You can seek support in New York without first agreeing to report an assault. Call the New York State Hotline for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence at 1-800-942-6906, or contact RAINN by phone, chat, or text. If you are unsure what a service keeps private, you can ask about its privacy practices and reporting obligations before sharing your name or location. For an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Choose a way to reach support
| Option | How to contact | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Hotline for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence | Call 1-800-942-6906 | New York State Department of Health directs people seeking immediate assistance to this number. See the state sexual violence resources. |
| RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline | Call 800.656.HOPE (4673), text HOPE to 64673, or use online chat | RAINN says its services are free, confidential, and available 24/7 in English and Spanish. It can connect people with local sexual assault services and legal, medical, and longer-term mental health support. See RAINN’s hotline page. |
| Hospital rape crisis or victim assistance advocate | Ask hospital staff: “Can you contact a rape crisis advocate to be with me?” | New York’s SAFE Program materials say hospitals should tell patients about local rape crisis or victim assistance organizations and contact an appropriate organization if a patient wants an advocate. See the New York SAFE Program. |
These options serve different needs: a hotline can be a first conversation or a route to local referrals, while a hospital can provide medical care and help arrange an advocate. Availability and logistics can vary locally, so ask the service what it can provide where you are.
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What confidential means—and what to ask before sharing details
“Confidential” does not mean exactly the same thing for every organization or communication channel. New York law provides a privilege for qualifying communications with a rape crisis counselor and records made during those services. New York CPLR 4510(b) states: “A rape crisis counselor or domestic violence advocate shall not be required to disclose a communication made by his or her client to him or her, or advice given thereon, in the course of his or her services”. The law includes exceptions, including client-authorized disclosure and communications revealing an intent to commit a crime or harmful act. Read the statute for its full terms; not every hotline, hospital, counselor, or online service necessarily qualifies for this privilege.
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A provider’s privacy practices are separate from the protections in state law. RAINN says callers can contact its hotline without providing their name, location, or other identifying information. It also says that if someone shares their name and location and is under 18 or a vulnerable adult, RAINN may have a legal duty to report; it describes possible reporting if it believes someone is considering suicide. Those are RAINN’s stated practices, not a universal rule for New York services.
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If you want to understand the limits first, ask:
- Can I speak without giving my name or location?
- What information do you collect or keep for this call, chat, or visit?
- Are you a New York rape crisis program or counselor covered by CPLR 4510?
- Are there circumstances in which you must share information or make a report?
- Can you explain those limits before I tell you identifying details?
Getting medical care or requesting an advocate
You can seek medical care without treating that decision as an agreement to make a police report. If you want an advocate at a hospital, ask staff to contact a rape crisis or victim assistance organization. New York says advocates who complete its training can, by law, provide confidential services to sexual assault patients. Local staffing and arrangements may vary.
If you are considering a forensic exam, New York says a victim Bill of Rights must be provided before the medical facility begins the physical examination. The state’s Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights explains those rights. New York’s Office of Victim Services also directly reimburses medical providers for qualifying forensic rape exams when a survivor does not have private health insurance or chooses not to use it for the exam; the state says this approach is intended to protect survivor privacy. Billing guidance notes changes for claims received on or after February 3, 2026, so consult the current OVS exam information for details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protecting privacy while looking for help online
RAINN cautions that a browser’s history may show a hotline visit and that an internet provider may retain a record of sites visited. Private browsing or deleting local browser history can address some traces on the device, but neither step guarantees that a visit is hidden from an internet provider or from someone monitoring the device or its accounts. See RAINN’s online privacy guidance. If you are worried about being monitored, consider whether a safer device or account is available before searching or contacting a service.
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