Sexual assault victims traveling long distances for exams

By: Associated Press//July 5, 2016//

Listen to this article

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault estimates that nearly half of the state’s counties do not have nurses available to perform forensic exams for sexual assault cases, leading people to travel long distances for such testing.

While hospitals can get state funding to cover the exams, a number of non-reimbursable costs are associated with them. Thus, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/29lw9zh ) reports that many hospitals choose not to offer the exams.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel acknowledges that the system partly relies on the generosity of hospitals “because it’s frankly a money loser for them.”

Green Lake County detective Patti Crump says traveling is not only a strain on the victim, but is also bad for evidence collection.

Schimel said he would look at the possibility of securing grant money to cover transportation costs of sending nurses to convenient locations for victims.

Select Region or Brand

Upcoming Event