National News
Sexual assault treatment center requires victim background check
March 09, 2015 posted by Steve Brownstein
SANE is a nonprofit clinic at the Family Advocacy Center downtown. Representatives from APD sit on the SANE board.
Victims can get an exam and medications to prevent pregnancy or HIV at the center. But if a violent offense shows up on the background check, that person can be treated in a different area of the clinic.
APD calls the background check a safety assessment.
“That's to ensure the safety of victims, to ensure the safety of facilitators who are there and to make sure it's a safe place where people can get resources,” said APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza.
SANE staff will only call police if someone in the clinic is threatening people. Anyone accompanying a rape victim to SANE will also be asked to go through a background check.
"We don't want to re-victimize people, that's never done, nor is anyone denied services," said Espinoza.
