1) If I have been sexually or physically assaulted, where can I go for immediate medical support?
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can go to the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Program located in the St. Catharines General Hospital; Emergency Department (1200 Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines).
You will be treated and offered the following choices at the sexual assault treatment center:
- Medical treatment and care
- Collection and documentation of physical evidence for completion of a Sexual Assault Evidence kit, which may be used in legal proceedings.
- Legal options. No one at the hospital will call the police without your consent.
- Follow-up care and referrals, this may include- counselling services, community support
A hospital response worker from the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre will be called by the hospital to provide support and advocacy for you and any family members or friends in attendance (if you choose to have anyone present).
2) What is a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit?
A Sexual Assault Evidence Kit is the collection of evidence from your body and clothing worn during or immediately after a sexual assault. This evidence can only be collected if the assault happened within the last 12 days.
It is recommended that evidence be collected as soon as possible after a sexual assault. If you are able, try to avoid activities that may potentially damage evidence such as:
- Showering
- Bathing
- Using the restroom
- Changing clothes
- Cleaning up the area
It is not uncommon to want to do these things following an assault. If you have, that is okay, you can still have the exam performed.
There are several steps to a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit, and it is your choice which steps you would like to have completed and you can say no at any time to any step.
3) If I make a report to Niagara College, will the police be called?
The College understands that individuals who have experienced sexual and/or gender-based violence may wish to control whether and how their experience will be dealt with by the police and/or the College. In most circumstances, the person will retain this control. A person who has experienced sexual violence may choose not to request an investigation and has the right not to participate in any investigation that may occur. In certain circumstances, however, the College may be required to initiate an internal investigation and/or inform the police of the need for a criminal investigation, even without the person’s consent, if the College believes that the safety of other members of the College community is at risk. The confidentiality and anonymity of the person(s) affected will be prioritized in these circumstances
4) Why do some survivors not report an incident of sexual and/or gender-based violence?
Everyone responds differently to their own experiences of violence. Some survivors do not formally report to authorities, and some do not disclose to someone they trust due to several reasons; these reasons could include:
- Lack of clarity about the types of behaviour that constitutes sexual and/or gender-based violence, and question if they have been assaulted
- Need more time to process what has happened
- Concerns about being believed or blamed
- Feeling guilt and shame
- Fear of institutional sanctions if underage drinking or illegal drugs are involved
- Fear of retaliation by the perpetrator or someone known to the perpetrator
- Believing that nothing will happen to the perpetrator
- Anticipate facing stereotypes and discrimination after previous experiences of racism, ableism, homophobia or transphobia
- Worry personal information may be revealed (such as sexual orientation)
- Male victims not aware of appropriate supports
- Lack of access to, or awareness of, available resources