In 1996, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office instituted the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Project, in cooperation with 180 – Turning Lives Around and the Division of Criminal Justice, a component of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG). It was the first program of its kind in New Jersey. The goals of this project were to:
- Educate experienced registered nurses in providing state-of-the-art physical and psychological support to adolescent and adult survivors of sexual assault;
- Develop a coordinated, multidisciplinary, victim-centered approach to responding to individuals seeking assistance; and
- Improve the quality of physical evidence and information collected for potential use in prosecuting those charged with sexual assault.
The model project was deemed highly successful and was made a permanent program by then-Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 1998. It was renamed the SANE/SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) program.
Today, all five hospitals located in Monmouth County are active partners in the SANE/SART program and offer access to SART services at their facilities. These include Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, and Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.
The program expanded in 2008 to include the evaluation of children 12 and younger who had experienced a recent episode of sexual abuse. These children were initially provided forensic medical services at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, but may currently be seen at any of the participating hospitals.
As soon as an incident of sexual assault or abuse is disclosed by a victim in Monmouth County, a team of highly trained individuals is made available to evaluate the situation and to respond to the needs of that victim and their family.
The SART consists of:
- A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – a Registered Nurse certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing to provide comprehensive and compassionate healthcare to victims of sexual assault or abuse while ensuring that all potential evidence is collected in a timely and appropriate manner;
- A Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate – a community volunteer who has received extensive training in order to provide 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 full range of resources and support services available throughout Monmouth County; and
- A Law Enforcement Officer who has specialized training and experience in the area of sexual assault investigations.
The adolescent or adult victim has the choice to request services from any or all of the team members at the time of the incident, or in the days and weeks following. Some choose to talk with an advocate first and discuss options before deciding about a medical exam or filing a police report. Others may go directly to a hospital or to a police station. There is no one correct way to deal with sexual violence, and each member of the team is able to provide basic information about choices and options.
The care and evaluation of child victims is carefully coordinated to limit the number of persons discussing the details of the abuse with the child, and to ensure that all appropriate services for children and their families are provided in a timely manner.