Not always.

• SARC is a private, quiet place to receive care and attention, complete exams, and have a police interview. However, because of we want to ensure the safety and security of SARC patients and staff, it may not always be an available option. You can call the crisis line and talk to an advocate about being seen at SARC instead of the hospital.
• You may be able to skip the hospital entirely and complete your sexual assault care at our center, even after hours.
• If you have injuries or were strangled during the assault (lost access to air, either by choking, pressing on your chest, or other means), we advise that you go to the hospital to receive emergency care. A SANE can still be able to complete your FME for you at the hospital.

Crisis intervention is 24/7, and the hospitals and SARC are available whenever needed.

• You can get an exam or SAK collected within 120 hours (or around 5 days) after the assault. After that time, it is unlikely that DNA will be found. You can still get a regular medical exam at any point to address any concerns you have post-assault.
• A DFSA (if you suspect you were drugged) can only be collected within 72 hours (around 3 days). It can only be collected if you choose to report to law enforcement. This is because the DFSA is used only in the investigation and expires more quickly.
• Counseling is offered to all survivors no matter how long ago the assault happened or if it was reported. Unfortunately, SARC is currently unable to support therapy services for children under 15 years old.
• Advocacy can be offered to anyone who has questions about the post-assault process at any point. Some services may be limited based on the statute of limitations of each case (typically around 7 years after the assault).

If you are 18 years old or older, you do not have to report to the police.

• SARC can provide post-assault services whether or not you reported to the police. We can still provide medical services, review your options with advocacy, and provide counseling directly in our center without ever having law enforcement involved.
• If you want, you may still have a sexual assault kit (SAK) collected to capture potential evidence. SARC will store it for up to 10 years in the case that you might decide to report the assault later. This process is called restricted reporting.
• Only adults (people 18 years old and older) are eligible for restricted reporting.

Yes.

• Sexual assault happens under many different circumstances, some of which may be hard to remember or piece together. If you think you may have been assaulted, even if you are not entirely certain, it is important to seek medical attention. Injuries, STDs, and pregnancy are some of the first concerns after assault. Even if it is never known what really happened, addressing the possibility of it may help relieve some anxiety about the unknown. SARC can still collect a sexual assault kit (SAK) and restrict it for 10 years if you are not ready to report to law enforcement yet. Counseling services will also be available to you.
• If you are unsure if an assault happened because you suspect you have been drugged, SARC can collect a drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) kit.

Yes.

• All services at SARC (including medical, advocacy, and counseling) are completely confidential. Your information will remain safely stored at the center, and it will only be released—with your written permission—to law enforcement to further your case investigation. The judge in a court of law may subpoena records if you decide to press charges on the assailant.
• None of your friends, family, or other loved ones will be notified of your visit with SARC. News companies and social media will also not receive any of your information.
• With your written permission, you may request or allow for some of your information to be released. This may be helpful for referrals to other service agencies in the area.

Yes.

• Anyone who has experienced sexual assault deserves and has the right to receive advocacy and a forensic medical exam (FME). SARC can also offer counseling to male survivors. We believe in making services accessible to everyone in need of them, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

$0.00

• Services at SARC are 100% free to survivors of sexual assault. That includes your medical exam, advocacy services, and counseling sessions (no matter how many sessions you attend).
• This is possible because of the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program, which provides reimbursement for services related to crime victimization. South Carolina has a similar program.
• If you are seen in the hospital, the up-front costs of emergency care may be billed through your insurance. This is especially true if you have injuries or other medical care to address. However, once you file for Crime Victims Compensation, most if not all of these costs can be reimbursed back to you. Your SARC advocate can help explain and walk you through this process.

You can, but we advise against it.

• If you want to have an FME (forensic medical examination) completed, it is best to try and preserve evidence. Even if you are undecided if you want to report the assault yet, it is best to avoid these activities. Cleaning, wiping, and eating run the risk of removing evidence from any areas of contact.
• Of course, do what you need to do to feel safe. We do not wish for you to starve or dehydrate yourself. If you change clothes after assault, try not to wash them, and you can bring them at your FME.

Unfortunately, these processes do not have immediate results.

• The FME (forensic medical exam) is not the sort of exam that creates “results.” The FME is not meant to definitively discover if an assault occurred or not. This exam is meant to discover possible injuries, STDs, and to document evidence. That being said, SARC does not test for STDs, and if a SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) discovers signs of an infection, they will refer you to receive testing at another clinic.
• The SAK (sexual assault kit) also does not produce “results” as you would traditionally assume. Once the SAK is collected by a SANE, it will be later handed off to law enforcement. Tests for DNA will not be ran until the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) is able to run them. It may take around 6 months or longer for GBI to test the collected samples. SARC never receives updates on the SAK, but you will receive a tracking number and pin so that you can see where the SAK is at any time.
• If you have a restricted report, your SAK will not be sent to GBI and will be stored safely at SARC. No tests will be run on the samples unless you decide to report the assault and un-restrict the SAK.
• The DFSA will have a similar process to the SAK, although a DFSA cannot be restricted. SARC never receives the results of a DFSA. You will not receive results, either, unless they have discovered a positive test.

Yes.

• Although we understand how difficult it is to talk to your parents about what happened to you, SARC cannot provide services to anyone under the age of 18 without a legal guardian’s permission. SARC will not inform anyone of your assault except for those who need to know.
• The SARC team is required to report to the police and DFCS (Department of Family & Children Services).

This is a fear that many parents and guardians have about seeking help for their child, but this is not something that SARC can decide.

• As mandated reporters, SARC staff must make a report to the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS or CPS) and to law enforcement whenever someone discloses any sort of child abuse, including sexual assault. DFCS may decide to investigate the report, but that does not mean they are aiming to separate families.
• The purpose of providing services to your child and reporting to DFCS is to ensure the child’s safety and health.

You still qualify for SARC services.

• Just as the police would still respond to the crime and the hospital emergency room would still take you in, SARC will still provide services to anyone who has experienced sexual assault within our service area. We can coordinate access to evidence and information with the law enforcement department where you are from (if you decide to report).
• If you are away from the Augusta area during the assault, another center like SARC in that area will most likely be available to assist you. When you return home, we will still be able to provide our regular services as needed.
• You may find the counties SARC provides services for on our About page. If your county is not listed and you do not know who to call, SARC can help find the appropriate crisis response center for your area.

No.

• Unfortunately, SARC is not capable at this time to house survivors of sexual assault. Our advocates can connect survivors to other local agencies that may be better equipped to supply safe housing.

Yes.

• Currently, our counselors are women, and they see clients of any sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation who have experienced sexual assault. It does not matter when the assault occurred—even if it was many years ago—nor does it matter if it was reported. Counseling can still be available to you and your affected loved ones at no cost.

Augusta, GA.

• In order to protect the safety and confidentiality of our patients, SARC does not share our address openly. If you need to access SARC services, please call our 24/7 crisis hotline (706-774-5200), and an advocate will be available to help you.
• You may send a gift, donation, or other mail using the following address (or contact 706-724-5200 or info@sarcgeorgia.org).
• PO Box 895, Augusta, GA, 30903

Office Hours: Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 4:30pm

Crisis Intervention: 24/7

• Advocates are always available to respond to survivors’ needs any day, any time, and on holidays and weekends. However, SARC operates under regular business hours for non-crisis activities, including counseling.