To our Partners:

The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children recognizes that even in this crisis, certain investigative and victim needs must still be met in an emergency or urgent time frame.  The safety of a victim and the preservation of evidence remain the highest priorities of our Multi-Disciplinary Team. Emergency resources such as Sexual Assault Forensic Exams, law enforcement and Child Protective Services responses, and emergency medical treatment are always available.  However, other needs such as child forensic interviews and child medical exams are still available by appointment as an urgency exists.  Evidence recovered at a crime scene or Sexual Assault Forensic Exam must be collected as promptly as possible and therefore constitutes an emergency.  Other issues, such as the collection of a child’s statement (through a forensic interview) need to be done promptly, but with less immediacy and are considered urgent.  The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children asks all Multi-disciplinary Team partners to consider these factors and to not hesitate to contact staff to coordinate these crucial services during these challenging times.

 - Barbara Wright, Executive Director