Any individual may also access resources located in the local community. These organizations can provide crisis intervention services, counseling, medical attention, and assistance in interfacing with the criminal justice system. If accessing these resources, individuals are encouraged to clarify whether the resources are confidential.
Medical Resources
Forensic Medical Exams and Physical Health Services
As of January 2009, victims of sexual assault may have a sexual assault forensic exam without reporting it to law enforcement. State law allows you to have the sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE) up to 120 hours (5 days) after the sexual assault. You may report to law enforcement if you chose to.
In Texas, you have ten years (statute of limitations on sexual assault) to make the report. Having a sexual assault forensic exam conducted allows you to preserve evidence that will be lost over time while you have time to decide how to proceed. UST police officers and City of Houston police officers encourage victims to report the sexual or domestic assault even if it is past the statute of limitations. Your case cannot go forward with prosecution, but it is important to document the assault and the perpetrators who commit them (in addition to allowing UST to prevent recurrence of similar crimes, if applicable).
In circumstances of sexual assault, if a complainant does not opt for forensic evidence collection, health care providers still can treat injuries and take steps to address concerns of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infection. It is important that a survivor of sexual assault not bathe, douche, smoke, change clothing or clean the bed/linen/area where she or he was assaulted within 120 hours after the incident occurred so that evidence may be preserved. Complainants of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking also are encouraged to preserve evidence by saving text messages, instant messages, social networking pages, other communications, and keeping pictures, logs or other copies of documents, if any exist that may be useful to University investigators, UST Police personnel, or local police.
Below is information regarding area hospitals where victims of sexual or intimate partner violence may go for medical services. The chart contact information also indicates whether the facility has forensic evidence collection services available.
Hospitals in and around the Houston area include:
- Memorial Hermann Hospital 6411 Fannin Street Houston, Texas 77030 713-704-1261 (Forensic Nurse Response Team available at any Memorial Hermann Hospital in the greater Houston area)
- Ben Taub Hospital 1504 Ben Taub Loop Houston, Texas 77030 713-873-2000 (Forensic Kits available)
Additional Off-Campus Resources/Supports
Sexual Assault Hotline (Houston Area Women's Center, RAINN) 1010 Waugh Drive
Houston, Texas 77019
(713) 528-7273
(713) 528-3691 TTY
Website: http://www.hawc.org
YWCA Advocacy GrouP
6309 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Houston, Texas 77021
(713) 640-6820
Email: advocacy@ywca.org
Website: ymcahouston.org
The Montrose Center: LGBTQ Services
401 Branard Street
Houston, Texas 77006
(713) 529-0037 office
(713) 529-3211 24hr Helpline
AVDA: Domestic Violence Support (including male victims)
100 l Texas Avenue, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 224-9911
800-799-7233 Hotline
800-787-3224 TTY
Website: avda-tax.org
Where to get Protective Orders - AVDA
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 224-9911
Victim Assistance
City of Houston Victims Services Unit
1200 Travis
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 308-0080
Email: victim.services@houstonpolice.org
Visa & Immigration Assistance through Catholic Charities
2900 Louisiana Street,
Houston, Texas 77006
(713) 526-4611
(833) 468-4664 Hotline
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
All members of the University community may also contact the Office for Civil Rights (a division of the United States Department of Education) to file a complaint pertaining to Title IX.