Browsing: rape kit

When someone becomes the victim of a sexual assault, they are faced with some hard choices that are not easy to make. However, those decisions can have long-lasting impact. One of the major choices they have to make it whether to go to the hospital after the sexual assault.

When a victim of sexual assault goes to the hospital within 72-96 hours after the sexual assault has occurred, the collection of a rape kit by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) can occur with the victims consent.

Victims of rape and sexual assault now have expanded opportunities on where they can go for treatment and collection of a rape kit thanks to SB 1191 that went into effect on Sept 1.

This bill requires all hospitals with an emergency room have staff trained in basic forensic evidence collection from sexual assault victims.

It is important to note that the standard set in SB 1191 is less rigorous then what is required for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. There are currently two SANEs practicing in McLennan County and a total of 312 in the entire state.