Roles of Responders

This protocol discusses the roles of the following responders: health care providers, advocates, law enforcement representatives, forensic scientists, and prosecutors. Clearly, each of these professions has a role in responding to victims, investigating the crime, and/or holding offenders accountable. But rather than dictate who is responsible for every procedure within the exam process, the protocol is designed to help communities consider what each procedure involves and any related issues. With this information, each community can make decisions for its jurisdiction about the specific tasks of each responder during the exam process and the coordination needed among responders. The following is a general description of what each responder may assist with:
  • Advocates may be involved in initial victim contact (via 24-hour hotline or face-to-face meetings); offer victims advocacy, support, crisis intervention, information, and referrals before, during, and after the exam process; and help ensure that victims have transportation to and from the exam site. They often provide followup services designed to aid victims in addressing related legal and nonlegal needs. 
  • Law enforcement representatives (e.g., 911 dispatchers, patrol officers, officers who process crime scene evidence, and investigators) respond to initial complaints, work to enhance victims’ safety, arrange for victims’ transportation to and from the exam site as needed, interview victims, coordinate collection and delivery of evidence to designated labs or law enforcement facilities, and investigate cases. 
  • Health care providers assess patients for acute medical needs and provide stabilization, treatment, and/or consultation. Ideally, sexual assault forensic examiners perform the medical forensic exam, gather information for the medical forensic history, and collect and document forensic evidence from patients. They offer information, treatment, and referrals for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other nonacute medical concerns; assess pregnancy risk and discuss treatment options with the patient, including reproductive health services; and testify in court if needed. They typically coordinate with advocates to ensure patients are offered crisis intervention, support, and advocacy during and after the exam process and encourage use of other victim services. They may follow up with patients for medical and forensic purposes. Other health care personnel that may be involved include, but are not limited to, emergency medical technicians, staff at hospital emergency departments, gynecologists, surgeons, private physicians, and/or local, tribal, campus, or military health services personnel. 
  • Forensic scientists analyze forensic evidence and provide results of the analysis to investigators and/or prosecutors. 
  • Prosecutors determine if there is sufficient evidence for prosecution and, if so, prosecute the case. They should be available to consult with first responders as needed. A few jurisdictions involve prosecutors more actively, paging them after initial contact and having them respond to the exam site so that they can become familiar with the case and help guide the investigation.