Medical and Legal Options
Medical Options
Medical Care and Evidence Collection
It’s important for survivors of sexual assault or intimate partner violence to access supportive services as soon as possible. Physical safety and health are the first priorities. Students can connect with the Campus Advocate for help with accessing medical services and support.
If you wish to receive medical care and have evidence collected, go directly to Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room and tell the intake desk you are requesting a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam. The exam is conducted by a trauma-informed Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner trained to support survivors’ needs. The Campus Advocate can arrange free transportation and accompany you through the process.
Survivors are encouraged to seek medical attention to:
- Treat potential injuries, even if none are immediately visible. For evidence collection to be done, see the SANE within 120 hours of the assault.
- Access to emergency contraception (within 72 hours) and/or antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Allow collection of forensic evidence, which can be stored for a minimum of two years (often much longer in Colorado) if you decide later to report to law enforcement.
- Patients may seek care weeks or even months following an assault with complaints, such as possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, and should be offered appropriate care whenever it is sought.
To preserve evidence, avoid bathing, changing clothes, or brushing your teeth before the exam. If you’ve already changed, bring the clothing worn during or right after the assault. However, even if a survivor has showered or bathed and is outside of the 120-hour window, they are always encouraged to seek out a MFE for trauma-informed healthcare.
Medical care is also available at the following locations:
- Colorado College Student Health Center
- Memorial Hospital Emergency Room
- Reproductive Clinic (Department of Health)
Legal Options
Campus Safety or the Campus Advocate can help arrange a neutral meeting for initial contact with the police. Campus Safety’s website also explains how CC complies with the Clery Act of 1990, which requires colleges to report and share information about certain campus crimes, including sexual offenses. Confidential data from the Campus Advocate is included only in aggregate form in annual reports—never with identifying information.
For more information on Colorado’s sexual and gender-based violence laws and resources:
- Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) — A statewide organization focused specifically on sexual violence prevention and policy in Colorado. CCASA
- Violence Free Colorado — Offers policy updates, training and advocacy for domestic & intimate partner violence, including legal frameworks in Colorado. Violence Free Colorado
- WomensLaw.org — Provides plain-language legal information for victims, including state-specific Colorado laws on sexual assault, domestic violence, protection orders, housing rights, etc. WomensLaw.org+1
- You Have the Right CO — A Colorado-specific resource with detailed information on survivor rights, forensic exam options, and state laws. You Have the Right CO
- The Colorado Revised Statutes database (via sites like FindLaw/FindLaw) — Where you can look up the exact statutes (e.g., C.R.S. § 18-3-402 for sexual assault, § 18-6-800.3 for domestic violence). codes.findlaw.com+1
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(303)-295-2001
In Colorado, survivors who receive medical care may choose whether to report to law enforcement and whether to complete a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) forensic exam. Three reporting options are available:
- Law Enforcement Report: Evidence is collected, and law enforcement is contacted immediately.
- Medical Report: Evidence is collected and held—with your contact information—for at least two years. You can choose later whether to pursue charges.
- Anonymous Report: Evidence is collected and stored without identifying information for at least two years. You may contact law enforcement later if you decide to move forward.