ASA Guidelines Flashcards
Who does the ASA Policy apply to?
Persons over the age of 17 who have been victim of a sexual assault
Define Sexual Assault?
Includes:
- rape / unlawful sexual connection
- indecent acts
- unwanted contact, coercion of a sexual nature
- incest
- any offences contained within Section 128 and 142A and 144A of the Crimes Act 1961 and any other offence of a sexual nature
What is an ASA specialised interviewer?
A level 3 qualified person
In relation to ASA - What are the different timings after offences?
Acute - Within 7 days
Non acute - After 7 days but within 6 months
Historical - 6 + months
Who provides ASA support to Victims?
- Specially trained agencies or groups who provide specialised support for Victims of sexual assault.
- If no such group is available, a trained sexual assault counsellor should be used
What type of questions should you ask in a Preliminary ASA interview?
Tell me… Explain to me… Describe to me… Show me…
What do you do after an ASA preliminary interview?
Acronym: RISEP
R-eassess the investigation, consider what things are now required as a result of the interview, consider the following:
I-dentify Victims and Witnesses, do they need to be located
S-secure scene, is there a scene that is required to be secured which has been disclosed in the interview?
E-vidence, is there fragile evidence that needs to be urgently preserved, is the use of a toxicology kit required
P-ublic safety, is there a risk to public safety, is it likely that similar offending will continue
What information must we provide Victims?
Acronym: SUCO
S-upport services, advise they are available and provide access to them
U-pdates regarding the investigation and relevant time frames such as:
- initial actions
- MEK results
- formal interview processes
- Court process
- Exhibit process
C-larify the Victims expectations in reporting, IE do they wish to make a formal complaint
O-pportunity, advise they have an opportunity to comment on their needs and staff such as:
- ASA investigator
- Medical examiner
- Support persons
Step 1 - What do you do prior to a medical forensic examination?
Acronym: BADGAT
- Contact the medical practitioner and advise:
B - rief the doctor on the circumstances of what has occurred
A - Alcohol, is the Victim affected by alcohol and to what degree?
D - Drugs, is the Victim by drugs
G - gender, advise gender of the Victim
A - advise age of the Victim
T - Time passed, advise how much time is believed to have passed since the assault
Step 2 - What will the doctor do during a forensic medical examination?
Acronym: SLSP and SLCP
The doctor will:
S - Seal
L - Label
S - Samples taken
P - Package them in the MEK
And:
S - Seal
L - Label
C - Clothes Taken
P - Package them in the MEK
Step 3 - What must the officer present at the medical examination do?
Acronym: NEEDP
N - Needs of the Victim, ask the doctor what their immediate needs are
E - Exhibits, the officer needs to complete a verbal summary of the exhibits and advise their significance
E - ESR - identify any forensic items that need to be taken to ESR
D - Disclosures, ask the doctor if any relevant disclosures have been made during the medical examination
P - Photographs, ask the doctor if they took photos and ask if any photos need to be taken of injuries
Step 4 - What comes last?
After the medical examination procedure:
- MEK sealed by doctor and handed to officer by Doctor
- Officer stores the MEK in appropriate fridge
- Determines whether or not it needs to be sent to ESR
- Any clothing of the Victim not collected during the procedure is collected, labelled, packaged and stored appropriately.
