If you have experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, human trafficking, or another traumatic event, you may have questions about reporting.
You may not know whether you want to report.
You may feel that you need more time.
You may simply want to understand your options before making any decisions. One question survivors often have is:
Can I use Hazel if I’m not ready to report?
According to the supplied Hazel content, yes. Hazel was designed to give survivors a place to explore support options without requiring them to make an immediate report.
Reporting Is a Personal Decision
Seeking help and reporting an assault are not necessarily the same thing.
A survivor may want medical care, emotional support, advocacy, or information without being ready to involve law enforcement.
Another survivor may want to report immediately.
Someone else may be uncertain.
Each situation is different.
Choosing not to report immediately does not make what happened less serious. It also does not mean you cannot seek support.
Why Some Survivors Wait
There are many reasons someone may not be ready to report.
They may still be processing the experience.
They may fear retaliation.
They may worry they will not be believed.
They may know the person who harmed them.
They may be concerned about family, work, school, housing, or community relationships. They may simply want more information before making a decision.
Survivors may need time to process their experience and understand their options.
Hazel provides a place for survivors to explore options without immediately committing to a particular path.
Survivors can learn about resources, connect with support services, and document information if they choose.
Hazel’s materials describe the ability to preserve information such as personal notes, timelines, screenshots, photographs, and other details.
Documentation can be useful for someone who wants to preserve information while taking time to decide what they want to do.
You Can Seek Support Without Reporting
Depending on the circumstances and available services, survivors may be able to access support such as:
- Medical care
- Forensic nursing
- Advocacy
- Counseling
- Safety planning
- Educational resources
- Community referrals
Specific confidentiality and reporting requirements can vary by service and circumstance, so ask providers about their policies before sharing sensitive information.
Your Choices Matter
Trauma can leave people feeling as though control has been taken away.
Having choices about what happens next can be important.
With Hazel, you decide what information to share, what services to explore, and when you want to seek additional support.
The goal is not to pressure survivors toward reporting or away from reporting.
The goal is to provide information and resources so survivors can make informed decisions. Start Where You Are
If you are not ready to report, you can still ask questions.
You can learn about medical care.
You can talk with an advocate.
You can explore counseling.
You can document information.
You can simply learn about your options.
You do not have to decide everything today.
Hazel was created to meet survivors where they are rather than requiring them to be ready for every decision at once.
Important: Reporting, confidentiality, and mandatory-reporting requirements can vary based on circumstances, age, provider, and applicable law. Consider speaking with a qualified professional about your specific situation.
