Exploring the Dynamics Between Law Enforcement and Advocates for Rape Survivors in the Emergency Room

• In Event: Challenges for Service Providers and Medical Staff when Responding to Victims

Abstract

Oftentimes, the role of law enforcement and medical advocates can be at odds when dealing with sexual assault survivors in the emergency room (Martin, 2005; Payne & Thompson, 2006), particularly when the survivor does not want to make a report or law enforcement is suspicious of the survivor’s story (Payne & Thompson, 2006). This is especially important since police officers are the gateway of opening a case to be investigated by detectives and prosecutors (Maier, 2008), and their demeanor often determines whether or not a victim will go forward with a case (Spohn & Tellis, 2014). Utilizing 23 in-depth interviews with medical advocates, my research seeks to expand on understanding the dynamics between law enforcement and advocates in the emergency room and to provide recommendations as how to improve relations between the two as well as with survivors in the emergency room.

Author

• LaDonna Long, Roosevelt University