The Role Of The SANE - The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Studies have shown that less than half of the victims of sexual
assault treated in emergency rooms get basic help with
information about the risk of pregnancy or emergency
contraception to prevent pregnancy.
They have to wait for sometimes up to six hours for treatment,
and during this wait, they're told not to eat, drink, or even
use the bathroom before they're examined because it might
destroy evidence.
By the time of the examination, victims often feel "re-raped"
from the treatment by the staff of the emergency room. For this
reason, emergency rooms are realizing a need for SANE programs.
SANE's are registered nurses who have specialized training in
examining victims of sexual assault. They provide much needed
emotional support for victims as well as testify in trials as
expert witnesses in the victim's perpetrator's trials.
They have extensive training in forensic evidence collection,
expert witness testimony, STD treatment, and pregnancy
evaluation. 75% of SANE programs are hospital based, housed in
the emergency rooms while 25% are in the community setting at
rape crisis centers or health clinics.
The first SANE programs started in the mid 1970's but it wasn't
until the late 1980's that the programs got a major growth spurt
as they grew more rapidly in the 1990's when localities started
to see the benefits of what these SANE programs have to offer.
And by 1996, there were approximately 70 programs in existence.
Now, there are at least 280 SANE programs throughout the United
States. Nearly all of these SANE programs serve adolescents and
adults, and around half serve pediatric patients.
The programs are staffed by RN's and nurse practitioners that
conduct forensic exams of victims of sexual assault. They are
required by law to report to local law enforcement sexual
assaults that may have caused the victim injury.
On the other hand, the victim has the right to decide to have
evidence collected and cooperate with law enforcement by
providing them with information. After a SANE program is
established, most emergency room personnel are relieved by the
service that SANE's provide.
Many municipalities are starting to see the need in these much
needed programs. They offer a great service to victims by
quickly processing forensic evidence and giving emotional
support while making their time to wait for examination as short
as possible.
As SANE programs get more and more popular, we'll start to see
many more of these programs as time goes on and this can only
help the victims of sexual violence and help put their
perpetrators behind bars so they won't have a chance to hurt
anyone else.