Final Report: Alaska Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Study

Final Report: Alaska Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Study

Rosay, André B.; Henry, Tara; Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center; Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation; Central Peninsula General Hospital; Norton Sound Health Corporation; Fairbanks Memorial Hospital; South Peninsula Hospital; Maniilaq Association; The Department of Health and Human Services (Municipality of Anchorage); The Alaska Department of Law

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/3691
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/224520.pdf

Date: 2008-10-01

Publisher: University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center

Type: Report

Table of Contents: Index of Tables and Figures / Acknowledgments / Executive Summary / I.Final Report: Alaska Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Study A.Sexual Assaults in Alaska; 1996-2006 B. Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations C. Purpose of this Study D.Review of Prior Research 1. Genital Injury 2. Predictors of Genital Injury 5. Predictors of Legal Resolutions E. Methodology F.Limitations of Sample and Data / II. Descriptive Analysis of Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations A.Demographic Characteristics of Patients B. Pre-Assault Characteristics C. Assault Characteristics D. Post-Assault Characteristics E. Exam Characteristics and Findings F. Suspect Characteristics G. Legal Resolutions / III. Predictors of Genital Injury and Legal Resolutions A. Goals of this Analysis B. Sample and Variables 1. Condition at Time of Assault 2. Time Elapsed from Assault to Report 3. Genital Injury 4. Legal Resolutions 5.Control Variables 6.Case Characteristics 7. Patient Characteristics 8. Assault Characteristics 9.Exam Characteristics 10. Exam Findings 11. Suspect Characteristics 12.Summary C. Methodology D. Bivariate Results E.Multivariate Results: Presence of Genital Injury 1. Main Effects: Presence of Genital Injury 2. Control Variables: Presence of Genital Injury 3. Final Model: Presence of Genital Injury F. Multivariate Results: Frequency of Genital Injury 1. Main Effects: Frequency of Genital Injury 2. Control Variables: Frequency of Genital Injury 3. Final Model: Frequency of Genital Injury G. Summary: Predictors of Genital Injury H. Multivariate Results: Referring a Case for Prosecution 1. Main Effects: Referring a Case for Prosecution 2. Control Variables: Referring a Case for Prosecution 3. Final Model: Referring a Case for Prosecution I. Multivariate Results: Accepting a Case for Prosecution 1. Main Effects: Accepting a Case for Prosecution 2. Control Variables: Accepting a Case for Prosecution 3. Final Model: Accepting a Case for Prosecution J. Multivariate Results: Securing a Conviction 1. Main Effects: Securing a Conviction 2. Control Variables: Securing a Conviction 3. Final Model: Securing a Conviction K. Summary: Predictors of Legal Resolutions L. Conclusions 1. Predictors of Genital Injury 2. Predictors of Legal Resolutions 3. Importance of Non-Genital Injuries / References / Appendix A – Data Collection Instrument

Abstract:

This project examined the characteristics of sexual assault victimizations in Alaska, as observed and recorded by sexual assault nurse examiners in Anchorage, Kodiak, Bethel, Soldotna, Nome, Fairbanks, Homer, and Kotzebue. The sample utilized for this study includes all sexual assault nurse examinations conducted in Anchorage from 1996 to 2004, in Bethel and Fairbanks in 2005 and 2006, and in Homer, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, and Soldotna in 2005 (N = 1,699). This final report provides a thorough descriptive analysis of the sexual assault nurse examinations included in this study. This descriptive analysis focuses on demographic characteristics of patients; pre-assault, assault, and post-assault characteristics; exam characteristics and findings; suspect characteristics; and legal resolutions. The report then examines the predictors of genital injury. More specifically, it examines the effect of time elapsed from assault to report and of patient condition at the time of the assault. The effect of time elapsed from assault to report is examined by comparing the genital injuries of patients that reported to a sexual assault nurse examiner within 24 hours to the genital injuries of patients that did not. The effect of patient condition at the time of the assault is examined by comparing the genital injuries of patients that were sober, intoxicated, and incapacitated at the time of the assault. Results show that neither time elapsed from assault to report nor patient condition at the time of the assault impacted genital injury. The report also examines the effect of genital injury on legal resolutions. More specifically, it examines how the presence and frequency of genital injury impacts the likelihood that cases are referred for prosecution, the likelihood that cases are accepted by prosecutors, and the likelihood that cases result in a conviction. Results show that genital injury did not impact legal resolutions. Other factors, non-genital injury in particular, were significantly associated with both genital injury and legal resolutions. The relevance of these additional factors is discussed

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