Medical and Legal Assistance for Sexual Violence Survivors
May 18, 2016
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Wednesday May 18th, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Register here
Barbra Bachmeier, JD, MSN, NP-C and Detective Kimberly Minor
Survivors of sexual violence may be less likely to seek assistance if they are uninformed about what to expect from a healthcare provider or law enforcement officer. In turn, perpetrators may be more likely to harm additional victims because they do not fear legal or social repercussions, due to a lack of reporting. Therefore, supporting survivors is an important part of a comprehensive community plan to end sexual violence; if survivors feel empowered to report, perpetrators may be investigated and prosecuted, or at least feel less confident in targeting new victims. This presentation will provide an overview of the types of medical and legal assistance available to survivors of sexual violence. Attendees will learn about medical forensic exams, the comprehensive care that survivors can expect to receive from healthcare providers, and how medical providers will discuss reporting options with survivors. Attendees will also learn about the process of making a police report, and what to expect if a survivor wants to pursue criminal charges and move ahead with investigations. Sponsored by SAPIR.