University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Academic Planning and Assessment Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat Marching Band Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilites Management Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Health Sciences Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Marketing & Communications Math CAMP Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parent Relations Office Parking Payroll Office Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Public Safety Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships SHSU Marketplace Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

SHSU Advances Sexual Assault Investigations Improvements

April 15, 2013
SHSU Media Contact: Beth Kuhles

 

The Houston Police Department is improving the process for handling sexual assault cases by providing specialized training for investigators and adding a justice advocate as the result of ongoing research being directed by a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders.

Through a National Institute of Justice grant, Sam Houston State University and the University of Texas at Austin are studying the large number of untested sexual assault kits and developing strategies to address the issue for law enforcement, victims and prosecutors. It is one of two studies funded nationwide to develop model protocols in sexual assault cases.

“Rape kits are just one piece in a large puzzle,” said William Wells, an associate professor in SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice. “These crimes are very complicated and the investigation and prosecution of these cases are also complicated. We are taking a comprehensive look at more than just the rape kits. Our objective is to improve many parts of the process, including evidence auditing, training, investigations, and victim notification.”

Houston was chosen as one of two sites to study the issue. As a result of the research, several new initiatives will be introduced in the Houston area to improve the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases. Among these are:

• Delivering specialized training for investigators in sexual assault cases
• Creating a justice advocate position to serve as a bridge between sexual assault survivors and investigators
• Providing additional resources for law enforcement to investigate cases
• Supporting services provided by the Houston Area Women’s Center and by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

“The Houston Police Department is committed to improving and enhancing our investigative response to survivors of sexual assault from the moment of outcry to the final judicial conclusion of the investigation,” said Capt. Mary Lentschke, of the Houston Police Department’s Special Crimes Division. “It has been our goal to utilize the opportunities provided by the grant funding from the National Institute of Justice to not only review and enhance our investigative strategies and evidentiary processes, but to also ‘test drive’ new strategies, such as the creation of a ‘justice advocate’ position within the adult sex crimes unit.”

The first in a series of specialized trainings for investigators in sexual assault cases was held on March 27 at Texas Southern University for up to 300 law enforcement officers from Houston area agencies.

The program, “Not Making Sense is Traumatic: Neurobiology of Trauma,” was led by Rebecca Campbell, of Michigan State University, one of the foremost researchers on violence against women. The program explained how the brain responds to trauma and the impact of trauma on victims participating in the criminal justice system.

Through resources provided by the grant, the Houston Police Department will deliver additional training programs on specific issues related to the investigation of sexual assault.

Sam Houston State University also is teaming up with the Houston Police Department to produce a series of “how-to” reports that share lessons learned about tackling key issues in sex assault cases. For those departments that have untested rape kits, one report will discuss the audit process that was used to determine what to do in those cases. In addition, a second report will describe the unique structure of the Houston Police Department’s juvenile sex crimes unit, which serves minors and young children.

“Sexual assault is devastating—for survivors and for our community,” said Sonia Corrales, chief program officer for the Houston Area Women’s Center. “Our priority as a partner on this task force is to ensure the protection of survivors’ rights, secure justice for them and their families and to hold offenders accountable for their crimes. Creating a solid and sustainable plan that awards proper and ongoing attention and resources to rape cases so that survivors’ rights and well-being are protected is our ultimate goal.”

The study also will continue to investigate the results that occur when untested rape kits are screened and tested and members of the project team will provide presentations across the country on the various aspects of their findings. Members of the SHSU research team, including several graduate students, have presented results to the Houston Police Department and at the meetings of the American Society of Criminology.

 

 

- END -

 

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.