Medical forensic exam (SANE exam)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my rights?
Under District law, you have the right to have a confidential, community-based advocate present to support you and provide information and resources during any:
Advocates can meet you at the hospital when you're seeking a SANE exam, or at the location of an interview with police or any District government agency.
What can an Advocate provide?
Advocates work for a community-based, nonprofit organization in the District. They are not part of law enforcement. They do not work for the government or for the hospital. They are there solely to help you.
Who are the Advocates?
Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center provides Advocate services for youth under the age of 18. Volare and the DC Rape Crisis Center provide Advocate services for adults 18 and older.
Advocates can meet you at the hospital when you’re seeking a SANE exam, or at the location of an interview with police or any District government agency to support you and provide:
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means that a Sexual Assault Advocate will not share your personal information or what you told them with anyone without your written permission. In the District of Columbia, communications between a survivor and a Sexual Assault Advocate are also legally privileged. This means the advocate cannot be forced to share what you told them, even in court, unless you say it’s okay. If someone tries to get access to this information in court, a hearing is required to determine whether the value of that information exceeds the legal protection of your private information, and only the judge would see your information before making that decision.
There are a few exceptions. Advocates may have to share information if you say you plan to seriously harm yourself or someone else; you report that a child is being abused or neglected; you disclose that you were abused as a child and the person who hurt you may still be a danger to children today, or you are a minor yourself and have been sexually abused by someone other than a “peer.” For more information about what these exceptions may mean for you, please visit Resources on Confidentiality & Mandated Reporting.
Other service providers listed in the resources on this website offer various levels confidentiality and legal privilege, and each may have different exceptions. When contacting those resources, make sure to ask about their policies and legal protections before providing them with additional information.
If you have concerns about confidentiality or mandated reporting, visit Get Help in the City to find an attorney. Attorneys can speak with you about your situation under attorney-client privilege, which means attorneys are not required to report child abuse and neglect.
Can a SANE exam or DNA testing diagnose or determine whether I was sexually assaulted?
No, the information and evidence gathered during a SANE exam cannot diagnose or determine whether you were sexually assaulted as defined in the law. However, it can provide evidence that can be used to identify a possible suspect, and in some cases, can be used in court with other evidence to aid in the prosecution’s case against that person.
Can I get a SANE exam without talking to the police?
Yes, under federal law, you do not have to report the assault to police in order to receive a SANE exam or other medical care. If you are under the age of 18, others may report the case to police as mandated reporters, but you do not have to speak with them if you do not want to.
Can I still get a SANE exam and report the assault to police if I have a warrant out for my arrest?
Yes. Under DC Code § 23‑1912, you can receive emergency treatment or a SANE exam without being subject to custodial arrest by law enforcement during that time, unless there is already a court-issued arrest warrant for a dangerous crime or a crime of violence, i.e., a warrant for murder, armed robbery or other violent/dangerous offense. If the warrant is for a non‑violent or less serious offense, you cannot be taken into custody at that time but may receive a field arrest notice.
How do I clear my cache and browsing history?
ASK DC does not store your information from your searches or activity, but your browser may. To protect your privacy, clear your cache and browsing history after use. To do so follow the instructions for your web browser below.
Firefox: To clear your cache and browsing history on Firefox select the menu drop-down (the 3 horizontal lines) in the right upper hand corner, then select Preferences. Go to the Privacy & Security tab and click Clear Data under the Cookies and Site Data section. Uncheck Cookies and Site Data if you only want to clear the cache, then click Clear.
Chrome: To clear your cache and browsing history on Chrome navigate to Chrome settings. Then go to the privacy and security tab, from there find the button that says delete browsing data and you can clear your data from there.
Safari: To clear your cache and browsing history on Safari open Safari settings by clicking the Safari button in the top left of your screen and then click settings. From settings navigate to the privacy tab and click manage website data. From there you will be able to remove any saved website data from your computer.
Microsoft Edge: To clear your cache and browsing history on Microsoft Edge click on the three dots on the top right of your browser and then click the settings tab near the button. Then in settings click the Privacy, search, and services tab on the left. Then click on the clear browsing data button and from there you will be able to clear any saved data from your computer.
Who Can Provide Confidential, Legally Privileged Sexual Assault Services?
Sexual Assault Advocates who are dispatched to support you during a SANE exam, while reporting to police, and in any interview with a District Agency, as well as call takers at the DC Victim Hotline, are all certified as Sexual Assault Counselors under District law. This means they can provide confidentiality and legal privilege for your information. Other professionals and volunteers with mental health, case management, and other services for victim-survivors of sexual assault in the District who have been certified as Sexual Assault Counselors are also required to keep your information confidential, with some exceptions furthered explained in Resources on Confidentiality & Mandated Reporting.