Appendix B – Tips for Preserving Evidence

Regardless of whether an individual reports an incident of sexual misconduct to the University or law enforcement, the University strongly encourages individuals who have experienced sexual assault to preserve evidence to the greatest extent possible. Below are some tips on how to best preserve evidence.

• Seek medical attention immediately for a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE). The nearest hospital to the University that performs SAFE exams is U.M. Prince George’s Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, Maryland 20785
• Do not shower, bathe, brush your teeth, or change your clothes before seeking medical attention
• If you do change your clothes, store the clothing you were wearing during the assault in a paper bag or wrap them in a clean sheet (plastic containers/bags do not breathe and may render the evidence useless).
• Do not wash sheets, towels, etc. which may have evidence of the assault
• Do not delete any electronic communications relating to the assault including: text messages, emails, Facebook messages, or other social media messages