Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services provides the necessary services to support survivors as soon as they seek help.
Forensic Evidence Exams
Experiencing any form of sexual assault can be traumatic and overwhelming. An Advocate can assist in arranging for a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)/Forensic Exam.
You may have heard the term “rape kit,” a term commonly used to refer to a SART/Forensic Exam. SART/Forensic Exams are staffed with specially trained, trauma-informed forensic nurses who take the time that is needed to collect and preserve any evidence available from the incident and provide medical care.
Timing – What to know
If a survivor chooses to have a SART/Forensic Exam, it must be done within the first 120 hours (or 5 days) following a sexual assault (any non-consensual sexual contact, even if the survivor does not have a memory of the assault due to being unconscious).
If you are considering a SART/Forensic exam, please contact a confidential Advocate who can help you explore your options, arrange transportation and go with you to an exam, if desired — Survivors can also include support persons of choice.
Getting there
An Advocate can arrange free Lyft transportation to a SART center for a forensic exam and additional care services, and can go with you.
Call now to connect with and Advocate who can provide free transportation at 213-740-9355.
Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center
USC works with the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center which is the only SART/Forensic Exam that offers to freeze evidence if a survivor is uncertain whether they want to file a criminal report at the time of the exam. Evidence is stored indefinitely and can be accessed at any future point in time. See below for more information about Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center services and other LA County SART/SARC Centers.
Specialized Care
Since its founding in 1974, the Rape Treatment Center has been nationally recognized for its pioneering work integrating emergency medical treatment, forensic evidentiary examinations, counseling, assistance with police reporting, information about sexual assault victim rights and options, and other support services all within one location.
RTC is located on site with the Emergency Department of UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, for specialized medical treatment for survivors of sexual assault. RTC also offers the unique option to freeze evidence collected during the SART/forensic exam. Evidence is stored indefinitely and can be accessed at any future point in time.
Cost
Forensic exams are free of charge.
There is no billing to insurance.
Other LA County SART/SARC Centers
In the Los Angeles County region, there are eight Sexual Assault Response Teams/Centers (SART/SARC) serving a population of 10 million people.
- LAC-DHS in partnership with USC (Eastern Los Angeles)
- Long Beach Community Hospital (Long Beach)
- San Gabriel Valley Hospital (San Gabriel)
- Little Company of Mary (Torrance)
- Presbyterian Community Hospital (Whittier)
- Antelope Valley Hospital, Citrus Valley Medical Center (West Covina)
- Pomona Valley Medical Center (Pomona)