SANE Information

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health Program, which provides access to Nurse examiners who are specially trained in evidence collection and court testimony for cases of rape and sexual assault. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is a grant-funded site serving the 5-Colleges. Any 5-College student or anyone who is assaulted on the campuses of the five colleges is eligible for this free service. Students can come to Urgent Care at UMASS University Health Services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the academic year. The Urgent Care staff will determine whether the survivor’s assault necessitates a certified SANE nurse practitioner who will perform the forensic exam and give medical care to the assault survivor. It is recommended that students have a rape crisis advocate with them. You can call the Everywoman's Center at 545-0800 before you arrive or the UHS staff can call for you. The police are not called when someone seeks treatment from SANE. Police are only involved if the victim wants to report the assault. The victim does not have to report the assault to qualify for the SANE exam. It is recommended that you come just as you are. Do not shower, wash or treat yourself as this may damage evidence. It may be helpful to bring a change of clothes with you.

The examination by the SANE is free. There may be charges if other urgent care is needed such as stitches, x-rays or medications. You will be offered Emergency Contraception, Antibiotics for sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment, and prophylaxis for prevention of HIV transmission. Victims will have access to assistance for these costs in most cases. The medications may be covered by your health insurance and/or reimbursement is available through Victim's Compensation if a police report is filed within 5 days of your exam. The evidence collection kits are assigned numbers, so a victim can remain anonymous if they choose to. Kits are discarded after 6 months to 2 years, depending on the police department or crime lab that is storing them, if no charges are filed. If you have questions about SANE services please call your college's health education department. Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and the University of Massachusetts Health Services in Amherst are the only two SANE sites in Western Massachusetts at this time.