If you have been sexually assaulted...
Within the Last 72 Hours
You have just experienced a life changing event. Asking for help is the first step in your recovery.
Call Our 24/7/365 Hotline: 205-860-SAFE(7233)
The Tuscaloosa SAFE Center office is open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, however we operate 24/7! If you call outside of these hours, a real person from an answering service will pick up, take basic information and send the on-call nurse a confidential message. From there, the nurse will reach out to you to set up a time to meet at the center. The meeting usually happens within 1 hour of your original call!
What is the process?
Contacted by a SANE
Once you are contacted by the on-call nurse, you will be asked several questions concerning your safety, health and arrival time. Please call TSC FIRST, so we can walk you through all you options.
Arrival at TSC
Unless you have severe injuries, your care can take place at our office, located at 1601 University Blvd, E, STE 150. If you are seriously Injured, call 911 or go to the hospital. Once you arrive at the TSC, you will be informed of all of your reporting options and be able to chose what feels the best for you.
Forensic Interview & Exam
There are three main components to a sexual assault/ forensic exam. First, the nurse will conduct a head-to-toe exam of your body, looking for injuries. When you have just experienced a trauma, such as a sexual assault, there is natural adrenaline running in you body, and you may not be aware of the extent of your injuries. If any injuries are noted, we will document them in your chart and with pictures (with your consent). Lastly, we will collect evidence from your body. This will look like several different cotton swabs, hair strands, collection of your underwear, clothes and more. Every case is different, the evidence we will collect will depend on what happened to you and when you were assaulted.