in Paris hospitals, evidence now kept for three years even without a complaint filed

The system, tested since 2023 in the capital’s hospitals, allows victims of sexual violence to keep evidence of a rape or assault, as long as they do not wish to file a complaint. A tool to avoid dismissal or lack of conviction due to lack of material evidence.

For better care of victims. Any person who has suffered sexual violence in Paris, and who does not wish to immediately file a complaint, can be examined by forensic doctors to preserve the evidence, announced this Thursday, October 10, the Paris prosecutor’s office, the AP-PH and the police headquarters in a joint press release. The objective: to collect from the start the “material elements” and keep them “for three years”, even when the victim is not yet sure whether they want to file a complaint. Thus, if the victim finally decides to push the door of a police station, these elements can be attached to the opened legal procedure.

“This system allows the victim to benefit from time for reflection within the framework of multidisciplinary support, while preserving their rights and avoiding dismissal, acquittal or acquittal due to lack of material evidence,” underlined the three authorities. In practice, when a victim, having suffered rape or sexual assault, is treated in a Parisian AP-HP hospital, she will be able to receive urgent care on site (emergency contraception, heavy bleeding, etc.) then be redirected by appointment to forensic doctors from the medical-judicial unit to be examined.

Experimentation

“The convention applies to both men and women, but men will not be welcomed into the Women’s House,” said the AP-HP. Victims will also benefit from psychological consultation. If they subsequently file a complaint, they will be subject to another additional examination at the UMJ.

This system, which has been tested since January 2023 within the Women’s House of the Hôtel-Dieu AP-PH in Paris, was made official this Thursday, with the signing of an agreement between the public prosecutor’s office and the AP- HP, in conjunction with the police headquarters. According to their figures, in 2023, 22 people benefited from this procedure and six patients have since filed a complaint. From January to September 2024, sixteen people benefited from it, five of whom filed a complaint.