Rights & Options

• You have the right to health and mental health assistance.
  • For more information and a list of on and off campus health and mental health assistance: Victim Resources by Location
• You have the right to preserve evidence. After a sexual assault, we recommend that you:
  • Get to a safe place. For your protection, call the police immediately, especially if the assailant is still nearby. The police will help you whether or not you choose to prosecute the assailant. Call a friend or family member for support and/or the University of Florida Police Department’s Office of Victim Services at (352) 392-5648 or (352) 392-1111 after hours. A Victim Advocate is available to assist you 24 hours daily and can help coordinate many of the services you may need both short-term and long-term.
  • Get medical attention immediately. The primary purpose of a medical examination is to check for physical injury, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy as a result of the assault. The secondary purpose of a medical examination is to aid in the police investigation and legal proceedings.
  • Don’t bathe or douche. Though bathing or douching might be the first thing you want to do, it is highly recommended that you don’t. If you wish to pursue criminal charges in the future as a result of this incident, you might literally be washing away valuable evidence. Please keep in mind that this could be the evidence needed that could lead to the apprehension and conviction of the suspect.
  • Save your clothing. It is all right to change clothing. However, save the clothing you were wearing at the time of the battery. Also save any bedsheets or comforters that may have been present during the time of the incident. Make sure you do not wash any items that may contain evidence. Place each item of clothing or bedding in a separate paper bag and save it for the police. Your clothing and bedding could also be used as evidence for prosecution.
  • Report the incident to police. While this choice is personal, the reporting of a sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking is essential to taking that first step to stop the perpetrator from victimizing others. Please note, however, reporting this crime is not the same thing as prosecution. Prosecution can be determined later and will involve your active participation. In order to notify police as quickly as possible, please call 9-1-1. By calling 9-1-1, you will have access to the most immediately available law enforcement agency whether on or off campus.
  • Seek further assistance. The Office of Victim Services and many other university services are here and will assist you in both dealing with and reporting a sexual assault. The Office of Victim Services also will assist you through the entire legal process regardless of how long that process may take. While the choice is clearly yours, the UFPD encourages anyone who becomes a victim of sexual assault to report this incident to law enforcement or other proper authorities.
  • If you are a victim of a sexual assault and decide not to notify law enforcement, please obtain medical attention immediately and contact any of the victim support resources listed in this guide for assistance as your needs and level of comfort dictate.
• You have the right to a free SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam. Accessing a SANE exam does not require you to file a police report.
  • Local to Gainesville-Main Campus, UF Health Shands Emergency Room or HCA Florida North Florida Hospital offer SANE exams

For more information and a list of on and off campus health and mental health providers: Victim Resources by Location

You have the right to contact and report to local law enforcement. Below are the law enforcement agencies that provide assistance to locations on or near the Gainesville-Main Campus. If you are unsure which agency to contact, start with UFPD or by calling 9-1-1; either will assist in connecting you to the responding agency:

University of Florida Police Department
Museum Road and Newell Drive
(352)392-1111 (V/TDD)
police.ufl.edu

Gainesville Police Department
545 NW 8th Avenue
(352)955-1818
gainesvillepd.org

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
2621 Hawthorne Road
(352)367-4000
alachuasheriff.org

UF will assess the immediate safety needs of both you and the UF community and will offer appropriate safety precautions including the issuance of a “No Trespass” order or equivalent to the respondent if appropriate.

UFPD Office of Victim Advocates (OVS) can assist with filing for a Protective Order.

For more information and a list of responding law enforcement agencies depending on your location: Victim Resources by Location

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking—in any UF education program or activity.

• You have the right to Supportive Measures regardless of whether you report to law enforcement or participate in a formal complaint process. Supportive Measures include reasonable requests for housing changes, academic and employment modifications and UF issued "No Contact Directives".
  • The Title IX Compliance Office has a Supportive Measures and Intake Specialist that you can meet with to discuss your options.
• You have the right to report an incident and file a Formal Complaint initiating an investigation into the incident.
• You have the right to participate or not participate in a Title IX Investigation.
• You have the right to request Informal Resolution instead of an investigation of the incident.
• Your rights during an investigation into a Title IX Formal Complaint:
  • Right to receive written notices of meetings, investigation, hearings and outcomes.
  • Right to participate or decline to participate in a Title IX hearing.
  • Right to an Advisor during any Title IX Hearing in which you are a Party.
• The Title IX Compliance Office will assess the need to implement interim protective measures upon receipt of a Title IX Incident Report.

 

Title IX Compliance 
Lauren Wallace, JD
Title IX Coordinator
titleix@ufl.edu
Sexual Misconduct/Harassment Report Form
titleix.ufl.edu

Internal Reporting Options

Title IX Compliance
Lauren Wallace, JD
Title IX Coordinator
titleix@ufl.edu 
Sexual Misconduct/Harassment Report Form
titleix.ufl.edu

University of Florida Police Department
Museum Road and Newell Drive
(352)392-1111 (V/TDD)
police.ufl.edu

UFPD Office of Victim Services (confidential)
Museum Road and Newell Drive
(352)392-5648
or (352)392-1111 (V/TDD) After Hours
police.ufl.edu/victim-services/

 

Resources/Resolutions outside of UF

For more information and a list of support resources, depending on your location for UF properties outside of Alachua County: Victim Resources by Location

Internal Supportive Options

University Counseling and Wellness Center (confidential)
3190 Radio Road
(352)392-1575
counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/

 

Shands Hospital Emergency Department (confidential)
1515 SW Archer Road
(352)265-8000

 

The University of Florida Student Health Care Center (confidential)
1 Fletcher Drive
(352)392-1161
shcc.ufl.edu

 

Care Team
Peabody Hall, 3rd Level
(352)294-2273
care.dso.ufl.edu/

 

External Supportive Options

National Domestic Violence Hotline
www.thehotline.org (Chat online)
1-800-799-SAFE (24 Hour Hotline)

 

National Sexual Assault Hotline
www.online.rainn.org (Chat online)
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)(24 Hour Hotline)
rainn.org/resources

 

National Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)(24 Hour Hotline)

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)(24 Hour Hotline)

 

Nacional de Prevencion del Suicidio
1-888-628-9454

 

As the scope of resources is vast, check out the list of resources specific to UF and other UF campuses, local, national, and international:

Victim Resources by Location