The ABC's of Sexual Assault: Anatomy, "Bunk" and the Courtroom - Softcover

Ditton RN, Michelle; Gray JD, Laurie A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0986447196 ISBN 13: 9780986447198

Publisher: Socratic Parenting LLC, 2015

Synopsis

"The ABC’s of Sexual Assault" provides a solid foundation of knowledge for every member of a Sexual Assault Response Team (law enforcement officers, child protection case managers, prosecutors, victim advocates, medical and mental health professionals, and forensic interviewers). This book is designed to be a reliable resource for anyone sorting through the unique forensic and legal aspects of a sexual assault case including judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and the media as well as any sexual assault victim, family member or friend. Michelle Ditton is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and the Chief Nursing Officer of the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center. Laurie Gray is an attorney, child forensic interviewer, and adjunct professor of criminal sciences at Indiana Tech. Together they walk lay persons and professionals alike through the labyrinth of sexual assault in the criminal justice system.

About this title

From the Author

Much of the information for this book comes from trainings, workshops and articles we have prepared together and presented professionally. We have organized the information into three sections: Anatomy, "Bunk" and the Courtroom. We have included a glossary at the end for quick reference as well as a list of recommended resources. Part 1: Anatomy is divided into sections on the examination and treatment of all patients, female anatomy, and male anatomy. Part 2: "Bunk" addresses common myths and misconceptions that often undermine the investigation and adjudication of sexual assault cases. We also look at the evolving definition of rape and the difference between criminal statutes that require force as an element and those that require only a lack of consent. Part 3: The Courtroom offers a very brief overview of criminal procedure for context and then considers the collection of forensic evidence and general guidance to assist attorneys and witnesses as they prepare for trial.

About the cover:

The broken letters used in the title reflect the physical and emotional condition of many patients when they first come to the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center and present for treatment. The broken letters can also represent members of a Sexual Assault Response Team who are overworked, underpaid, and conscientious but feeling burnt out, as well as a team whose effectiveness is undermined by misinformation and miscommunication, and a court system designed to protect the rights of defendants, often with little regard for their victims.
           
In contrast to this brokenness, the bamboo forest on the cover embodies our belief in the resilience of the human spirit and the need for each of us to be flexible enough to bend rather than break as we join together in the pursuit of justice in sexual assault cases. Bamboo is a giant but sturdy grass that grows quickly and regenerates fully. It symbolizes the healing and recovery we hope to cultivate through truth and understanding.

About the Author

Michelle Ditton is the Chief Nursing Officer/Executive Director, and one of the founders of the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center in Fort Wayne, IN. A graduate of Purdue University, Michelle clinical experience in the emergency room, neonatal intensive care unit, and pediatrics. She received her adult and adolescent sexual assault didactic and clinical training at Pomerado Hospital in San Diego, California. Michelle has facilitated in the revisions of all policies concerning sexual assault for Parkview Health Systems and Lutheran Health Network, and the procedures currently implemented in all local hospitals. She serves on the guideline committee for the State of Indiana to produce the “Indiana Statewide Guidelines for Sexual Assault Response Teams. Michelle is a recognized speaker and trainer at the local, state and national levels. Michelle is responsible for training 2nd year family practice residents, IU medical students, and the local ER staff in Fort Wayne, IN. She serves as a consultant for Fox Valley Technical College and has taught for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). She has also served as faculty for the past 6 years at the National Symposium on Child Abuse in Huntsville, Alabama. Michelle is also the professional contributor to the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) Pediatric Guidelines (Review and Revisions Committee, 2008), and to the IAFN 2012 Intimate Partner Violence Education Guidelines. Michelle has been published and contributed to numerous articles including being a co-author for the article “Veracity for Children in Pediatric Forensics” in the peer-reviewed Journal of Forensic Nursing, which was released on-line June 19, 2012. This article “Veracity for Children in Pediatric Forensics” was also chosen, published and reviewed in The Quarterly Update, Volume XX, Number 3. She is the co-contributor with Julie Kenniston, MSW, LSW, “Sexual Abuse Issues Related to Interviewing Children,” Chapter 2 in Volume 2 of the 4th Edition Chadwick Child Maltreatment Encyclopedia three volume series. Michelle also co-contributes with Laurie Gray, JD for a Q&A Medical-Legal Column, “Legally SANE” in the quarterly newsletter, “The Examiner” for members of the Indiana Chapter of the IAFN and ENA.

About this edition

• Publisher: Socratic Parenting LLC
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0986447196
• ISBN 13: 9780986447198
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 170