Module 5
Medical Forensic Sexual Assault Examinations: What Are They, and What Can They Tell the Courts?

National Protocol for Medical Forensic Sexual Assault Examinations

In April 2013, the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, published the second edition of the National Protocol for Medical Forensic Sexual Assault. The comprehensive protocol includes discussion of the roles of health care providers, advocates, law enforcement representatives, forensic scientists, and prosecutors, and interpreters during these examinations. Its stated goals make clear that the protocol is intended as a guideline for suggested practices for examinations of adult and adolescent sexual assault victims. The full protocol is accessible at www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ovw/241903.pdf. Note that a separate protocol was published in April 2016 regarding pediatric examinations, accessible www.justice.gov/ovw/file/846856/download.

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