U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 The Most Important Features for an Effective Sexual Assault Response Team
NCJ Number
              250943

Date Published

July 2017
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              Based on NIJ-funded research on the structure and operations of sexual assault response teams (SARTs) across the United States, this report identifies the most important features of an effective SART.
Abstract
              SARTs are typically composed of a collection of stakeholders in rape cases, including rape victim advocates, medical/forensic examiners, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors. They sometimes include representatives of faith communities and other social services. The research consisted of two studies that found SART stakeholder membership, collaboration, and implementation varies significantly, which may explain why prior research on SARTs yielded mixed results. The first of the two current studies classified SARTs from a national representative sample based on three factors: the number of different stakeholder members, formalization of SART processes, and collaborative activities. Groups in the three categories were compared based on data regarding legal outcomes of rape cases managed. The study determined that SARTs with more formal procedures, frequent collaboration and meetings, and more varied stakeholder groups, coupled with planned program evaluation had the highest levels of perceived effectiveness. In the second study, three exemplary SARTs were examined in more detail for the relationships among team members. Social network analysis found that SART members interacted frequently, felt valued by one another, and viewed one another as respected resources. This mutual valuation among members was related to more communication and a coordinated response to sexual assault.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2010-WG-BX-0010


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Program/Project Evaluation
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Implementation and Collaborative Process: What Works Best for the Criminal Justice System?
    
  
  
Date Published: July 1, 2017
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Best practices
        Courts
        Criminal justice system effectiveness
        Crisis response
        Interagency cooperation



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Attitudes of Reporting Officers Extracted From Incident Reports Can Affect Rape Case Outcomes
                  How to Right a Wrong: Empirically Evaluating Whether Victim, Offender, and Assault Characteristics can Inform Rape Kit Testing Policies
                  Evaluation of a Victim-Centered, Trauma-Informed Victim Notification Protocol for Untested Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs)
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov