Based on Osceola, Florida Real Case #s Enter 49-2018-CF-000952 or 49-2018-CF-000799

LESSON 9- REPORTING RAPE- (Reporting to Sheriff vs. Police, Reporting vs. Pressing Charges) If you're afraid to call the police, Victims Services can take the evidence and you call the police when you are ready, but try to do it as soon as you are able to.

Be careful what you say in the hospital. If you say you are raped, they call the police. If you don't want the police and tell them not to call the police, your medical report will say you "denied force" and they will hold this against you. Have them call Victim's Service Center in your area. They should have the number.

1- Unless you want to have to tell what happened to you, to a stranger, over and over again; you must report it to the Law Enforcement agency that has jurisdiction of the place you were raped- not where you live unless, it was at your home.

2- Request a female officer. Some men are even more sympathetic than some women, but even though you don’t hate men at all- it’s a different story to have to give the details of what the rapist(s) did to you. They can innocently ask a question that can trigger you into an emotional breakdown. The same applies to the prosecutor. Never email your thoughts or fears to an advocate, law enforcement officer or Prosecutor- that you don’t want your rapist(s) to see!!!!!!!!!

3-Did you know that you can report the rape to the police that day, but not press charges until later? It doesn’t look good to report and not press charges until later, but it looks better than waiting until you are strong or safe enough to fight back before you report it. Even if it is just a few weeks.

4- Victims Service Center can collect adequate (not as great as the day of) evidence up to five days after the attack, so if a day or two goes by before you can even move or get out of bed- it is not too late to collect DNA. It just isn’t as great as getting it right away. If you are afraid to call the police, VSC can take your statement and evidence and hold it until you are prepared to call the police, but call them asap.

5- After you were raped, but not able to report it until you feel safe or realize the pain won’t go away until you do something; if you waited, don’t call the police; go to the Police Department or Sheriff Department in the jurisdiction(s) where it happened and bring a friend or counselor with you and request an SVU Detective. They know how to treat you. Keep your friend or counselor with you just in case they are desensitized and end up giving you more trauma- (your friend can help monitor this ) once you are comfortable, your Detective may want to speak to you alone. This is understandable and standard procedure. If you like dogs- ask for one. Most SVU’s have a therapy dog. You develop a bond with the dog and in retrospect you start to trust the handler (Detective).

6- If you wait a while before reporting; then decide you just have to report it or if you need further advice; email me if you want additional information. I could write it here, but this is a public site- I don’t want to educate the monsters. It would be like having a plan of attack during war and having the media release it beforehand.