MERCER COUNTY
Local task force targets sexual assault cases
By Tom Fontaine
Herald Staff Writer
Officials unveiled plans Monday for a multi-faceted countywide task force that aims to improve emotional, medical and legal support for victims of sexual assault and increase related convictions.
The Mercer County Sexual Assault Response Team has been in the works for about two years, said Mimi Prada, assistant director and community advocate for AW/ARE, the county's center against domestic and sexual violence.
"It's (sexual assault) severely underreported because victims are often afraid to come forward," Ms. Prada said.
The support team merges the expertise and resources of four key players:
The advocate is "available to provide immediate emotional support, assistance and information to the victim. With the victim's permission, the advocate is present during the interview and the forensic exam. Advocates provide information to the victim about counseling services and accompaniment for follow-up medical and court accompaniment," Ms. Prada said.
The Mercer County District Attorney's Office will assign a prosecutor to each case as it comes to light, and aims to increase prosecutions, said District Attorney James P. Epstein. Assistant District Attorney Robert Kochems said the county has dealt with about 25 cases of rape a year for the past decade, but he hopes prosecutions could double or triple through the efforts of the team.
Local police departments, through future funding for the team, hope to train as many police as possible to handle sexual assault cases, said Hempfield Township Police Chief Brian Arthur.
Again through potential program funding, nurses from the county's three hospital systems will be trained as sexual assault nurse examiners to collect forensic evidence, provide compassionate care to victims of sexual assault and to testify if necessary in sexual assault cases. This is the "first (effort) in the state and maybe the country to join three hospital systems" to help fight sexual assault, Kochems said.
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Published Wednesday, May 22, 2002