Sexual Assault Response Team
(SART)
GNESA supports the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) model for dealing with sexual assault.
What is a SART?
A Sexual Assault Response Team is a community based team response for responding to crimes of sexual violence. The SART core members include law enforcement, victim advocacy, forensic-medical professionals and district attorney's office. The SART is:
- Multi-disciplinary
- Community based
- Coordinated
- Victim Centered
- Responsive via protocol / interagency agreement
Who is a member of the SART?
- Victim Advocates
- Law enforcement officers
- Prosecutors
- SANEs
What does a SART do?
Adopted from the American College of Emergency Physicians. Evaluation and Management of the Sexually Assaulted or Sexually Abused Patient. Dallas, TX, 1999.
- Alert each other to the need for services.
- Respond to victims in a timely manner.
- Share initial case information and determine evidence collection needs, address special concerns and reduce the need to duplicate questions.
- Interview victims.
- Perform medical examination and collect forensic evidence.
- Provide clothing and toiletries for the victim.
- Support and inform the victim's significant others, as appropriate.
- Store and deliver forensic evidence in a timely manner.
- Contact other SART members to discuss their involvement in the case.
- Follow-up contact and assistance with victims.
- Problem solve on specific issues (e.g. crime victim compensation).
- Communicate on the progress of individual cases and the overall effectiveness of the SART process.
The benefits of SARTs
- The utilization of SARTs have proven to increase reporting and conviction rates. (e.g. Gwinnett County has an 85% conviction rate).
- Visualization of microscopic traces of injury have been greatly improved by the advances made in specialized equipment that is used in the forensic exam. This lessens the prosecution's burden of proving consensual or nonconsensual sex.
- The protocol guidelines decrease chances of errors and lapses in evidence collection reducing the defense of inadmissible.
- Evidence.
Why should a community start a SART?
- Improve evidence collection.
- Increase prosecution rates.
- Increase reporting.
- Reduce costs.
- Reduce incidences of retraumatization of victims.
- Meet the needs of individual communities.
The Role of Each SART Member
Law Enforcement
- Provide safety to victim.
- Interview victim and perpetrator.
- Apprehend suspect.
- Conduct criminal investigation.
- Build case for prosecutor.
Victim Advocate
- Support the victim.
- Provide information and referrals to needed services.
Forensic Medical Professional / SANE
- Obtain victim's detailed history.
- Conduct a head-to-toe assessment.
- Detailed genital examination.
- Collect high quality forensic evidence.
- Provide follow-up referrals/education.
- Provide expert court testimony.
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