000. They can assist you with follow up examinations and counseling. You can also call a Hotline Operator at the Rape Crisis Center. An operator can help you know your options. The hotline is always answered – (210) 349-7273.
If you need help:
If you need help, the Center can provide a taxi to remove you from the location you are now at and take you to a shelter. If you have your own transportation, the Center can give you resources and provide other helpful information to you about relocating.
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What You May Be Feeling
There are a number of symptoms associated with recent sexual assault that you may be feeling. The effects of sexual assault (rape) can cause you to have “racing thoughts” – that is you may find yourself unable to concentrate or focus because you “can’t stop” thinking about the assault or something that happened during the incident.
Additionally, you may also have flashbacks. These are very vivid memories that can cause you to feel nervous, sad, and extremely upset. These memories may also “feel real,” as well. These are known as body memories. Parts of your body may experience actual responses to the assault even though it is over. These can be very scary and make you feel like you are “re-living” the assault.
All of these symptoms are perfectly normal reactions to the violent act that you have experienced. With time and someone to “talk out” your feelings to, these symptoms should get better. It is hard to even think about the event, but talking with someone you trust about how you feel will help you recover from the assault.
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Talk With Someone Who Can Help
If you’re seen at a local hospital following a recent assault, someone from the Rape Crisis Center will be there, providing information, support and referral sources to you. A packet of information will be given to you before you leave the hospital. To talk to someone immediately, call (210) 349-7273 – the Center’s 24-hour hotline.
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Frequently Asked Questions
MYTH FACT
Rape = Sex People commit rape for power, control & domination.
Rapists are sex-starved perverts. Most rapists are married, or have a regular, consenting sex partner.
I could never be raped. Unfortunately, every one is vulnerable to rape.
Strangers commit rape. Nationally, 82% of rape victims know the person who raped them. According to the San Antonio Police Department in 1,750 cases committed from 1999 through 2001, 92% of the victims knew their perpetrators.
Rape happens in bad neighborhoods, down dark alleys. Most rapes happen in the home of the victim, the rapist, or a friend.
Some women ask to be raped by the way they dress. Rapists choose their victims based on availability, not on the way they look.
If a woman gets drunk and leads a guy, then she “asked” to be raped. A person who is drinking or using drugs CANNOT consent to sex under any circumstance. The other individual is expected to know consent cannot be given.
Men can’t control themselves. If he’s turned on and can’t stop, it’s her fault. Every one can control his or her actions. Raping someone is an action. Each person is responsible for his her own actions.
Women OFTEN lie about being raped to get back at a guy or to get revenge. False reports of rape are very rare. It is difficult to lie about rape because of the medical exam, the investigation, and most importantly, the shame involved.
You can pick out a rapist by the way he looks. Rapists can be young, old, rich, poor, good-looking, ugly, male, female, smart or stupid. You CANNOT pick a rapist out of a crowd.
Men cannot be raped. Approximately 111,000 adult men are raped in America every year.
Rape is “just sex she didn’t want.” Rape is about violence. Sex is being used as a weapon against someone’s will.
All women really want to be raped. NO ONE wants to be raped. Women do not like rape.
“No” sometimes means “Yes” or “try harder.” No ALWAYS means no.
If someone never says, “No,” it can’t be called rape. The law says consent MUST be a verbal agreement. The person has to say “yes.”
Rape victims are “damaged goods,” or no longer virgins. Being raped does not fundamentally change the character, the values, the strengths, or the positive attributes of the victim. It is a bad thing that happened TO them, not because of them.
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