Sexual Assault and Post Exposure Prophylaxis: What SARTs Need to Know Individuals who are sexually assaulted may be concerned about sexually transmitted diseases, in particular HIV infection at the time of the assault. While the risk of acquiring HIV following a sexual assault is low and varies based on the circumstances of the event, health...

Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act SARTs should be aware of the potential complications to the victim surrounding the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The federal EMTALA (42 U.S.C. §§ 1395dd) was enacted in 1986 to prevent patient dumping — refusing to provide emergency medical treatment to patients who cannot pay...

Expert Testimony Expert testimony can positively impact a sexual assault case by providing the jury with a better understanding of the relevant evidence and related scientific, forensic, and medical issues. By providing insight into how trauma may affect the behavior of victims, an expert witness can provide critical information to a jury determining the outcome...

Victim Impact Statement SARTs have a responsibility to know the laws in their state and support victims who choose to make victim impact statements. Victim impact statements are provided to the court at sentencing as an expression of a victim’s right to be heard. In these statements, a victim is able to describe the impact...

Closed-Circuit Television SARTs should be aware that closed-circuit television (CCTV) is another tool for a victim-centered approach to prosecuting those persons who have committed sexual assault in the cases where the victim is a child. CCTV allows judges, witnesses, and others to participate in court cases when emotional distress, distance, travel limitations, or poor health...

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Victims have the option to receive a sexual assault medical forensic examination following a sexual assault. It is critical that SARTs implement a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach for the medical forensic exam process. Victim advocates should enter the process early and include underserved or vulnerable voices in the community’s response. Everyone...

Strangulation When strangulation occurs with sexual assault, there is a significant risk of homicide and health risks for victims, making the inclusion of routine questions about strangulation an important part of SART response protocols. Despite the high fatality risk of strangulation, it is often misidentified, and it is important that anyone responding to victims of...

Lethality Assessment Any provider working with victims of sexual assault where the offender is an intimate partner — often referred to as intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) — should be trained in the use of lethality assessments or be familiar with the risk factors of IPSV. Individuals who are experiencing IPSV may be at risk...

The Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Sexual Assault Cases Police departments across the country are increasing the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) to record interactions between police officers and the public. [67] Typically mounted to a police officer’s head or chest, a BWC is a camera equipped with one or more microphones, a battery, and...

Drug-Facilitated and Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault SART members should understand that alcohol-facilitated sexual assault (AFSA) or drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) occurs when a victim’s intoxication from drugs or alcohol impairs their cognitive and physical functions to the extent that they are unable to consent to sexual activity. A victim may not be able to communicate unwillingness...