Newsletter: July 2003: Forensic Healthcare Program Report

The spring has been a busy time for the Alliance’s Forensic Healthcare Program. With the recent release of the NYS Department of Health Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Standards and open application process, many hospitals across New York City have been exploring their capacity to provide a higher level of care to victims of sexual assault. As the State begins to review applications the FHP remains available to provide technical assistance to any hospital that is considering submitting an application. Links to both the SAFE standards and the “Protocol for the Acute Care of the Adult Patient Reporting Sexual Assault” can be found on the Alliance website in the FHP section.

The FHP has also been actively providing trainings and conferences to the NYC healthcare and criminal justice communities. In February, “Injury Identification and Documentation” was held at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Participants received presentations on documentation, patterned injury and bite mark identification, and participated in tutorials on digital photography and colposcopy. In March, a Sexual Assault Examiner Training was held at Jamaica Hospital. Sixty participants attended the course including 30 from eastern Queens, an area that remains largely underserved by SAFE Programs.

On April 30th, the Criminal Justice Collaboration Project (CJCP) held its first conference, “NYC’s Response to Sexual Violence: Present and Future.” Co-sponsored by John Jay College on Criminal Justice, and organized by the CJCP Planning Committee, over 120 people were in attendance. The conference focused on fostering and enhancing collaboration across criminal justice and healthcare systems.

The presenters covered current and future trends in their agency’s response to sexual violence treatment, prevention and prosecution. Deputy Inspector Susan Morley, Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s recently formed Special Victims Division was the keynote speaker and Chauncey Parker, Commissioner and Director of Criminal Justice Services, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services shared his priorities for a criminal justice response.

Other presenters included: Richard Plansky, Special Counsel, Mayor’s Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator, Marjory Fisher, Chief, Special Victims Bureau, Queens District Attorney’s Office, Lisa Friel, Chief, Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Rhonnie Jaus, Chief, Sex Crimes/Special Victims Bureau, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Elisa Koenderman, Chief, Domestic Violence and Sex Offense Bureau, Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Yolanda Rudich, Chief, Sex Crimes / Special Victims Bureau Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, Karyn Hadfield, Research Coordinator, NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Dr. Lorraine Giordano, SAFE Medical Director, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Detective Dan Austin, Crime Scene Unit, NYPD, and Marie Samples, Assistant Director of the Department of Forensic Biology, Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

A summary report of the information shared during the conference is being created and will be available in the next few months for review and dissemination. The FHP would like to thank all the presenters, John Jay College and especially the CJCP Planning Committee for their efforts. We look forward to our future endeavors.

Upcoming trainings are being planned, and will include a medical / legal cross-training to be held in the fall. The cross-training will include a review of SAFE program history, documentation, courtroom testimony preparation and a mock trial. Information will be sent out to agencies and posted to the website as soon as final details are confirmed.

For more information about FHP activities or to become involved in our committees or a local borough wide sexual assault task force, please contact the Alliance at 212-523-4344.

Ms. Towns is the former Director of the Forensic Healthcare Program at The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. [[2] more]

(Read [3] other articles in this series.)

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[1]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_author_2.html
[2]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_author_2.html
[3]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_column_5.html
[4]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_130.html
[5]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_132.html

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