SART/SANE
Serving Jackson, Limestone and Madison Counties
What is SART/SANE?
The Sexual Assault Response Team/Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SART/SANE) program is a multi-disciplinary investigative team composed of:
- Forensic Nurse Examiner (SANE)
- Law Enforcement Investigator
- Rape Crisis Advocate
The multi-disciplinary approach consists of teamwork dedicated to delivering justice to all victims of sexual assault.
SART/SANE programs were first developed in the 1970s to eliminate repetitive and unnecessary questioning and delays in the treatment of sexual assault victims in local emergency departments. Often the victim would endure long waits and interrupted examinations when emergency room doctors and nurses were called away to treat people who arrived with more critical injuries. And since doctors and nurses are trained to keep people alive rather than gather information for criminal proceedings, important medical evidence was often unavailable to prosecutors trying to put rapists in jail.
The SART/SANE programs were developed to:
- Increase sensitivity and specialization in care of sexual assault victims
- Improve quality of forensic evidence collection
What is SANE?
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a Registered Nurse trained in the nursing field of forensics to provide comprehensive care to sexual assault patients. The forensic examination of a sexual assault victim by the SANE includes:
- Forensic examination of sexual assault victims with evidence collection, 24 hours/day, 7 days a week
- Treatment/documentation of injuries
- Treatment and evaluation of sexually transmitted diseases
- Pregnancy risk evaluation
- Collection of medical legal evidence while maintaining proper chain of custody
- Expert witness testimony
The SART/SANE Program Medical Director maintains quality of care for each client and provides examination standing orders.
For information regarding the SART/SANE program, contact:
- SANE Program Manager
256-716-4052
sane@csna.org
Services provided by the SANE program include:
- Comprehensive medical legal examination with collection of forensic evidence to all *acute victims of sexual assault.
- Follow-up examinations to further document and evaluate injuries received during the assault.
- Access to a SANE at all times to answer health-related questions pertaining to a sexual assault
*Acute is defined as up to 72 hours after the sexual assault, unless an exam is requested by the Investigating officer
How to Obtain Help
For immediate help, dial 911 to report a sexual assault or call HELPLine to reach SANE:
- In Madison County: (256)-716-1000
- In Jackson County: 1-800-691-8426
- Other Alabama & Tennessee residents: 1-800-691-8426
Location of Examination
The SANE Program is available to provide examinations for victims of sexual assault who have been seriously injured or who have minimal injuries. For those who have serious injuries and require medical care by a physician, a sexual assault exam will be provided by a SANE at any hospital facility in Madison and Jackson County.
For those who have minimal injuries and for all follow-up examinations, a private confidential exam room is provided at CSNA in Madison and Jackson County. Directions will be provided by your local law enforcement agency, or by calling HELPLine.
Who pays for the Sexual Assault examination?
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund will pay for the rape kit examination. If the exam is done at the hospital, the bill will be submitted for third party reimbursement via health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. In this case, unpaid portions will be submitted to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Reporting of a Sexual Assault
If you have been sexually assaulted and wish to report it, call your local law enforcement immediately. Immediate reporting of a sexual assault:
- Allows for the collection of forensic evidence crucial in prosecution of the assailant
- Assures the victim immediate safety and medical services
- Minimizes emotional and physical trauma
- Allows the police to pursue the assailant more effectively, increasing the likelihood of apprehension
Do not bathe, shower, change clothes, eat, drink, use mouth wash or brush your teeth, and if possible do not use the restroom. Doing so could destroy or damage valuable evidence.
