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Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Program
At Howard University Hospital
In 2000, the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) established a Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner (SANE) program for adult survivors of sexual violence in
the District of Columbia. This program, developed in conjunction
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and the United States Attorney’s
Office operates out of Howard University Hospital’s (HUH) emergency
room. This multi-disciplinary collaboration is called the Sexual Assault
Response Team (SART). These agencies work together to ensure a coordinated
community response of a victim’s process through the system as well as
to work out any potential or posing problems the SANE program may have.
The main purpose of the SANE program is to effectively collect evidence
for criminal prosecution of sex offenders in Washington, DC in a manner
that is respectable, professional and compassionate. SANE nurses receive
specialized training to perform forensic examinations necessary to collect
evidence in sexual assault cases; to serve as factual witnesses in court
cases; and to understand the emotional/psychological impact of sexual
assault victims. In addition, the SANE program offers specially trained
hospital advocates through DCRCC to provide supportive intervention,
information and advocacy.
SANE examinations are conducted in the designated SANE area of HUH’s
Emergency Department. A SANE coordinator and a corps of trained SANE
nurses, who are available 24 hours a day on an on-call basis, will staff
the program. The DCRCC advocates are also available for every survivor who
has the forensic exam done.
The SANE program at Howard University Hospital only applies to
victims—male, female and transgender—18 years of age or older. Victims
under 18 years of age will be examined at Children’s Hospital, in their
SANE program.
Patients who present themselves as sexual assault victims at HUH will
be given an exam if s/he
(1)
Was assaulted in the District of Columbia
(2)
Was assaulted within the last 72 hours (under limited
circumstances, up to 96 hours)
(3)
Agrees to press charges, and
(4)
Is deemed “credible” by the responding Sexual Assault Unit
detective.
If a victim chooses to go to another hospital s/he will be advised by
MPD of the SANE program at HUH. However, the DCRCC will provide an
advocate to any hospital. If s/he refuses to go to HUH, the individual
must make personal arrangements with the care provider regarding payment
of services.
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