Orange County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
A Collaborative Response to Sexual Violence
What is a SART?
A SART is a Sexual Assault Response Team, consisting of agencies which will come into contact with survivors of sexual assault. SARTs allow professionals from service agencies to
meet together in a spirit of collaboration and communication to better serve the needs of the community. The guiding principle behind the SART program is to join health care, law enforcement,
judiciary, and victim advocacy in a coordinated effort to ensure survivors of sexual assault receive comprehensive medical attention, evidentiary examinations, emotional support and referral information.
Primary Agencies
- Area law enforcement agencies (Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Chapel Hill Police Department, Carrboro Police Department, Hillsborough Police Department, University Hospital Police, UNC-CH Department of Public Safety)
- County District Attorney’s Office (District 15 B)
- Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Examination Team (UNC Hospital Emergency Department and UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Health Services)
- Orange County Rape Crisis Center
Other Agencies
- County health department and other community clinics
- Local advocacy agencies (i.e. Family Violence Prevention Center)
- EMS, fire rescue, dispatchers; other first response members
- University Officials (UNC-Chapel Hill)
Why is a SART needed in Orange County?
It is important for there to be an organized and informed response to competently handle each aspect of sexual assault response for those survivors who are seeking services from a variety of agencies.
