| For Immediate Release | September 21, 2016 |
Seeking Healing and Truth: Evidence shows Avalon Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program has a Positive Impact on Sexual Assault Criminal Justice Outcomes
(Halifax, NS) – According to participants in The Avalon SANE Program Evaluation Report: Seeking Healing and Truth – Criminal Justice, Community, and Victim Outcomes, the Avalon SANE Program makes a significant contribution to effectiveness and efficiencies in emergency departments, the continuum of services for victims, criminal justice process outcomes, and the coordinated community response to sexualized violence.
The report, funded by the Department of Justice Canada Victim’s Fund, investigated the effects of the SANE Program on criminal justice, community and victim outcomes. “Results from the evaluation highlight the value of the Program as it provides trauma-informed care to patients as well as specialized medical, emotional, and forensic support” indicates Susan Wilson, Coordinator of the Avalon SANE Program. ”The SANE program is integral to ensuring improved outcomes for individuals accessing early supports and interventions”.
The report presents evidence of a dramatic decrease of sexual assault cases moving forward at various points in the criminal justice process. Important to note, despite a low conviction rate, findings demonstrated that SANE had a positive impact on those cases that did progress through the Criminal Justice System. “The results of the report reinforce that the current Criminal Justice System is not compatible with the way individuals experience and process trauma,” notes Avalon Sexual Assault Centre Executive Director, Jackie Stevens. “The Avalon SANE Program’s trauma informed approach serves as a model of practise for other sexual assault services.”
You are invited to attend:
The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre will be presenting the findings for the first time publicly and releasing the full report The Avalon SANE Program Evaluation Report: Seeking Healing and Truth – Criminal Justice, Community, and Victim Outcomes on September 21st, at 12:30pm at Avalon Centre. The report will also be presented in more detail at the Avalon Annual General Meeting Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 at 5:30pm at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.
For more information about the Avalon SANE program, please visit www.avaloncentre.ca/services/sexual-assault-nurse-examiner.
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About Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization working to eliminate sexual assault/abuse, and to change the current socio-political culture that fosters sexism, social injustice and other forms of oppression.
Contact
Jackie Stevens Susan Wilson
Executive Director Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program Coordinator
t: (902) 422-4240 t: (902) 422-6503
e: executivedirector@avaloncentre.ca e: sanecoordinator@avaloncentre.ca