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Hours: Mon 8:30-5, Tues 8:30-7, Wed 8:30-5, Th 8:30-5, Fri 8:30-5
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If you are over the age of 18, you have the option to receive a medical forensic exam at no cost to you whether or not you are reporting to law enforcement. Medical forensic exams are provided at different entities in each county in Arizona; please review this fact sheet or connect with the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 (HOPE) to locate an exam facility in your area. You may also connect with the Arizona Sexual and Domestic Violence Helpline (M-F: 8:30a-5p, Tues: 8:30a-7p) at 602-279-2980.
Medical forensic exams are performed by Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) or other specially trained medical professionals. Please note, hospitals may not perform walk-in medical forensic exams. Before traveling to a nearby hospital, it is best to call to identify options in your area including whether an appointment needs to be scheduled.
Medical forensic exams can be provided up to 120 hours after assault. They may be offered in a hospital emergency department, a Family Advocacy Center (FAC), or a Community Health Center. At time of exam, the FNE:
- Will begin by asking about your medical history and assault history. This will guide the rest of the exam.
- Will conduct a comprehensive head to toe bodily evaluation, documenting any injuries you have. This may include photographic documentation and swabs to collect specimens.
- Will offer prophylaxis to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
- Will offer a pelvic exam to identify and document any genital or anal injuries. This may include use of a speculum.
- May offer a consultation with a provider to discuss risk of HIV and consultation for nPEP medication to prevent transmission of HIV.
- May offer a blood draw if it is believed that drugs or alcohol were used to facilitate the assault.
- Will offer information about options for follow-up care and advocacy in your area.
Each component of a medical forensic exam is optional and requires your consent- you do not have to participate in any part of the exam that makes you uncomfortable. The FNE or advocate can assist in explaining the reason for each part of the exam.
Please note: if you present to an emergency department for medical care other than a medical forensic exam, you may be charged for services including, but not limited to, labwork, tests, and medications. Some healthcare providers are mandated to report to law enforcement; however, you do not have to speak with police. Please talk to your advocate to discuss assistance with billing options if you’ve received care outside of a medical forensic exam.
Everything collected at time of exam is placed into a Sex Crime Evidence Kit (SCEK), or simply, “kit.” The FNE will hand the kit off to local law enforcement. If you are reporting to law enforcement, the kit will be sent to the DPS Crime Lab for processing. If you are not reporting to law enforcement, the kit will not be processed and will be stored by law enforcement. There is no statute of limitations to report sexual assault in the state of Arizona.
Important things to know about receiving a medical forensic exam:
- Exams do not yield conclusions- this means that your FNE will not be able to tell you if an assault did or did not take place.
- Anyone requesting a medical forensic exam will be encouraged to not change clothes, shower, use the restroom, eat, drink, or smoke prior to receiving the exam; however, medical professionals and FNEs understand this is not always possible. If you have already done one or more of these things, it is possible evidence is still present and can be collected. It is also important to understand even if an exam is performed directly following assault, there is a possibility evidence may not be found.
For additional questions, or if you would like to connect with an advocate, contact the Arizona Sexual and Domestic Violence Helpline
Know that what happened to you is not your fault. Making the decision to report or not report to law enforcement can be difficult and stressful, and it is important you take as much time as you need to make the decision that is right for you. In making this decision, it can be helpful to understand possible outcomes associated with immediate reporting, delayed reporting, and not reporting:
There are benefits to reporting to law enforcement, which include:
- Law enforcement will have the opportunity to collect evidence from you, the suspect, and the crime scene in a timely manner.
- Witnesses may be interviewed in a timely manner.
- You may be eligible for Victim Compensation, which can pay for or reimburse out of pocket costs related to your assault.
- The person who assaulted you may be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions.
Any delay in the investigation may reduce law enforcement’s ability to investigate the case:
- Evidence, like that on suspects and at the crime scene, may be permanently lost.
- Suspects and witnesses will not be interviewed, and may be unwilling to cooperate or unable to
provide information with as much accuracy at a later date. - It may be more difficult for a prosecutor to file charges against the assailant, and more difficult for successful prosecution to occur.
- Law enforcement may choose to contact you, but you have the right to decide if or when you want to make a report.
- Ultimately, it is your decision whether you want to speak with law enforcement. An advocate can support you during this process, and help you make informed decisions.
Sexual assault kit storage and testing:
As noted above, if you do not report to law enforcement, exam kits will be kept in storage in case you decide to report to police at a later date. You can report to police at any time, but your kit may be destroyed after 90 days or less. You can contact an advocate or your local police department to find out how long kits are stored in your area. Upon receiving the exam, you will be given information on how to track the sexual assault kit. The medical forensic exam facility has 48-hours to notify law enforcement that a sexual assault kit needs to be picked up. Law enforcement then has 5-days to pick up the sexual assault kit and then 15-days to submit it to the crime lab. The crime lab must analyze the sexual assault kit as soon as possible (A.R.S. 13-1426). The biological evidence in your kit may be analyzed even if you do not participate in the criminal justice process.
Victims/survivors of domestic violence and/or strangulation:
Medical forensic exams can be conducted to provide medical care and collect evidence if you have experienced domestic violence/strangulation. Provisions under state and federal law are currently specific to sexual assault exams. If you are a victim/survivor of domestic violence/strangulation and are considering a medical forensic exam, it is important to know:
- Counties are not mandated to cover the costs of medical forensic exams performed as a result of domestic violence/strangulation, although some counties will still conduct these exams at no cost to you.
- Policies regarding the storage of evidence collected during domestic violence or strangulation exams vary by jurisdiction. An advocate or forensic examiner in your area can provide more information on payment policies and the storage of evidence.
If you want to get a medical forensic exam in Arizona, see our “Arizona Medical Forensic Exam Facilities” List.
