This special online collection provides information to help victim service professional engage in a multi-disciplinary dialogue about the issues and challenges involved with addressing the backlog of untested rape kits.
 
 

The NSVRC wants to learn about innovations happening in your community regarding SART development and sustainability.  We are accepting submissions from around the country.  We are highlighting practices that strengthen advocacy, law enforcement, healthcare, prosecution, forensic science and build capacity for teams.  Read more about how to submit your innovation. 
 

A Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a multidisciplinary interagency team of individuals working collaboratively to provide services for the community by offering specialized sexual assault intervention services. Teams are specialized to fit the needs of each community and generally have goals of increasing reporting and conviction of sexual assaults and countering the experience of sexual trauma with a sensitive and competent response.

Join the National SART Listserv

With funding from the Office for Victims of Crime and assistance from a national advisory committee, the NSVRC is creating a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Toolkit to promote the development and implementation of a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and victim-centered first response to victims of sexual assault in communities across the United States and U.S. Territories. The Toolkit Project will provide resources that will help communities customize their outreach and expand services to underserved communities.

History, Landscape, and Future Directions for SARTs

This map provides a snapshot of when and where SARTs started, how and why they formed and their accomplishments. We welcome you to share your SART history with the NSVRC to help us create a national portrait of SART development. Please note that the NSVRC retains the right to edit and publish submissions to print and electronic publications.

Submit your history by completing the following survey.

The NSVRC has collected a variety of materials to support Sexual Assault Response Team development.  If you would like to submit resources for inclusion in our collection please email our Librarian.

NSVRC Publications

The NSVRC provides customized technical assistance via phone, email, fax and TTY regarding SART development and sustainability.

Alaska Statewide Protocol: This protocol is designed to provide standardized structure for the development, training and implementation of SARTs throughout the state of Alaska.

The following information examines the use of polygraph tests and other truth-telling devices (sometimes called "lie-detector tests") in sexual assault investigation and provides a list of legislation and other official actions taken by states and territories to regulate the use of polygraphs and other truth-telling devices in the course of sexual assault examinations. The NSVRC does not promote specific legislation, but offers these for educational purposes only.