CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is encouraging victims of sexual assault to come forward, reminding the public that reporting an incident to police is separate from deciding to file criminal charges.
Law enforcement officials emphasize that preserving physical evidence early provides options for survivors who may not immediately be ready to navigate the formal legal process.
The announcement follows recent reports of sexual violence on college campuses locally and across the country. Lt. Tamilla Gibbs, a member of the CMPD Special Victims Division, stated that officers are available to guide survivors through the reporting procedure and inform them of available support resources.
In North Carolina, there is no statute of limitations for filing criminal sexual offense charges. However, law enforcement officials note that physical evidence collected for a sexual assault kit is best preserved within a five-day window following an assault.
Survivors can receive a sexual assault kit and access support resources at a hospital without filing a formal police report. CMPD also allows individuals to submit anonymous sexual assault kits to preserve evidence for potential future legal action.
“We encourage any survivor, if they are unsure, to still move forward and go to the hospital and get a sexual assault kit. So that we have that evidence when they are ready to report,” Gibbs said. “One of the most important things is that it’s not too late to report.”
Gibbs explained that officers are available to support individuals through every stage of reporting. “The first thing I want to make sure that everyone understands that the support is here,” Gibbs said, noting that officers “make sure that we walk you through each of each step of the process and it can be a lot.”
“It takes courage, in the first place, to report these heinous incidents,” Gibbs said. “But having someone to help walk you through the process makes it that much easier and more comfortable for our survivors’ evidence.”
Individuals hesitant to contact law enforcement directly can seek assistance from Safe Alliance. The organization offers guidance through the process of contacting police and can accompany survivors when making a report.
The focus on reporting procedures coincides with recent cases involving university students. At the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a former student is accused of recording himself having sex with another student and sharing the video in a fraternity Snapchat group.
At Cornell University in New York, a woman accused seven fraternity members of sexually assaulting her and discussing the incident in a Snapchat group. No criminal charges have been filed in the matter, but the New York state attorney general is investigating the allegations.
Cornell staff are set to start a vote tomorrow on a symbolic no-confidence resolution condemning the university’s handling of sexual violence cases.
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