If you have experienced a recent sexual assault you might want to consider seeing a health care professional to address any medical concerns, injuries, or questions you may have. There are specially trained teams of nurses, called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, at St. Clare’s in St. John’s and Western Memorial In Corner Brook who have advanced training and education in medical and forensic assessment of a person who has been sexually assaulted.
You may want to consider having a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) done. A SAEK is used by health care professionals to collect forensic evidence after a sexual assault. If you are not in or near St. John’s or Corner Brook, you can visit your nearest emergency room. An RCMP officer may have to bring the SAEK to the hospital.
If you consent to a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit, a healthcare professional may collect samples from anywhere on your body that the offender may have touched during the incident. Clothing and undergarments may be collected as evidence.
Some hospitals have the ability to store SAEKs on site, while others will send the SAEK to the nearest RNC or RCMP detachment for storage.
The RCMP can store SAEKs indefinitely. However, the RCMP must attach a name to the SAEK in order to create a file and store it. You aren’t required to provide a statement, but the SAEK belongs to the police.
In St. John’s, The RNC can store SAEKs indefinitely. Your kit is stored anonymously; a file number is attached to your kit, but no identifying information.