Testing the Efficacy of the Sane-Sart Programs

Project Summary For (2003-WG-BX-1003)

The goal of the study is to establish the efficacy of SANE- SART as a tool in the criminal justice system. Primary research objectives are to determine whether SANE-SART interventions have an impact on rates of arrest, prosecution, and conviction. The research will also examine whether SANE-SART involvement has an impact on the frequency of guilty pleas, the charges at case disposition, and sentencing. From the population of adult female rape cases reported to the larges law enforcement department in each jurisdiction, the research team will select a ramdom sample comprising equal numbers of SANE-SART and non-SANE-SART cases. Data will then be drawn from case records on the department variable of criminal justice outcomes, and on selected interventing or control variables that may impact on outcomes, including relationship between perpetrators and survivor, length of time incident and report, race of survivor and perpetrator, use of weapons, perpetrator's prior criminal record, and survivors participation in the process. Study findings will contribute to the discussion concerning the expansion of SANE and SART programs to jurisdictions that do not have these programs currently. In addition, its is hoped that those locations that do have the programs will be able to use the results to improve and enhance existing efforts.

Ca/ncf