Emergency & Confidential Resources
There are important options and resources available if you have experienced sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or any other form of sexual or interpersonal harassment, discrimination, or misconduct.
24/7 Crisis Hotlines
You are not alone. Whether you're seeking information on how to help a friend, or seeking information for yourself, the below hotlines are available to provide support, assist you with identifying your options, and accessing local supports.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
https://www.rainn.org | 1-800-656-4673 - Los Angeles Police Department Rape Hotline
1-626-793-3385 - Los Angeles County Stalking Hotline
1-877-622-0044 - Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-978-3600
Medical Attention and Evidence Preservation for Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center
If you have experienced an attempted, completed, or suspected sexual assault, the College encourages you to seek immediate, specialized medical attention at an urgent care, emergency room, or a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center near you. SART programs utilize a team of professionals specially trained to provide medical care, emotional support, and comprehensive medical-legal examinations, including a forensic medical exam.
To find a SART nearest to you, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673.
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
438 W. Las Tunas Dr. San Gabriel, CA 91776 | (877) 209-3049 (24/7/365)
This SART center provides 24/7 emergency sexual assault services and is the nearest center to the PCC main campus.
Forensic Medical Exam
Forensic medical exams “rape kits” are available to individuals who experience an attempted, completed, or suspected sexual assault. Individuals who undergo a forensic medical examination receive comprehensive treatment for any injuries, preventative medications for pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, assistance with emotional recovery, and preserve their ability to file a police report, now or in the future.
What to Expect
Depending on the types of sexual contact/activity that occurred, the collection of physical evidence may include taking samples from the vagina, mouth, or rectum to test for sperm cells and semen. If the victim/survivor was possibly drugged or consumed a sedative-like substance, the medical provider may also take a urine sample. Other evidence may be obtained from fingernail scrapings, foreign matter on your body, and the clothes worn at the time of the assault. All exam findings are completely confidential and can only be released with the written consent of the victim/survivor. If there are visible injuries, they may be photographed. Photographing injuries is important because by the time the assailant is prosecuted, the injuries may have healed. The victim/survivor is also permitted to have an advocate or support person with them throughout the exam.
Things to note about a forensic examination:
- The exam can be done up to five days (120 hours) after an assault. If the assault occurred more than 5 days ago, there still may be evidence that can be collected. Call the SART center to consult.
- There is no cost for a forensic examination
- Reporting to law enforcement is not required to receive a forensic exam
Best Practices for Preserving Evidence
To preserve evidence:
- It is recommended that victims/survivors do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush their teeth, urinate, defecate or change clothes before the exam. Even if one or more of these actions has been taken, it is still best to seek prompt medical care.
- Gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing and any other pertinent articles that may be used for evidence and secure them in a clean paper bag or clean sheet. Securing evidence assists with pursuing legal or criminal action in the future.
- Do not delete or alter electronic evidence, photographs, texts, emails, social media posts and messages, etc.
- If drugs may have been involved in the assault, urinate into a cup as soon as possible and save it. It’s important not to wipe or wash hands afterwards. Bring the cup to the emergency room or SART center.
- Based on the type(s) of abuse the victim/survivor experiences, there may be one or more options for and kinds of evidence to preserve. The police, the Title IX Office, or a victim advocate can further advise on ways to preserve evidence on a case-by-case basis.
- Retain police reports of when you or a witness called the police
- Retain medical and psychological reports from professionals. Emotional abuse can show up in physical ways (e.g. anxiety, weight loss, depression, etc.). By reporting this to your medical provider or therapist, it can be noted in their records.
- Physical abuse or violence:
- Retain medical reports of injuries from the abuse inflicted on the victim/survivor, child(ren), pet, or others (if medical assistance was sought). If physical injuries occurred, photograph or have them photographed. Date and timestamp any photos of injuries.
- Household objects torn or broken by the abuser
- Pictures of your household in disarray after a violent episode
- Pictures of weapons used by the abuser against you
- Psychological or emotional abuse: Maintain a diary and/or calendar documenting the abuse as it happened and summarizing verbal interactions. Keep voicemails or voice messages, videos, as well as screenshots of text messages, social media posts or messages, emails, and/or other virtual communications.
- Financial abuse:
- Log incidents, seeking medical care, etc.
- Sexual abuse or assault (see above)
- Stalking behaviors (see below)
Stalking is demonstrated through a pattern of unwanted contact or conduct which may occur in person, digitally, through a third party, or by some combination of these methods.
- Recording information about the stalking behavior you may be experiencing will help to document the behavior for College resolution processes, protection order applications, divorce and child custody cases, or criminal prosecution should wish to hold the individual engaging in the behavior accountable. It can also help preserve your memory of individual incidents about which you might later report or testify.
- A stalking log can be used to record and document all stalking-related behavior, including harassing phone calls, text messages, letters, e-mail messages, acts of vandalism, and threats communicated through third parties. It’s important to capture the following information in as much detail as possible in this log: date, time, description of incident, location of incident (physical location, technology used, online platform, witness names and contact information, evidence (e.g. photos, video, screenshots, call logs, gifts, etc.), and details regarding a corresponding report filed (e.g. name of office or organization, report #, contact person).
- When reporting the incidents to law enforcement, always write down the officer’s name and badge number for your own records. Even if the officers do not make an arrest, you can ask them to make a written report and request a copy for your records.
- In addition to logging unwanted contact, an advocate or police officer may recommend you save and photograph unwanted text messages, emails, letters and gifts and store them in a secure location.
- Document verbal and written communications and interactions. Some instances of sexual harassment may occur over text messages, emails, social media, voicemail, pictures, recorded messages, videos, or other digital platforms. Download, screenshot, and/or save these correspondences. If incidents occur in person and there is not written or video evidence, document in writing in as much detail as possible the in-person incidents. Without taking notes soon after the incidents occur, small details can be forgotten. Be sure to include dates, times, and locations of all incidents.
- Document unwelcomeness of the behaviors. It’s important to document that the behaviors were unwanted on your part.
- Document the impact on you emotionally, physically, academically, etc.
- Witness names. there may be a chance that other people were around while the harassment took place, even if it was just briefly. Having another person confirm that they witnessed the harassment can be extremely important. If you believe someone else may have witnessed the behavior(s), write down their name(s) and the dates of the behaviors they may have witnessed.
- Document the report made to your supervisor or employer.
- Document any negative actions. If you experience any negative consequences as a result of refusing sexual favors, as a result of indicating your objection to such sexually inappropriate behaviors, or as a result of reporting the incident, document those as well and include the dates and times. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Demotion
- Reduced salary
- Reduction in hours
- Being given undesirable work shifts
- Being assigned undesirable work tasks that you previously did not have to perform
- Being assigned a high volume of work beyond your normal capacity
- Giving you a performance evaluation that is lower than it should be
- Transferring you to a location or position that’s less desirable
- Engaging in verbal or physical abuse
- Threatening to or making reports to authorities (e.g. immigration)
- Experiencing increased scrutiny
- Spreading false rumors
- Making your work more difficult (e.g. changing their work schedule to conflict with known family or other responsibilities)
- Being fired
Confidential Campus Support
For Students
Personal Counseling
(626) 585-7273Personal Counseling Services Offers short-term individual and group counseling services to help students improve their daily functioning and academic success. Their staff can:
- Listen to you, validate your experience, and empower you with options
- Share information about your rights and reporting options
- Offer crisis intervention and brief therapy
- Offer support, counseling, and referrals for others who may have been affected by incident(s) such as friends, partners, and witnesses.
- Provide you with information regarding a forensic medical exam
- Provide guidance on best practices for sexual assault evidence preservation
- Referrals to free and low-cost community-based services
Visit the Personal Counseling Website to learn more or to make an appointment.
(626) 585-7244 D-105
Student Health Services provides clinical care for students designed to address health promotion, disease prevention, short-term acute illnesses and injuries, and to assist students with finding resources to help them manage their health conditions. The Student Health Fee, paid as part of enrollment at Pasadena City College (PCC), covers most services at PCC’s Student Health Services, with no need for payment, insurance or a co-pay. Services that aren't covered by the Student Health Fee are offered at a reduced cost. Their staff can provide:
- Medical consultation with a licensed health professional
- Treatment for minor injuries and evaluate your overall well-being
- Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Free pregnancy testing
- Emergency contraception at a reduced cost
- STI Tests (Chlamydia and Gonorrhea) at a reduced cost
- Provide you with information and a referral to receive a forensic medical exam
- Provide guidance on best practices for sexual assault evidence preservation
- Referrals to free and low-cost community-based services
- Information about your rights and reporting options
For Staff and Faculty
Employee Assistance Programs
SISC Anthem 24/7: (800) 999-7222
SISC Anthem provides confidential services and resources at no cost to employees and family members of Pasadena City College. (Please note that you do not have to be enrolled into Anthem to partake of the services). If you or a family member needs counseling, you get up to 6 visits with a licensed professional. Counseling sessions can be over the phone, in-person, and online. The EAP also offers Web-Based tools and resources such as articles, checklists, quizzes, webinars, podcasts, and eLearning modules. Resources are available online at www.anthemeap.com Company Code SISC.
Guidance Resources
(855) 891-3684
Guidance Resources provides confidential services and resources at no cost to full-time employees and family members of Pasadena City College. If you are enrolled in Life and AD&D insurance, this program provides access to a wide array of services such as online will preparation, legal support, grief, counseling on coping with occasional challenges of day-to-day life, and many more confidential resources and services. Resources are available at www.GuidanceResources.com To register use LifeKeys for Organization Web ID.