UT Study Shows Gaps in Services to Victims of Sexual Assault

What Dr. Busch-Armendariz and the other researchers found is that a lack of funding creates wide ranging problems, some of which discourage victims from coming forward and seeking assistance. Even victims who went to emergency rooms often faced waiting periods of hours in order to receive a forensic exam; many victims chose to leave rather than to wait.

To address these problems, the researchers made a number of recommendations, including allocating more funds for the training of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE), who work in emergency rooms to both provide medical services and collect evidence. The other recommendations include:

• "Make adequate and stable funding available to all the organizations whose missions are to provide direct services to sexual assault survivors and work on efforts to prevent sexual violence.
• Strategize innovative ways to enhanced collaboration and communication among organizations that assist sexual assault victims.
• Recruit and retain the most seasoned professionals in the field.
• Extend accessible and competent services to all victims of this crime.
• Initiate courageous victim-centered approaches to all stages of the process.
• Develop revolutionary educational campaigns to broaden the understanding of this crime and decrease its stigma."

Further details on the study are available here.