Law enforcement employees should take a professional, victim-centered approach to sexual assaults and to proactively investigate these crimes and prosecute the perpetrator in a manner that helps restore the victim’s dignity and sense of control, while decreasing the victim’s anxiety and increasing the understanding of the criminal justice system and process. In addition, agencies must understand that a large number of sexual assault reports are delayed, a fact that will affect the response.

These documents provide employees with guidelines for responding to reports of sexual assault.