New facility to treat sexual assault victims to open in west Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — West Alabama will have a new facility to treat sexual assault victims.

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program will open this fall near DCH Regional Medical Center, the Tuscaloosa News reported. Services will include medical care, follow-up counseling, specialized therapy and information about reporting options, said Kellee Reinhart, spokeswoman for the partners who established the program.

The facility will serve assault victims from all West Alabama counties.

“Providing the best quality care for those impacted by sexual assault is critical for our community,” University of Alabama System Chancellor C. Ray Hayes stated in the release. “I am proud of the collaboration and the partners that have come together to take this important step to develop a program to serve the entire West Alabama region.”

Nurses will receive specialized training to care for patients who are victims of sexual assault or abuse and to collect forensic evidence for criminal prosecutions. About 17 DCH emergency department nurses are undergoing classroom and additional clinical training. They are expected to staff the facility when the training is completed in early October.

Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb said the specially trained nurses will help with the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

“This program will assist our office in seeking justice, providing us strong evidence as we analyze and prosecute cases,” Webb said.