History:

In 1996, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office instituted the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Project, in cooperation with 180 - Turning Lives Around (formerly The Women's Center of Monmouth County), under the direction of the New Jersey State Office of Victim/ Witness Advocacy. The goal of this project was to provide state of the art physical and psychological support to survivors of sexual assault, while improving the quality of evidence and information collected for use in prosecuting rapists. The model project was made a permanent program in 1998 and renamed the SANE/SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) program in 2003. All five hospitals located in Monmouth County are active partners in the SANE/SART program and offer access to SART services at their facilities. They are Bayshore Community Hospital, CentraState Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center. The program expanded in 2008 to include the evaluation of children age 12 and younger who have experienced a recent episode of sexual abuse. These children are currently being evaluated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center located in Neptune.

SANE/SART Response to Incidents of Sexual Assault

As soon as an incident of sexual assault or abuse is reported in Monmouth County, a team of highly trained individuals is made available to evaluate the situation and to respond to the needs of the victim.

The Sexual Assault Response Team Consists of:

• A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner who is a Registered Nurse certified to provide comprehensive and compassionate care while ensuring that all potential evidence is collected in a timely and appropriate manner.
• A Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate who has been trained to provide information and support throughout the interview, medical and forensic exam and beyond. These advocates are familiar with the entire reporting and treatment process, as well as the resources and support services available throughout Monmouth County.
• A Law Enforcement Officer who has specialized training and experience in the area of sexual assault investigations.

If Someone You Know Has Been Raped or Sexually Abused:

• Get to a SAFE place and call 911, your local police department or the Rape Care Hotline at 1 888/ 264-RAPE (toll free), or go to a local Emergency Department.
• It is important to both your mental and physical well being to get help quickly.
• DO NOT eat, drink, shower or change clothing until you have been examined.
• The Rape Care Hotline is available 24 hours a day to provide you with information and assistance.

Sexual Assault Statistics

• According to the "Violence Against Women" study, 82% of all reported sexual assaults were committed by a non-stranger, defined as an acquaintance, intimate partner or family member. (Violence Against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995)
• A 1998 study by the Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control involving interviews of 8,000 adult women and 8,000 adult men found that:
• 1 in 6 women reported having experienced an attempted or completed rape.
• 83% of the women reported they were under 25 years old when the assault occurred; 54% said they were under 18.
• 1 in 33 men also reported experiencing a sexual assault victimization. (Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, 1998)
• Youths age 12-17 are two to three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than adults. (National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000)
• During 2004 and 2005, an average of 200,000 individuals in the United States were victims of sexual assault. (National Crime Victims Survey, 2004, 2005)
• Only 16% of all rapes are reported to police, according to a National Victims Center report. (Rape in America: a Report to the Nation, National Victims Center, 1992)
• Over the past 3 years, the Monmouth County SANE/SART Program has been activated more than 140 times each year to provided services to adolescent and adult men and women reporting recent sexual assault victimization. (SANE/SART Annual Report, Monmouth County SANE/SART Program, 2004-2006)

Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault

Myths:

• Rape is about sexual desire.
• Stranger rape is real, date rape isn't really rape.
• Men who are raped by other men are homosexuals.
• If you get your date drunk or high, it's okay to have sex with them.
• Women report rape to get revenge.
• When a women, says no, she means maybe.

Facts:

• Rape is about power and control.
• Rape, in any form, is a criminal act.
• When one man rapes another, the issue is power, not sexual attraction.
• If a person is high or drunk and can't give consent, sex with them is rape.
• Rape is not a crime reported on a whim.
• NO means NO.

Community Education

Informational brochures about the SANE/SART Program are available for distribution to health care professionals, crisis counselors, teachers, students and others who would like to learn more about the program.

Speakers are also available to discuss primary prevention and related topics including forensic nursing, drug facilitated rape and risk reduction strategies.

Employment Opportunities

The SANE/SART program is actively seeking registered nurses with a minimum of 2 years recent clinical experience and an interest in forensic nursing practice to join our team of independent contractors. Each nurse contracting with the program is required to meet New Jersey Board of Nursing certification requirements which include completion of an approved 64 hour SANE training course as well as specialized clinical competency training. Additionally, the nurse is provided program and exam site orientation and individualized clinical training through a preceptorship process. Monmouth County SANEs are required to maintain current NJ RN licensure and professional malpractice insurance, to live in or near Monmouth County, and to be available to be on-call a minimum of 48 to 60 hours per month.

For Further Information Contact:

Links:

• 180
• International Association of Forensic Nurses
• International Association of Forensic Nurses - New Jersey Chapter
• SANE/SART
• Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
• Dorothy B Hersh Regional Child Protection Center