Report to the police and work with them on an investigation:

This is the reporting option most people are familiar with.  You may speak with different officers over the course of an investigation. For example, a patrol officer may take the initial report and then the case may be assigned to a detective.

You can ask to have an advocate with you when you talk to police. Some victim advocates work for the police department, and some are community-based. Both can provide you with emotional support, assist you with applying for Colorado Crime Victim Compensation funds, and explain how the law enforcement investigation will proceed.

A law enforcement advocate is not confidential. Things you say to a law enforcement advocate can be shared with police. Confidential, community-based advocates can be there for you during an interview and outside of working with police. They are confidential and won’t share anything you say with police unless you want them to.

Report your experience to the police but request they do not investigate your assault at this time:

This option is often called medical reporting or non-investigative reporting and allows you to get a medical forensic exam, including evidence collection, but not work with the police at that time. It also allows you to have your evidence tested at a crime lab, if you gave consent for testing, to see if there is an DNA they can find and if they would be able to identify the DNA in a database. However, you do NOT have to speak with them if you do not want to. Sometimes, the police officer responding to the hospital would like to meet you and give you their card and check you are okay, but there is NO REQUIREMENT that you agree to this.

If you report to the police and consent to having your sexual assault evidence collection kit tested:

Your kit will be sent for testing at a crime lab within 21 days of when police get it from the medical facility. The testing process can take about 4-6 months but must be finished within 6 months (180 days). You may not hear anything from the police about results for a while after your initial interviews with them.

You can change your mind about working with law enforcement at any time, and about having your kit tested (up until the crime lab tests it).

Under Colorado Law, you have the right to be notified:

• that your kit has been submitted for testing

• when the law enforcement agency has received the results

• of whether a DNA sample was obtained from the analysis and whether or not there are matches

• at least 60 days before your kit is destroyed (you have the right to file an objection and have your kit be stored for an additional 10 years)

• of any change in status of the case

Kits are held for at least the statute of limitations (20 years for felony sex assault).

Anonymous reporting allows you to get a medical forensic exam, but remain anonymous to the police. If you choose this option, your name is NOT written on the outside of the sexual assault evidence collection kit and you remain anonymous to the police. The medical facility will have your contact information, but law enforcement will not.

With this option, your sexual assault evidence collection kit will NOT be sent for testing at a crime lab. Instead, the evidence will be stored at the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the assault happened for at least the statute of limitations (20 years for felony sex assault).

You will be given a case number which can be used to find your sexual assault evidence collection kit if you decide at a later date you would like to work with the police on your case. This case number will also be written in your medical file — so don’t worry if you lose it. The medical facility you visited can get it for you.