Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations
Consensus among agencies regarding procedures
Build consensus among involved agencies regarding procedures for initial coordinated response when a recent sexual assault is disclosed or reported. First responders from these agencies (e.g., 911 dispatchers, law enforcement representatives, emergency medical services (EMS) technicians, hospital emergency department staff, sexual assault examiners, and advocates) need to be educated about and follow these procedures. Responders also need discipline-specific procedures (e.g., EMS procedures should stress preserving evidence when caring for acute injuries and treating victims with sensitivity).
In addition, other community professionals to whom victims may disclose need to know procedures for activating the SART or obtaining immediate assistance for victims if a SART does not exist. (For information on this topic, see A.1. Coordinated Team Approach and Appendix B. Creation of SARTs.) Also, recognize that some institutions and residential living programs have internal procedures for handling sexual assault disclosures. SART members should work with these entities to ensure that their procedures address the needs of victims and are coordinated with jurisdictional multidisciplinary response.
