Marin May Move Exams Of Rape Victims Back To County From Vallejo

MARIN COUNTY, CA -- Medical examinations of Marin County women who have been sexually assaulted should take place locally instead of an hour or two's drive away in Vallejo, the county women's commission says.

In response, the County district attorney said she agrees and that the move could happen within a year.

A 15-page report given to the Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 21 by the Marin Women's Commission stated that the issue of where exams should be conducted is "a complex and multi-faceted issue," but that although the current process of having forensic evidence collected from victims in Vallejo is "adequate," it needs to be re-evaluated.

Under current procedures, physical evidence is gathered from sexual assault victims at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, with victims being driven to the hospital by law enforcement officers if they wish. Marin County has contracted with Napa Solano Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to oversee the exams for more than six years.

The Women's Commission report recommended that the Vallejo contract be continued only as a stopgap measure until a report is conducted on best practices for the location, staffing and administration of exams.

"While there may have been many legitimate reasons at the time for signing the initial agreement ... it appears to be time to re-evaluate how Marin is supporting the victims of these crimes," the report states.

In comments during the Commission meeting, county District Attorney Lori Frugoli said that she supports moving the exams back to Marin, and that it could happen in six months to a year.