(left to right) Lapeer County Medical Director Dr. Russell Bush, Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Byron Konschuh and Director of Victim Services Catherine Strong. The three are members of the 22 member board that helped develop a program to assist victims of sexual assault and bring their attackers to justice. The board hopes to make the public aware of the successful program during National Crime Victims' Rights Week Sunday (today) through Saturday. photo by Susan Younger

The services of SANE/SART, an acronym for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/ Sexual Assault Response Team, are now available.

"We've been working on this for five years," said Director of Victims Services Catherine Strong of the Lapeer County Prosecutor's Office. "There are other SANE/SART programs and meetings were held because many people thought it was necessary here. The board grew and it finally came together."

Care and support for victims combined with better results prosecuting sexual assault cases are the results of the multi-agency approach.

"Previously if an assault victim went to the hospital, no one was trained to specifically gather evidence which is easily lost," said Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Byron Konschuh, a member of the SANE/SART board. "Now specially trained nurses provide the examination and the nurses will objectively testify during a trial.

Microscopic trace evidence can be found by the educated nurses and items like clothing, the car the victim drove, and bodily fluids can prove valuable in linking the criminal to the crime.

Previously a rape victim had little privacy in the hospital when they reported it, said Lapeer County Medical Examiner Dr. Russell Bush, also a board member.

"Life threatening emergencies are the first priorities in the emergency room," said Bush. "Many times the person had to wait. They were examined under the bright lights of the emergency room, where there was little privacy."

If a victim presents at the hospital, a special team that includes law enforcement, a victim's advocate and a trained nurse are activated to a special room in the hospital. If the attack is reported to law enforcement, the victim is taken to a specific prepared room at the Lapeer County Health Department, and the team reports there.

"The police officer investigates and the nurse properly examines the victim," said Strong, also on the SANE/SART board. "The advocate explains the process, addresses concerns and helps with insurance forms. They help the crime victim fill out the victim's compensation paperwork."

The process has worked so well that one rapist has been convicted.

"We didn't have to put the victim through a trail," said Strong.

It's the board's hope that the professionalism and sensitivity of the program will convince other victims to step forward, said Konschuh.

SANE/SART is looking for additional victim's advocates.

"We need people who are empathetic and want to give back to the community," said Strong. "They must be willing to give time to someone else but not get personally involved."

If interested, phone Strong at 667-0326.