Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, and Mason Counties all have SARTs.
Exit to Weather.com 
What is a SART?
Each Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is comprised of professionals who work to coordinate an immediate, quality, multidisciplinary, & victim-centered response to sexual assaults in their county. This response prioritizes the needs of sexual assault victims and holds offenders accountable. Some SARTs also focus on providing sexual assault prevention strategies and education to the communities they serve.
A SART works to minimize the trauma for sexual assault victims when they seek medical and legal assistance. Through coordination during the investigation process, a SART seeks to reduce repeated questioning of the victim and increase effective collection and preservation of evidence. A team approach helps meet the victim’s needs and can increase the likelihood that a victim will seek follow-up services, thereby promoting healing.
Call Toll-Free
Cabell, Lincoln, Mason & Wayne Counties
Logan & Mingo Counties
Who is on a SART?
-
- Law enforcement conducts the investigation and provides emergency assistance if a victim chooses to report the assault to law enforcement.
- Emergency Department medical staff or specially trained nurses called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) conduct the forensic medical examination.
- Rape crisis center advocates provide emotional support, information, and referrals to the victim during the examination and police interview and throughout the healing process.
- Law enforcement conducts the investigation and provides emergency assistance if a victim chooses to report the assault to law enforcement.
- Prosecutors review the evidence and decide whether or not to pursue the prosecution of the offender. They work with members of the SART to coordinate support for the victim during the criminal justice process.
- Other partners may include representatives from state forensic labs, public health departments, victim-witness programs, child/adult protective services, emergency medical services, college campuses, disability service providers, senior services, organizations serving victims from under-served populations, and social service agencies
How Does a SART Work?
The goal of a SART is to ensure a seamless, coordinated, victim-centered response to sexual assault victims and their loved ones. Monthly SART meetings provide a venue for first responders to:
- Develop relationships
- Gain an understanding of the individual roles and responsibilities of first responders
- Share information and resources
- Identify gaps in the service delivery system
- Increase awareness of issues of sexual assault and stalking in the community
- Increase victim and community safety
- Increase reporting of sexual assault and stalking
- Increase arrests and hold offenders accountable
Through the coordination of the investigation process, a SART works to reduce repeated questioning of the victim and to increase the effective collection and preservation of evidence. With all service providers working together, it ensures that victims have immediate access to the services they need.
SART Collaboration Aims to Support Survivors & Enhance Evidence Collection
In West Virginia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 21 men will experience an attempted or completed forcible rape in their lifetimes. A SART works to reduce repeated questioning of the victim and to increase the effective collection and preservation of evidence. With all service providers working together, it ensures that victims have immediate access to the services they need.
To Contact the SART Coordinator
Cabell County: advocate20@contacthuntington.com
Mason County: masonadv@contacthuntington.com
Logan County: The Logan County coordinator is located in the sheriff’s office. You can reach out to loganadv@contacthuntington.com for information on the SART.
Lincoln County: lincolnadv@contacthuntington.com
How to Sustain a SART
Tapping local resources not only helps to sustain a SART; it is a strategic form of public awareness that can prompt more community ownership in both the prevention and intervention of sexual violence. Practice tips for expanding community alliances such as: Identify organizations, institutions, or companies that could help SARTs meet a continuum of care for victims. (Consider housing and safety needs, medical/reproductive health assistance, transportation, public assistance, employment assistance, child care, etc.). Assess whether the SART model fits into other crime victim initiatives or multidisciplinary team efforts in the community. For example, SARTs may consider networking with domestic violence agencies, child abuse councils, or fatality review teams in order to stay informed about issues that may directly or indirectly impact the response to sexual violence. Identify community assets that can assist SARTs with cross-cultural service delivery and resources. Identify professional organizations and community groups that may be receptive to prevention education presentations.
Helpful Links: