Reporting a Sexual Assault to Police

• When you call the police, the first officer will ask you basic questions and verify that you want to report a sexual assault. The first officer will then call a detective from the Sex Crimes Unit. The detective will do an in-depth interview to get all the details of the assault. Some of the questions may be uncomfortable, but they need these details for their investigation. 

• You have the right to have a victim advocate present when you are being interviewed. The detective should give you an item number for your case and their phone number. The detective will be your contact person while the investigation is in progress.

• If you would like, the detective can interview you at the Interim LSU Hospital SAFE Center where an advocate can be present to help you through the reporting process.

• Just because you report, it does not necessarily mean that an arrest will be made or your case will go forward in the legal system. Once you report to police, it is their job to collect evidence and investigate, and then decide if there is probable cause for them to make an arrest. Investigations often move slowly, especially when the identity of the rapist is unknown. To learn more about the criminal justice process, click here. 

• If you don't want to report now but think there's a chance you will want to in the future, write down all the details of the attack that you can remember — while the memory is still fresh.

Check out the RAINN website for tons more information on Reporting a Rape to the Police and what to expect from the criminal justice process: www.rainn.org/get-information/legal-information