(414) 288-5746
707 Building, Suite 130
haven@marquette.edu

Safety and medical care

First and foremost, a person who is victimized by violence should seek assistance to ensure their safety and receive the proper medical care. Medical care is important to treat and document any injuries that may have occurred during a sexual or physical assault.

Regardless of the victim’s decision to report the assault, obtaining timely, appropriate medical care allows for the collection of important evidence. Once collected, this evidence can be held for future consideration, should the victim decide to report the crime. In cases involving sexual assault, most evidence is carried on the victim’s body. Preserving evidence is not only critical, but time sensitive. Victims should not urinate, bathe, brush their teeth, or change their clothes prior to seeking medical care. Victims should be encouraged to go to the Sexual Assault Treatment Center of Milwaukee, located at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, 945 N. 12th Street.

Support

Having trusted and supportive resources is critical to the victims of violence. Because each survivor is different from another, a support person should not try to guess what someone might need. Talking with the victim about how he or she feels, and what he or she needs, will provide the most accurate information. Additional support for the victim can be found through contact with HAVEN Network members, or other community resources.   Some general guidelines to positively affect the victim’s recovery include:

• Remain calm and supportive. Allow your friend to discuss the experience in his or her own terms.
• Do not direct anger at your friend. Reassure your friend that the assault is not his or her fault.
• Encourage your friend to make decisions about the events affecting him or her. He or she should decide whether to report the assault, seek additional help, or tell others about it.
• Offer to accompany your friend to one of the following locations:

Reporting

Reporting a sexual assault is an important decision. At Marquette, the Department of Public Safety (414-288-6800) can provide a number of options for reporting an assault. Public Safety’s Victim/Witness Services Unit, comprised of specially trained personnel, is available to provide support and assistance through the reporting process.

Future needs

Sexual assault, dating violence and stalking are crimes that will affect the survivor for the rest of his or her life. Some people find they recover quickly, while others feel they will never get over the trauma. Seeking professional counseling, either individual or in a group setting, is instrumental in learning to cope with having been harmed by violence. In addition, some survivors have found it beneficial to become involved in the fight against violence. There are additional resources for both counseling and advocacy on our Resources and Get Involved pages.

SITE MENU

• What is HAVEN?
• Sexual assault
• Relationship violence
• Stalking
• Resources
• Programs and events

Public Safety Anonymous Tip Form

By using the Public Safety TipLine or TipForm, you can leave a voicemail or email message for Public Safety with information about a crime that has occurred or could occur without identifying yourself.