Category: Sexual Assault

When training lawyers, as I was yesterday, one topic we always discuss is photography and the pros and cons of taking photographs. Particularly genital photographs. I have found both prosecutors and defense counsel have some very specific opinions about this, and I love to have that conversation. But in the course of yesterday’s conversation, I realized that I, too, have some pretty strong opinions on the subject I figured I would share. Now, I am keenly aware that many of my colleagues outside the US have forgone genital photography entirely, but since it’s still commonplace here, and because I review a lot of injury photos as part of my job consulting on cases,  I’d like to offer up a list of 10 Things I’d love clinicians to consider when using photography in practice. Mind you, these really are strictly my opinion, so take them for what they are–a jumping off point for further discussion on the topic.

SAFEta Source has another webinar coming up in July. Sexual Abuse Behind Bars: Serving Incarcerated Victims will be held July 28th at 2pm ET. As always, SAFEta webinars are free of charge.

UPDATE: Archived version and handouts here

I mentioned this session in an earlier post, but the session has been renamed and more fully described on the website, so I thought I would do a quick update. Transgender Survivors: Statistics, Stories, Strategies for Providers, offered by SAFEta Source, will be held on June 30th from 2-3:30pm ET.

NIJ has a new publication on the DNA kit backlog, The Road Ahead: Unanalyzed Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases (PDF). From the Introduction: “Untested sexual assault evidence is being discovered in police evidence rooms all across the country. In this report, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) offers an overview of the issue. We look at a variety of ramifications for the police and crime laboratories, for the courts and for the victims.” (p. iii).

SAFEta Source will be presenting a webinar on transgendered sexual violence on Thursday, June 30th at 2pm ET. The National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations of Adults and Adolescents encourages a victim centered approach to caring for patients who have experienced sexual violence.  Transgendered persons offer unique challenges in assuring victim centered care.

…I’m just saying, I might want to make out with this guy a little bit.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health has been hosting a webinar series I have just discovered: the Impact of Trauma on Women and Girls Across the Lifespan. The latest offering in the series will be held May 26th at 2pm ET, Women in the Military: Active Duty and Veterans.

Don’t forget we have a new giveaway going on here at FHO. Just answer the question to be in the running for a copy of Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse.

My friends over at the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force turned me on to an interesting post over at the Ms blog: Rape in America. It’s a tie-in with their current campaign to get the FBI and DOJ to change the definition of rape, as reported in the Uniform Crime Report, so it is more reflective of what rape looks like in the US (e.g., not just sexual violence with force).

Sorry for the late post, but I’m a big Patti Powers fan, and she’s featured in an NCVC webinar April 28th, so I figured I’d sneak this one in: Using DNA in Non-Stranger Sexual Assault Cases will be offered at 1pm, and participation is free. This is part of NCVC’s webinar series from their DNA Resource Center (you can check out their archived webinars here).