SAIC Announcements

Denver Sexual Assault Response Protocol adopted

January 29, 2002.

Please see Denver Post 1/30/02 article: “Sex-assault policy revised” at http://www.denverpost.com.

Ten area criminal justice and victim service agencies gathered at a recent signing ceremony sponsored by the Denver chief of police to officially adopt Denver’s new Sexual Assault Response Protocol. The protocol details the step-by-step procedures that police, prosecutors, hospital emergency departments, victim advocates and others will observe. Created by Denver’s Sexual Assault Interagency Council, the protocol was two years in the making. 

The protocol establishes a policy of zero tolerance toward sexual assault, and directs sexual assault responders to believe the victim. As the protocol states, “Denver responders accept the victim’s account of the event, document it, and proceed with a systematic investigation in order to develop every lead provided by the victim. If investigation uncovers inconsistencies, those are addressed first with the victim for clarification.”

The inherent challenges of acquaintance rape or non-stranger sexual assault are addressed in the document, as are the cultural needs and preferences that should be considered when responding to sexual assault victims in our diverse communities.

“Seventy-five percent of the folks are assaulted by someone they know. We have to look at how we respond to those cases because people who rape in that way don’t rape once, but rape over and over again,” said Karmen Carter, executive director of the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program and co-chair of the Sexual Assault Interagency Council.

To review or download the protocol document, please click here.

December 2001

The extensively revised Denver Sexual Assault Response Protocol is nearing completion.  The signing ceremony will take place in Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman’s Office on January 29^th.  Signers include: Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, Chief Whitman, Health & Hospitals Manager Patty Gabow, MD, Manager of Safety Aristedes Zavaras, and Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar.

What is new about this document?

• Introduces specific strategies to meet the challenges posed by Non-Stranger Sexual Assault – He said/She said cases – the most common of all sex offenses. (75%)
• Gives victims of sexual assault a voice when they are disappointed or dissatisfied with the response provided to them through Survivor Feedback Survey, and in some cases, SAIC Mediation.
• Reduces the isolation of each agency and enhances interagency working relationships by clarifying responders’ roles and familiarizing them with one another’s standard of practice.

What difference will it make?