By Caroline Love, Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo, December 2, 2021
The Harris County District Attorney’s office has partnered with seven universities and the Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners to provide trauma-informed care to survivors of sexual assault at colleges and universities.
The DA’s office reallocated $165,829 in forfeiture money to fund the initiative, which will connect survivors of sexual assault with forensic interviewers, instead of assigning the work to police officers who don’t have specialized trauma training. According to Harris County DA Kim Ogg, it’s important for survivors of sexual assault to be interviewed by someone who is trauma-informed.
“Those of us in law enforcement put up pretty tough walls and can be kind of gruff, according to many, many victims,” Ogg said. “I think it’s very important that we have professionals who look and sound and relate with victims more.”
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