When responding to a sexual assault call, the officer should first:

• A. Offer support and refer to a SANE
• B. Question the victim about details before offering support
• C. Immediately detain the suspect
• D. Ignore medical needs

Answer: (B)

The first action in responding to a sexual assault is to quickly establish what happened by asking the survivor for essential details in a calm, trauma-informed way. This initial information gathering helps you identify any ongoing risk, determine what immediate needs exist, and guide the next steps—such as arranging medical care, preserving evidence, and coordinating with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) if appropriate. It’s important to balance questions with empathy, using non-leading prompts to obtain accurate facts while making the survivor feel supported and safe. While offering support and arranging medical or forensic resources are crucial next steps, understanding the incident initial facts properly informs how those resources are deployed.