For incidents involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and relationship violence, advocates from Voices Against Violence are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Advocates support clients with any and all needs including seeking medical attention, reporting an assault, and seeking emotional support. Voices Against Violence is our primary resource referral. We seek to connect individuals with a confidential advocate as soon as possible following a disclosure. Contact Voices Against Violence at (603) 536-5999 for assistance. Information about their services can be found at voicesagainstviolence.net
This path focuses on physical healing. If an assault has occurred, you can refer to these resources for immediate medical attention.
Take care of your immediate personal safety
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger
Once your safety is assured, the university recommends that you contact Voices Against Violence. A Voices advocate can assist individuals who have been the victim of sexual assault in any of the areas below:
- Emergency rape crisis treatment and emergency medical services, as well as the coordination of accompanying the victim to the hospital, police, court, etc. as requested.
- Guide and support victims throughout the university conduct process and/or the criminal justice process, should the victim choose to pursue any of these courses of action.
Prompt medical examinations (ideally within 72 hours following an incident) allow for the identification and treatment of internal and external injuries as well as test for pregnancy and STDs. A medical examination can also secure valuable evidence that could be used if you wish to proceed with reporting to law enforcement. The choice to report to law enforcement is yours, but physical evidence is difficult to collect unless you seek medical attention promptly. Sometimes initial instincts to drink, bathe, brush your teeth, comb your hair, even change your clothes, while natural, will eliminate evidence.
A Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Kit, provided by the NH Attorney General’s Office, may be requested at no charge. You do not need to provide proof of insurance to request the kit. The Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Kit collects evidence that could be helpful if you decide to report the assault to the police within the following 60 days. Kits can be completed in any NH Emergency Department without charge to the victim, even if the victim chooses not to proceed legally.
If you are thinking about completing a kit, note that you may choose to complete the kit anonymously. The kit will be referenced with an identification number and stored by the State for 3 months. At any time during this period, the victim can report the crime and the kit will be brought forward to the NH Crime Lab for analysis
Speare Memorial Hospital
16 Hospital Road
Plymouth, NH 03264
603-536-1120
Health Services
16 Merrill Street
603-535-2350
Note: Hospitals may alert a law enforcement agency of a reported sexual assault. A police officer may ask you to file a report, which you may decline to do.
