IF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT JUST HAPPENED, OR YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.

IF NOT, CALL THE MAIN TORONTO POLICE SERVICE PHONE NUMBER 416-808-2222 AND A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER WILL ATTEND YOUR LOCATION.

HERE'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN:

WHEN THE OFFICER ARRIVES:

An ambulance will be called, if you need one
You will be asked to give basic details about what happened
Depending on the nature of the sexual assault, you may be asked to consider having a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit done at the hospital
You will be provided with contact information for Victim Services Toronto
Your case will be referred to a trained Sexual Assault Investigator

WHEN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATOR TAKES THE CASE

A suitable place to do a detailed interview will be chosen
You will be asked if you would prefer being interviewed by a man or a woman investigator
You will be kept updated on the progress of the investigation
You will be told if charges will be laid, if appropriate
You will be told of your right to complete a Victim Impact Statement & you may be referred to someone at the Victim Witness Assistance Program for help

WHEN CHARGES HAVE BEEN LAID:

Charges will be laid if there is enough evidence to support investigation
Charges may not be laid. This does not mean the police don't believe you. It may mean there is not enough evidence to proceed.
The case can take several months, or years, to make its way through the court process. You will continue to be supported during this time
For more information about the court process, please visit www.courtprep.ca or ask your Victim Witness Assistance Program worker, if one has been assigned to you

The Toronto Police Services is here to provide assistance and support. For further information on the community support resources available to you, sexual assault investigations, possible outcomes and the criminal court process visit our Guide for Survivors of Sexual Assault, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Along the bottom you will see quick exit instructions. If at any time you feel you are in danger please call 911.

Reporting to the Police

Can I report a sexual assault years after it occurred? +

In Canada, there is no statute of limitation for sexual offences, which means you can report to police no matter how long ago it happened, and if appropriate sexual assault charges can be laid.

If the Sexual Assault occurred in your distant past or if you are an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, it is commonly referred to as a “historical sexual assault”. If you choose to report this to police, for your convenience, you may do so at the police department closest to you, regardless of where the incident occurred. Your report will be assigned to the division where the sexual assault took place and you will be contacted by the officer assigned to your case.

What if I work in the sex trade? +

Will I be arrested if the police find out? Anyone can be sexually assaulted at anytime, anywhere, by anyone. This means a sex trade worker can be sexually assaulted by a client. Any sexual contact that was not consensually agreed to is a sexual assault. If you are victimized during your work in the sex trade you will not be arrested.

Will I be asked about my immigration status? +

There may be certain circumstances where an officer may be legally required to ask you about your immigration status.

These circumstances are:

A victim or witness who may require or seek admission into the Provincial Witness Protection Program
A Crown Attorney is requesting the information for court purposes
The information is necessary to prove the essential elements of the offence and/or
Investigations where the circumstances make it clear that it is essential to the safety and security of the public, or to officer safety, to determine the immigrations status of a victim or witness

Your immigration status will not be affected by reporting to the police.

What if I have a disability? How do I call the police? +

The Toronto Police Service is accessible in many ways to people with disabilities. The Service’s website is compliant with the provincial Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. When a person calls the Toronto Police Service, language translation services are available and a TTY system for those with hearing loss is in place.

What if the sexual assault involved my former or current intimate partner? +

If, in the course of a domestic violence investigation, it’s determined that a sexual assault has been committed and reasonable grounds are established to lay charges, the police shall proceed with charges regardless of the victim’s wishes. This occurs because there is a Provincial mandate that directs all Police Officers in Ontario to proceed with charges specifically related to domestic violence. Officers will explain to the victim and the offender that it is the duty of the police to lay a charge where there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed. They will also explain that only a Crown Attorney can withdraw the charge.

Domestic violence is any use of physical or sexual force, actual or threatened, in an intimate relationship (current and former). It also includes emotional /psychological abuse or harassing behaviour. Although both women and men can be victims of domestic violence the overwhelming majority of this violence involves men abusing women. Intimate relationships include those between the opposite sex and same-sex partners. These relationships vary in duration and legal formality and include current and former dating, common-law and married couples.

I belong to the LGBTQ2S community, how will I be treated? +

The Toronto Police Service is here to help you because it’s the law and no group should feel like the police will not protect them. We have trained our members in order to provide policing services that are sensitive to the needs of your community.

We have done our best to include LGBTQ2S-friendly organizations under the Community Resources section of this website. You can also contact our LGBTQ Liaison Officer, Sergeant Robert Chevalier, at 416-346-5940, for information.

If you are Trans, you can review our Guide to Police Service in Toronto – Dedicated to the Trans Communities of Toronto.

If I do call the police, what happens next?

If the sexual assault just happened, or you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If it did not just happen, then call the main Toronto Police phone number, 416-808-2222 and a uniformed officer will attend your location.

Once dispatched to a sexual assault, the uniformed officer will:

Upon arriving at the location of the survivor, ensure their physical and emotional needs are met and call for an ambulance if required;
Conduct a preliminary investigation with the assistance of the survivor to find out basic details about the incident. This will happen in a private environment, if possible;
If the survivor has special needs (e.g., interpretation, sign language, physical and other disabilities) contact the appropriate individual or agency for assistance;
Depending on the nature of the sexual assault, the officer may ask the survivor to go to the hospital to treat injuries and to have a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) done. This kit will collect forensic evidence; and/or;
Advise the survivor of the option of having Victim Services Toronto contacted to assist in providing immediate crisis, trauma and support services.

What kind of immediate support can I expect? +

Victim Services Toronto is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to helping survivors of crime. They provide responsive, accessible, and accountable programs and services. They focus on restoring and enhancing the survivor’s quality of life and preventing re-victimization.

There is immediate on-site support and crisis intervention, operating 24/7. They will connect you to agencies and resources in your local community for counselling, advocacy, violence prevention, safety services and outreach.

40 College Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2J3
416-808-7066
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.victimservicestoronto.com

Who will investigate my case? +

All sexual assault cases are investigated by police officers who are specifically trained in the area of sexual assault investigations. The training that sexual assault investigators receive is focused on creating a consistent and thorough investigation into sexual assault cases, while respecting the needs of victims and witnesses. The training is designed to enhance investigations of sexual assault by promoting best practices, in addition to victim sensitivity. A trained sexual assault investigator will be assigned to your case.

Assignment of sexual assault cases in Toronto are done on a risk-based assessment. This means:

Cases where the alleged offender is “known to the victim” will be investigated by the division where the sexual assault took place, and;
Cases that are deemed a “high risk to the community” and where the alleged offender is “not known” to the victim will be investigated by Sex Crimes.

The trained sexual assault investigator assigned to your case will:

Fully investigate the incident;
Ensure the survivor has access to medical care;
Explain the process for the collection of all evidence including the SAEK, as necessary;
Consult with Victim Services Toronto;
Assess and discuss with the survivor where and when an in-depth interview will take place;
Ask if the survivor prefers to be interviewed by a man or a woman and make all reasonable efforts to respect the survivor’s choice;
Keep the survivor informed of the progress of the investigation in a timely manner;
Lay charges when appropriate;
Advise the survivor that she/he has the right to complete a Victim Impact Statement;
Advise the survivor that someone from the Victim Witness Assistance Program will be contacting him/her to assist with preparation filling out appropriate forms, court preparation and to keep the survivor informed of the court progress of the accused.

Why is evidence so important? +

Although evidence is not absolutely necessary in a prosecution, it greatly assists the police with their investigation. Evidence is very important in any investigation; therefore, the collection of evidence in a timely manner should be considered. The likelihood of collecting evidence diminishes when reporting is delayed. Evidence is not just limited to biological specimens, but also includes video, statements, cell phone and social media content, and other documentation.

During the investigation you may be asked detailed questions. These questions are used to assist the investigator in the collection of evidence and not to judge or blame you for what happened, what happened is never your fault.

Will everyone know what happened to me? +

Your privacy is very important to us. When a sexual assault is reported to the police, a review of all the information is done to determine if a news release is required. Generally a news release is issued if:

there is a risk to public safety;
information from the public may help solve the case;
it is believed that more victims might come forward and/or;
an arrest has been made and/or there is an update to the investigation.

General information about the sexual assault, including the date, time, and location of the assault, will be included in the news release. The news release will include the gender and age of the survivor. The news release will also include a description of the person alleged to be responsible, if that person is not yet known, or it will include the name and age if the person has been identified.Your name will never be released to the media.

What if the offender is not caught? +

Unsolved sexual assault cases are never closed; they remain active. If additional information is received, further investigation will be done, which may lead to an arrest.

Do police always charge an accused? +

It is the role of the police to lay charges if there is enough evidence to support the investigation. Sometimes the police will decide not to lay a charge. This does not mean that they do not believe you or that the sexual assault did not happen. It may mean that there is not enough evidence to prove a criminal charge in court. If this does occur, the investigator can explain why this happened in your case. The investigator can tell you of civil options available to you (some can be found on our community resources page.

Download a copy of the Guide to Sexual Assault in your language

This Project has been made possible by a grant from the Government of Ontario

For the purpose of this website, the Toronto Police Service has used “survivor” as an umbrella term to refer to anyone who has been sexually assaulted. However, we support a person’s right to choose how they wish to be identified. It is also important to note, this is not legal advice. Every effort is made to provide precise information, however your rights and a police officer’s responsibilities depend on the situation. If, at any time, you're unsure of your rights you can ask the police officer. They are required to tell you. The Toronto Police Service bears no responsibility for information on other websites. While we strive to maintain accurate and survivor-focused resources, it cannot be guaranteed. This project has been made possible by a grant from the Government of Ontario.

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