Beyond simply receiving medical care, you may also decide to have an evidentiary exam, in which a specially trained nurse will examine you and document any physical evidence of a sexual assault. Should you decide now, or in the future, to report to law enforcement or press charges, having evidence on file can help your case. However, getting an evidentiary exam does not obligate you to report your experience to the Police or to the College.

Even if you do not want to make a report now, or ever, a SANE exam can provide care from a competent and compassionate medical professional who can address your concerns, offer reassurance, and treat any medical issues that may arise as a result of the assault.

Evidentiary exams are ideally performed immediately following an assault. Evidence may still be collected after the assault up to 7 days at the Northfield Hospital or up to 10 days at any Allina facility. Exams are performed by specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE Nurses). SANE Nurses are all female, and are on-call 24 hours a day. The costs of the evidentiary exam are paid for by the State of Minnesota.

You may call Northfield Hospital Emergency Department at 507-646-1100 to let them know that you are on your way and would like to see a SANE Nurse. When you arrive at the hospital, inform the receptionist, who will call the SANE nurse on-call. She will come immediately to the hospital. You may have to wait about 30 or 45 minutes for her to arrive, so it can be nice to have a book, a friend, or another support person to keep you company.

You can reach out to HOPE Center at 1-800-607-2330 to discuss options and have an advocate at the hospital for support, transportation, etc. and then they can assist you with reporting to law enforcement or with orders for protection and support post assault.

Tips for Visiting Northfield Hospital

  • If you request a SANE Nurse, you will not have to pay for the exam yourself. The charges for your exam will be billed to the State of Minnesota, and it is a confidential service.
  • If you do not want to request a SANE Nurse, you will be billed for your visit, as the State of Minnesota will not cover the cost.

SANE Nurse Recommendations

  • Wait until the exam to change out of the clothes you were wearing during the assault (or bring any clothing or bed sheets that may have organic evidence from the assault in separate paper bags, which protect the evidence better than non-porous plastic bags).
  • Bring a change of clothes because you may be asked to leave the clothes worn during the assault. The hospital can also provide you with clothing.
  • Try not to eat, drink, douche, wash your hands, comb your hair, or brush your teeth prior to the exam if these areas may have organic evidence from the assault.

During the Exam

  • Remember that you are in control. You may stop the exam at any point, ask questions at any time, and opt out of any part of the exam.
  • You may bring a friend or support person with you, but at certain points during the exam they may be asked to leave the room.
  • The SANE Nurse will ask you for a detailed account of the assault, then will perform a physical exam using a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit. This exam may include: a urine sample, a vaginal swab using a speculum, a penile swab, pubic hair combing, an oral swab, a rectal swab, swabs of other areas that may have organic evidence, and a finger prick to draw blood for a DNA sample and testing for date rape drugs.
  • Following the exam you will discuss any risks you may have been exposed to during the assault, and will be offered treatment for STIs and pregnancy prevention.
  • Please know that the whole process may take up to 4 – 6 hours.

Getting an evidentiary exam does NOT mean that you are required to report the sexual assault to Carleton or to the Police. If you do not want your evidentiary exam to be tested, it will be considered a restricted kit. The evidence collected in a restricted kit (an evidentiary exam you do not want to be tested for DNA) is sealed and sent directly to the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) but remains confidential. It will be stored up to 30 months on your behalf.