Sexual Assault Program: A Strong Conviction

At Scott & White, an unsung group of committed specialists are helping put sexual assault offenders where they belong: behind bars.

Specially trained Scott & White professionals often leave the hospital room for the courtroom when it comes to dealing with victims of sexual assault.

In addition to building a patient/caregiver relationship based on trust and compassion, these team members must go beyond their nurturing nature to provide expert testimony in criminal cases.

“It takes a strong personality,” said Pam Greene, M.D., who helped develop the Scott & White Sexual Assault Program seven years ago. “We are kind, gentle, compassionate people, and we show that demeanor with our patients. But we also want to be good witnesses in the courtroom.”

Working with a woman who has suffered at the hands of her spouse, or a child who was injured by a parent, are among the most heart-wrenching of the cases seen by the examiners.

“When you’re dealing with victims of sexual assault and abuse, or children who have suffered such trauma, it’s hard,” said Sexual Assault Program Coordinator Deborah Kleypas, R.N., a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) who performed more than 100 of the forensic evaluations last year. “But it’s going to keep happening. It’s not going away.”

National crime statistics show that more than 330,000 sexual assaults occur in Texas each year. While emotions and reactions are varied after a traumatic situation, Dr. Greene said parents and law enforcement officers are particularly concerned about bringing children in for an examination.

“They are fearful that it will be a traumatic experience,” Dr. Greene said. But nurses are able to calm those fears by making the child feel comfortable in a special clinic room, painted with a mural to make the area more appealing. They also work to establish a rapport with the child, which may mean playing with a stuffed animal or watching a favorite video before the examination.

“We work hard to help the child feel comfortable and at ease,” Dr. Greene said.

“It’s surprising to the parents, at the end of the examination, that it has not been an unpleasant experience for the child.” Dr. Greene adds that her team works closely with the Scott & White Emergency Department.

“We rely on them to triage the patients and help us learn more about the patient and the circumstances.”
Dr. Greene saw a need for a program that moved beyond traditional patient care and helped answer the legal questions that come months after an incident. “After working with experts in the field and analyzing other programs, I realized the need to revise the Sexual Assault Program at Scott & White,” Dr. Greene said.

Now, with a handful of state-certified sexual assault nurse examiners, the Scott & White team has gained a reputation for consistency, professionalism and expertise not found anywhere else in Central Texas. Scott & White’s program is lauded by law enforcement officials, child advocacy groups and the courts. A thorough history, coupled with a methodical examination, helps team members gather evidence needed if the case were to go to court.

“A professional examination has a big impact,” said Bell County Victim Assistance Coordinator Raini Painter. “Besides offering quality medical care, the nurses collect the evidence that helps put a rapist behind bars.” The Scott & White Sexual Assault Program primarily serves four counties, providing comprehensive medical and forensic support ranging from detailed physical examinations to expert testimony. Most victims are women and children, ranging from four months to 89 years of age.

In 2004, the Sexual Assault Team performed 250 victim assessments at the request of law enforcement agencies. While most requests come from organizations in Temple, Killeen, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove and Bell County, the program served more than 30 agencies last year, including the San Antonio Police Department and the Arkansas State Police. Team members work closely not only with law enforcement but also with Child Protective Services, Families in Crisis and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

While the program’s professionals have offered testimony strong enough to convict offenders, they have also helped clear the names of the innocent. Part of the group’s mark of professionalism is its ability to gain the trust of a victim during the exam and evidence collection and to remain objective when reporting the facts.

“We are there to tell the truth,” Dr. Greene said. “The evidence and the jury will convict the guilty.”

Expert Witness
Pam Greene,M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist at Scott & White, has earned a reputation as an expert witness in cases involving the sexual assault of women and children. In many instances, her job leads to the conviction of someone who has been accused of sexual assault. But in some cases, her job is just the opposite—to convince law enforcement or the state that someone is innocent.

“My job is not to convict; my job is to present the evidence and let a jury decide,” Dr. Greene said. “I have to act in the best interest of my patients, and often that means proving that there was no actual assault.”

Dr. Greene recalls several incidents that appeared to be abuse cases but turned out to be related to other conditions. In those cases, the results of her examination and her testimony were able to prove people innocent.

“My team and I collect evidence and report on what we find, and sometimes what we find is that a person is not guilty of what they are accused of,” Dr. Greene said. “We want to help convict those who are guilty, but we also want to help when people are being falsely accused.”

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