If you are the victim of a sex offense, the law enforcement officer must inform you in writing, of the name, address, and telephone number of the nearest Rape Crisis Center.  In addition, all police departments and district attorney's office must provide a private setting for interviewing rape/assault victims.  The only people present during the interview are:  1) persons directly and immediately related to interviewing the victim, 2) the victim, 3) if the victim wants, a social worker, rape crisis counselor, psychologist or other professional providing emotional support, and 4) if requested by the victim, their parent or parents.

A rape or sexual assault victim cannot be asked or required to take a polygraph test or psychological stress evaluator examination.

Hospitals are required to offer sexual offense victims the opportunity to have a rape crisis advocate present during the sexual offense examination.  The sexual offense evidence will be collected and kept in a locked separate and secure area, and kept according to the state and local health codes.  Right now the New York State Health Department requires evidence to be held only 30 days, but here in St. Lawrence County we try our best to be able to hold them for 60 days.  This gives the victim the opportunity to have that much longer to make the decision on whether or not they want to press charges.

The victim can request that a defendant convicted of a felony sexual offense be ordered to undergo an HIV test.