Introduction
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs were formed inside the communities all over the States of America. The participants of the program are expert forensic nurses who underwent specialized training to provide round-the-clock, first-response medical interventions and crisis management to rape survivors in hospital and clinic settings. SANE programs have several domains, which contribute to the programs’ effectiveness. The tasks within these domains include endorsing the mental revitalization of survivors, providing complete and reliable post-rape medical assistance, accurately recording the forensic facts of the crime, giving improved forensics and skilled testimony, and contributing to the society’s transformation by presenting wide-ranging care to sexual assault survivors.
The first SANE programs came out in the 1970s, and they rapidly developed through the 1990s. These days, the number of the SANE programs is about 450 programs nationwide, according to the International Association of Forensic Nurses (2005). All these programs provide the survivors and their communities an exceptional model of intervention, the one that emphasizes inclusive, multisystem service delivery. In that regard, with many survivors still burdened with medical care and legal meddling, it is necessary to assess whether SANE programs “have made a positive difference in rape survivors’ [post-assault] help-seeking experiences.” (Campbell, Patterson, Bybee, & Dworkin, 2009)
Discussion
Eliminating the possibility of re- traumatizing the survivors in the health care setting, implies that clients get a special treatment considering hisher condition. This treatment is mainly concerned with increasing the probability that the survivors will report the sexual harassment to law, making sure that survivors get faster access to necessary services and moderating the effect of sexual assaults on communities. All of the aforementioned are the responsibilities of the provider, which must be secured for the abused victims. This is made, due to the fact that accurate evidences and legal characteristics should be the main factor in the sentencing outcomes, rather than the characteristics of the victim. (Holland & Sheets, 2009) In that regard, SANEs provide law representatives and prosecutors with complete forensic evidences regarding crimes of sexual assault, which raise up questions such as, do SANE programs have an impact on the outcomes of cases? It can be said the evidences collected by SANE staff are more complete and accurate than those collected by non-SANE personnel. Accordingly, it might be stated that such actions might enforce prosecution in certain cases. Such cases might include examples, when the offenders, when faced with complete set of evidences, might prefer to plead guilty, and thus, face a less charge, rather than deny and go through a long trial and receive a harsh sentence. Other cases might include examples when the evidences that are provided by SANE provides leads that help finding the offender. There is a difficulty in obtaining medical information regarding the evidences collected prior to the implementation of the SANE programs, and thus there is a difficulty in conducting an empirical research regarding the influence of SANE on the outcomes of the prosecution. Nevertheless, there is already a widespread data on the usual rates of prosecution in societies that do not implement SANE programs (Campbell, Patterson, & Lichty, 2005)
Credibility
Regarding the credibility of SANE programs, it should be noted that the logical answer to such call is the system of certification. First of all, SANEs require extensive training, which falls beyond conventional medical practices. Additionally, the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) published “SANE Education Guidelines to serve as a framework for the specialized training and education of SANEs.” (“OVC Support for Replicating SANE Programs,” 2009)Among the specific purposes of this framework is ensuring the credibility in the courtroom. The interrelation of SANEs practices and the legal systems was further promoted by setting specific minimum standards for SANE certification. In that regard, a bill passed in 1997 by Texas legislature directing the Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services Division led to that “[s]everal prosecutors have asked their local SANEs how they can help them get certified, since it will further validate SANEs’ education and currency of practice in court.” (“OVC Support for Replicating SANE Programs,” 2009)
Confirming the credibility of SANE in court, it should be mentioned that when called to court to testify, SANEs‘ testimony regarding statements made by victims are accountable in cases where these statement are made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment. (McLaren, Henson, & Stone, 2009) Additionally, in terms of the evidences collected, it should be mentioned that the established procedures for evidence collection leave little or no possibility for the evidences to be replaced. The requirement of a chain of custody for the evidences to be admissible implies several persons to testify including the SANE nurse who collected the evidence, the forensic serologists, the detective, the laboratory in the state department of public safety, and the criminalists who send the evidences to the FBI. (McLaren, et al., 2009)
As a confirmation of the aforementioned, a study was conducted to analyze the impact of SANEs on the prosecutorial process found that, generally comfortable with SANEs work, and “[by] establishing an early relationship with the victim and creating a support bridge between the victim, victim services, and the prosecutor, the SANE can help increase the frequency of victims’ continued participation in the process.” (McLaren, et al., 2009)
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the role of SANE programs cannot be overestimated in terms of their roles in both, prosecution enforcement and victims’ treatment. The specific nature of sexual assault cases requires special approach which can be witnessed through the implementation of SANE programs. Additionally, although omitted from the paper the great humane factor in providing special treatments to the victims can be seen as a major contributor to the importance of such programs in general. In terms of credibility, it should be noted that the process of certification and standardization of the SANEs and SANE programs prevents cases of abuses in the practices of SANE. Therefore, it can be concluded, that SANE is one of the best programs that addresses the problems of victims, providing the support and the compassionate care that distinguish their practice. In that regard, SANE programs outlines that managing outcomes of sexual assault can put great deal of pressure on victims, family, and friends and require collective efforts which are in the essence of SANE programs.
References
Campbell, R., Patterson, D., Bybee, D., & Dworkin, E. R. (2009). Predicting Sexual Assault Prosecution Outcomes: The Role of Medical Forensic Evidence Collected by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36(7), 712-727.
Campbell, R., Patterson, D., & Lichty, L. F. (2005). The Effectiveness of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs: A Review of Psychological, Medical, Legal, and Community Outcomes. Trauma Violence Abuse, 6(4), 313-329.
Holland, D., & Sheets, A. (2009). Sexual Assault and Sentencing: An Examination of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics Criminology and Criminal Justice Research and Education, 3(1).
McLaren, J. A., Henson, V., & Stone, W. E. (2009). The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and the Successful Sexual Assault Prosecution. Women & Criminal Justice, 19(2), 137-152.
OVC Support for Replicating SANE Programs. (2009). Office of Justice programs. Web.