Documentation on a sexual assault victim should _______.

• A. be objective and factual
• B. describe the status of the suspect(s)
• C. be subjective and summarize the crime
• D. be objective and factual and summarize the crime

Answer: (A)

Documentation on a sexual assault victim should be objective and factual. This approach records what was observed, heard, and measured with neutral, precise language, including exact times, locations, direct statements from the victim, and detailed descriptions of injuries or evidence. Keeping the record free of personal judgments or speculation preserves the integrity of the information for investigations and any potential legal proceedings.

Describing the status of the suspect belongs to investigative or legal notes, not to the victim’s medical or forensic documentation, and can introduce bias or privacy concerns. Similarly, avoiding subjective language and not summarizing the crime helps prevent interpretation or narrative bias, since the medical/forensic record should reflect verifiable facts rather than storytelling about the incident.