Brandenburg State Institute of Forensic Medicine
Immediate medical assistance and confidential evidence collection after sexual violence
If you have experienced sexual violence, quick and expert support is crucial. Our service enables you to receive medical assistance and have any evidence collected confidentially – without having to report the incident to the police immediately. This gives you time and allows you to remain in control of your next steps. Care is provided free of charge, confidentially and in a protected environment by specially trained professionals in partner clinics.
Your options after sexual violence
Option 1: Immediate report to the police
Every report is important. Even if you have concerns, we encourage you to contact the police. This is the only way to initiate criminal prosecution, which may help prevent further offences. However, there is no obligation to do so.
If you wish to report the crime, contact the police directly (telephone 110). They will take all the necessary steps and provide you with support.
Option 2: Immediate medical assistance with confidential evidence collection
If you are still undecided as to whether you wish to report the incident to the police, please contact one of the partner clinics listed as soon as possible. There you will receive a medical examination and treatment. Upon request, any evidence will be collected confidentially and in a manner that is admissible in court. Confidential evidence collection is available around the clock.
Option 3: Immediate medical assistance without evidence collection
If you do not wish to have evidence collected, you should still have yourself examined by a doctor immediately. Sexual violence can have both physical and psychological consequences. A medical examination helps to identify and treat any health consequences at an early stage.
Confidential evidence collection procedure
After a sexual assault, you can contact the emergency department of one of our partner hospitals at any time, 24 hours a day. There, you will be referred to specially trained doctors and cared for in a safe environment.
Confidential and independent of the police
- Your data will only be recorded at the hospital and stored in encrypted form.
- Collected evidence will be pseudonymised and stored securely for 10 years.
- It will only be passed on to the police if you actively decide to file a report.
Important information
- Some evidence can only be secured within a very short time frame and are no longer detectable afterwards.
- Please come unwashed if possible and bring the clothing worn at the time of the incident or other possible evidence (e.g. bed linen).
- Moist materials should be stored in paper bags, not plastic.
Examination procedure
- A physical examination is carried out with written and photographic documentation of the findings.
- Injuries are treated.
- If necessary, further diagnostics are initiated.
Support
- Upon request, you will be put in touch with victim support organisations that can provide you with assistance and advice.
The decision is entirely yours
Partner Clinics
| Name and Address | Telephone |
|---|---|
|
Helios Klinikum Bad Saarow Pieskower Straße 33 15526 Bad Saarow |
033631 711 11 |
|
Universitätsklinikum Brandenburg an der Havel Hochstraße 29 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel |
03381 41 29 00 |
|
Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem Thiemstraße 111 03048 Cottbus |
0355 46 24 68 |
|
GLG Werner Forßmann Klinikum Eberswalde Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße 100 16225 Eberswalde |
03334 690 |
|
Klinikum Frankfurt (Oder) Müllroser Chaussee 7 15236 Frankfurt (Oder) |
0335 548 27 10 0335 548 13 01 outside working hours |
|
Universitätsklinikum Ruppin-Brandenburg Fehrbelliner Straße 38 16816 Neuruppin |
03391 39 45 15 |
|
Oberhavel Kliniken Robert-Koch-Straße 2–12 16515 Oranienburg |
03301 66 30 17 |
|
Kreiskrankenhaus Prignitz Dobberziner Straße 112 19348 Perleberg |
03876 30 30 |
|
Alexianer St. Josefs-Krankenhaus Potsdam Zimmerstraße 6 14471 Potsdam |
0331 96 82 11 12 |
|
Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann Potsdam Charlottenstraße 72 14467 Potsdam |
0331 24 15 50 51 |
|
Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf Seebad 82/83 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin |
033638 833 55 |
|
Asklepios Klinikum Uckermark Am Klinikum 1 16303 Schwedt (Oder) |
03332 53 41 90 |
|
Sana Kliniken Niederlausitz,
Standort Lauchhammer Friedensstraße 18 01979 Lauchhammer |
03573 75 37 70 |
Help and advice services
Brandenburg has an extensive network of support services for people affected by sexual violence. Some services also offer counselling in other languages with the assistance of interpreters.
Specialist counselling centres of Opferhilfe Land Brandenburg e.V. (Victim Support Association of Brandenburg)
- Counselling for victims of sexual and violent crimes
- Strictly confidential and free of charge
- Counselling available in all languages (with interpreter)
- Available on site, by telephone or via video consultation
| Location | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Cottbus | +49 355 729 6052 |
| Frankfurt (Oder) | +49 335 665 9267 |
| Neuruppin | +49 3391 512 300 |
| Potsdam / trauma outpatient clinic | +49 331 280 2725 |
| Senftenberg | +49 3573 140 334 |
Psychosocial counselling
The Victim Support Association of Brandenburg (Opferhilfe Land Brandenburg e.V.) offers psychosocial support, including:
- Guidance and stabilisation in a safe environment
- Help in clarifying your next steps
- Developing solutions together with you
- Referral to further support services if necessary
Further counselling services
In addition to the specialist counselling centres run by Opferhilfe Land Brandenburg e.V., there are also nationwide and regional helplines and facilities available to you:
📞 Helplines
- Hilfetelefon “Violence against Women” (Gewalt gegen Frauen) – 116 016
Telephone counselling in 18 languages (with interpreters); chat and email counseling available in German only - Hilfetelefon “Sexual Abuse” (Sexueller Missbrauch) – 0800 22 55 530
Telephone counselling in 19 languages (with interpreters) - Hilfetelefon “Violence against Men” (Gewalt an Männern) – 0800 12 39 900
Telephone, chat, and email counselling available in German only - Hilfetelefon for Pregnant Women in Crisis – 0800 40 40 020
Telephone counselling in up to 19 languages (with interpreters); chat and email counselling available in German only - Weisser Ring – 116 006
Telephone counselling in German, partly also in English; interpreter-assisted counselling possible upon request; online counselling available in German only
🏠 Regional Services
- Netzwerk brandenburgischer Frauenhäuser e.V. (Network of Brandenburg Women’s Shelters)
Telephone counselling; interpreter-assisted counselling possible upon request - Autonomes Frauenzentrum Potsdam (Autonomous Women’s Centre Potsdam)
Women’s counselling, women’s shelter, emergency housing for women. In-person counselling by appointment (via phone) and open consultation hours; interpreter-assisted counselling possible upon request - Traumaambulanzen im Land Brandenburg (trauma outpatient clinics in the State of Brandenburg)
Telephone counselling; interpreter-assisted counselling possible upon request
Organizational questions can be sent to the coordination office via the contact form (not for emergencies).
Project Partners
The initiative is funded by the Ministerium für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt (MASGZ) des Landes Brandenburg (Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Social Cohesion (MASGZ) of the State of Brandenburg), coordinated by the Brandenburgisches Landesinstitut für Rechtsmedizin (BLR) (Brandenburg State Institute of Forensic Medicine) and cooperates with Opferhilfe Land Brandenburg e.V. (Victim Support Association of Brandenburg) on matters of psychosocial counselling for those affected.
2026 | State of Brandenburg