Getting medical attention after an assault is very important, even if you do not have visible injuries. If you want an exam to collect evidence of rape or sexual assault, you must go to a hospital that has a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program.

Maryland offers Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFEs) at designated hospitals in each jurisdiction. A FREE exam, that includes evidence collection, medical care, and HIV exposure consultation, can be completed even if you choose not to involve the police. Please click here to view the list of Maryland’s SAFE programs

Although all hospitals do not have Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Programs, any emergency room can help provide you with medical care, including prescribing medicine to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Some hospitals will also provide medicine to prevent pregnancy but you can also buy this medicine, such as Plan B One-Step, My Way, or Next Choice One-Dose, over the counter at some pharmacies. If you are interested in locating a pharmacy near you that offers Plan B, click here. For information on accessing abortion care in Maryland, please click here.

Hospitals with SAFE Programs have specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) or physicians available to provide both medical attention and evidence collection services. Medical care provided during SAFE includes acute injury care and medication for the prevention of sexual transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and pregnancy. All services and medical care, including HIV prevention medication (nPEP), provided during a SAFE are FREE of cost. For more information on the evidence collection process please see “What Happens During a SAFE," below. To learn more about nPEP, please click here to view an information guide for providers and survivors, developed in conjunction with the Maryland Hospital Association (click here for the Spanish version of the guide).  

Most SAFE Programs in Maryland will provide you with an exam regardless of the county or city in which you were assaulted in. However, some SAFE programs have limited services or restrictions for exams. If you are unsure of the services provided at your nearest SAFE program, please contact the hospital, if possible, before reporting for the exam.  

At-home rape kits have been advertised as a means for survivors to collect evidence of a sexual assault independently of a medical professional. These kits, although aiming to address survivor comfort and safety, raise concerns that have been flagged by professionals across the country. Evidence collection is only one portion of the care provided during a SAFE: It is important the survivors of sexual assault see a medical professional after an assault, not only for evidence collection, but also to address concerns like STI or HIV contraction, pregnancy, and treatment of injuries. MCASA encourages all survivors to have evidence collected in a manner that they are comfortable with, and while at-home rape kits claim the ability to collect said evidence in private, they cannot replace the expertise and knowledge of a trained forensic nurse examiner. It's important to remember that during a formal SAFE each survivor can request to have an advocate or support person present, and they have the ability to decline any portion of the exam they are uncomfortable with. 

In recent weeks, a private business has been contacting community agencies about their self-administered sexual assault forensic collection kits for sexual assault survivors. They have been making false and misleading statements about their product’s availability and usage in Maryland by misrepresenting newly passed legislation. Click here to read more about the concerns raised about these kits by the Maryland Attorney General. For more information about at-home rape kits and the conerns raised by professionals, you can view an FAQ developed by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, VALOR. Please note that this FAQ is specific to California. If you have questions related to Maryland, please email [email protected].

For a list of SAFE programs closest to you, including those with limited services, click here or click the location on the map.
For a list of SAFE programs close to Maryland college and university campuses, click here.

FNE-P: SAFE Program provides exams for survivors age 12 and younger
FNE-A: SAFE Program Provides exams for survivors 13 years of age and older

(* Indicates a SAFE program who may not be offering 24/7 services at this time. Please call the associated number to check availability.)

If you are unsure of where to seek help, contact 211 or go to 211md.org to find more information on helpful resources in your area.

What happens during a SAFE

During a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE), the Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) will ask you for the details of the sexual assault.  These details will help guide the FNE in the evidence collection process for increased likelihood in identifying the attacker and to ensure that all necessary medical care is provided.  Forensic evidence that an FNE may collect include items, such as hairs, fibers, and body fluids, that might identify the attacker. The exam may include swabs in the mouth and photographs of visible injuries. An internal exam may be conducted on adolescent and adult women, similar to what you might experience during a gynecologist appointment. You may be asked to give blood, urine, and hair.  All of these samples may assist in identifying the attacker and in any criminal investigation that may occur. 

In 2019, MCASA advocated to prohibit any unauthorized use or storage of a survivor's DNA profile collected during a SAFE. This was solidified in MD. Crim. Pro. §11-926. As a result, your DNA cannot be used to prosecute you in other investigations.

While at the hospital for a SAFE you will be asked if you would like to report the sexual assault to the police.  It is important to know that you do not need to speak with law enforcement in order to receive care and evidence collection services free of cost.  If you choose not to report the assault to law enforcement, the FNE will provide you with instructions on how to report the assault at a later date if you choose to do so.  Whether or not you choose to speak with law enforcement at the time of your exam does not impact the storage of the evidence collected at the hospital.  This evidence is referred to as a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK), and will be stored properly for a minimum of 20 years. 

When you are sexually assaulted, you may be fearful that you may become pregnant or contract an STI or HIV, but during a SAFE a medical provider can help decrease the chances of these things happening. The FNE will use the information you provide during the narrative of the assault to help determine your risk level for STIs and HIV. The FNE will utilize specific guidelines, such as guidelines provide by the Centers for Disease Control, to determine the need for HIV prevention medication.  These guidelines consider factors such as injury, bleeding, and point of penetration, when determining need for medication. It is important to note medication compliance is essential when taking HIV prevention medication, and additional testing and follow-up care may be necessary.  Additionally, you may be provided with preventative medication for other STIs, such as Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, and pregnancy prevention medication. Please note that you do not have to undergo a SAFE to receive the HIV prevention medication (nPEP). As long as you meet the medical criteria of potential exposure, a licensed physician at any hospital within the state of Maryland can prescribe you the medication.

If you have concerns or questions about the contraction of HIV after you have received a SAFE, you may seek services at your local health department for testing or visit the Maryland Community Services Locator for information on care and testing sites near you.

When receiving a SAFE you will have to opportunity to receive advocacy services.  These services will be provided by your local Rape Crisis Center or the hospital at which you are receiving care.  Advocacy services include, but are not limited to, accompaniment during the exam, safety planning, and referrals for long-term services. Click here to find the number for your local center