Nurses train in Sexual Assault Forensic Examination

Posted 3/8/17

HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards announced on March 3 that, in conjunction with the Wayne Memorial Hospital and with funding provided from the Pennsylvania …

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Nurses train in Sexual Assault Forensic Examination

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HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards announced on March 3 that, in conjunction with the Wayne Memorial Hospital and with funding provided from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, local nurses were trained for four days last week in Sexual Assault Forensic Examination. 


Nurses who are trained in this area are often referred to as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners or “SANE” nurses. Nine nurses came to the Park Street Complex, the Wayne County Courthouse and the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale for training to be certified as SANE nurses. This presentation was sponsored by the hospital and Edwards. 


The United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2010-2014 showed that the majority of sexual assaults in the United States are not reported to the police, estimating only one-third of assaults get reported. 


The nurses were trained with the intention of helping victims who report a sexual assault to get the examination they need and one that provides evidence the police and the district attorney must have to prosecute the offender. 


In addition to the instructor for the SANE certification, presentations were also given by the Pennsylvania State Police, Wayne County Children and Youth Services, Victim’s Intervention Program and the district attorney. 
Edwards said, “This is a great example of the collaborative effort Wayne County puts forward for the greater good of our community. It is not enough to sit back and say, ‘I’m against domestic violence;’ we need to be proactive and work towards bettering our services for victims here. Getting trained SANE nurses at Wayne Memorial Hospital not only improves the care given to victims of sexual assault but also aids in the arrest and prosecution of offenders who commit these heinous crimes.”

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