A Sexual Assault Response Team, or SART, can minimize the potential for retraumatization to a survivor when engaging with the criminal justice system by initiating a collaborative response to provide support, information, options, and resources.   This trauma-informed response not only benefits survivors but multidisciplinary partners as well.  SARTs have identified several improvements to victims’ participation[1] in the criminal justice system, including:

• Victims more likely to receive referrals to advocacy services
• Victims more likely to receive referrals to medical services
• Improvements in support for victims in the criminal justice system process
• Increase in the number of assaults reported to law enforcement
• Victims more engaged with the investigation
• Victims more engaged with prosecutors during court prep

For more information on building a foundation for and sustaining a SART, please review the resources below:

The Sexual Violence Justice Institute of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault

https://www.mncasa.org/sexual-violence-justice-institute/sarts-tools-resources/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center  https://www.nsvrc.org/sarts/toolkit

From the WI DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Initiating a Collaborative Response

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl-cBUJebAY

SART Foundations

https://youtu.be/9Xo_lHdnNu0

Communication Agreements

https://youtu.be/94HThxxqGx8