"INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF RAPE OR FORCIBLE SODOMY If you are the victim of rape or forcible sodomy, you have certain rights under the law.

Rape or forcible sodomy by a stranger or a person known to you, including rape or forcible sodomy by a person married to you, is a crime. You can ask the government's lawyer to prosecute a person who has committed a crime. The government pays the cost of prosecuting for crimes.

If you are the victim of rape or forcible sodomy, you should contact a local police department or other law enforcement agency immediately. A police officer will come to take a report and collect evidence. You should keep any clothing you were wearing at the time of the crime as well as any other evidence such as bed sheets. Officers will take you to the hospital for a medical examination. You should not shower or douche before the examination. The law requires that the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund pay for the medical examination to the extent of the cost for the collection of evidence of the crime."

(Code 1981, §17-18-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1115, § 5; Ga. L. 2011, p. 214, § 6/HB 503.)

The 2011 amendment, effective July 1, 2011, added quotation marks at the beginning and end of the form; and, in the last paragraph of the form, inserted a comma in the first sentence, and substituted "Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund" for "police department or law enforcement agency investigating the crime" in the middle of the last sentence.

Cross references.

- Development of rape prevention and personal safety education program, § 20-2-314.

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1996, the assignment of this new Code section was changed from Code Section 17-17-2 to Code Section 17-18-2.

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1996, "17-18-1" was substituted for "17-17-1" in the first sentence.