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The Sexual
Assault Response Team (SART) is available to any
survivor who comes forward within five days after a
sexual assault and is at least 13 years of age. All
team members are trained to provide a compassionate
and timely response to help survivors make informed
decisions and promote healing. There are three
members of SART, however the survivor can decline
the involvement of one or more members. SART is
voluntary and the decision to activate SART and any
of the team members is left up to the survivor.
Advocates are available to survivors throughout this
process. These members include:
Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
A nurse
certified in collecting forensic evidence after a
sexual assault. These nurses also provide medical
treatment to help prevent sexually transmitted
infections and pregnancy which may result from an
assault. For survivors unsure of police
involvement, the SANE can still collect evidence
that will remain on “hold” for 90 days. This gives
a survivor time to determine whether they would like
to proceed with prosecution, thus removing the hold
from the kit for processing.
Law
Enforcement
An
officer/detective who will obtain information
regarding the assault and begin a police
investigation.
Confidential
Sexual Violence Advocate
A specially
trained individual from Sexual Assault Support
Services, who will provide support, information, and
confidentiality throughout the investigative
process.
SART can
be activated 24-hours a day through our hotline
908-526-7444.
To be directed to the Somerset County website for
SART, click
here.
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