Using Social Network Analysis To Identify Successful Relationship Patterns Within Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs)

• NCJ Number: 254272
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 25 Issue: 8 Dated: 2019 Pages: 968-998
• Author(s): Megan R. Greeson; Jennifer Walling-Neal; Rebecca Campbell
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 31 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-WG-BX-0010
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Implementation and Collaborative Process: What Works Best for the Criminal Justice System?

Annotation

This study used social network analysis (SNA) to examine relationships within three effective Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) that coordinate the response of legal, medical, and advocacy organizations to sexual assault.

Abstract

The study found that within each SART, organizations reported to other member organizations, valuing their role, serving as a resource to their work, and communicating outside of official meetings. Across the SARTs, there was high connectedness and reciprocity and low to moderate dependence on one organization to drive relationships; however, there was dependence on a subgroup of organizations to drive additional communication relationships. Implications for managing relationships in SARTs are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)