For Immediate Release
October 19, 2011
Media Contact: Press Office
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MADIGAN ANNOUNCES JOINT EFFORT TO INCREASE CARE FOR RAPE
VICTIMS, PROSECUTE SEXUAL PREDATORS
Attorney General, Illinois Hospital Association Commit to Increasing Presence of Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiners Statewide
Chicago – Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a joint effort led by her office to
double the number of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) in hospitals statewide. Madigan
said the addition of SANE nurses is a critical step to encouraging more victims to report their
assaults and putting sexual predators in prison.
Madigan and the Illinois Hospital Association will work to double the number of SANE nurses
practicing in hospitals to 150 and implement a SANE program in each of Illinois’ 11 trauma
regions by the fall of 2012, meaning an on-call SANE nurse will be available 24/7 to aid
survivors of sexual assaults. SANE nurses are specially trained to conduct forensic examinations
of victims and testify in court.
“SANE nurses are a critical link between victims and the successful prosecution of their
offenders,” Attorney General Madigan said. “These nurses are specially trained to comfort
survivors of assault and ensure that DNA evidence is properly collected to put sex offenders
behind bars. With more SANE nurses in Illinois hospitals, we can make sure the victims of these
horrible crimes, many of whom are young children and infants, are treated with respect and
dignity in our justice system.”
Joined by the IHA and area hospital representatives at Chicago’s Advocate Illinois Masonic
Medical Center, Madigan stressed the great need in Illinois for more SANE nurses. The Illinois
Coalition Against Sexual Assault estimates that only three in 10 rapes are actually reported to
authorities. Last year, for instance, sexual assault crisis centers and hotlines helped more than
18,000 rape victims, according to ICASA, and yet Illinois State Police data indicate that fewer
than 5,300 rapes were reported.
Many of these victims are children, Madigan said. Today 25,XXX sex offenders were listed in
the state’s sex offender registry, of whom 20,XXX – or 80 percent – committed a crime against a
child. (Will update day of).
However, Madigan said, only two Illinois hospitals to date have SANE programs operating
around the clock – Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest and Carle Foundation
Hospital in Urbana. Since Madigan created a training program for SANE nurses to become
certified in 2003, 650 nurses have been trained but only 75 are fully practicing SANE nurses.
“The Illinois Hospital Association and the hospital community are pleased to collaborate with
the Attorney General on this important initiative to assist survivors of sexual assault by
increasing the number of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in our hospital emergency
departments,” said Maryjane Wurth, IHA president. “Our hospitals are committed to providing
the highest quality, compassionate care to these survivors as well as critical forensic services
needed for the prosecution of offenders to help keep our communities safe.”
Among the first to commit to the implementation of SANE programs is Advocate Health Care,
which already operates the South Suburban Hospital program. Beginning with Condell Medical
Center in Libertyville and continuing at Illinois Masonic, Advocate has pledged to add SANE
programs throughout its health care system. Condell will become Advocate’s first level-1 trauma
center with a coordinated SANE program.
“Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner programs have greatly benefited emergency departments and,
more importantly, the victims of sexual assaults and abuse,” said William Maloney, MD,
medical director of Advocate Condell’s emergency department. “I would want a SANE-trained
nurse available if I had a loved one who was the victim of one of these crimes.”
Protecting victims of sexual assault has been a priority for Attorney General Madigan since she
took office. Most recently, her office worked with state lawmakers to pass the Illinois Sexual
Assault Evidence Collection Act, making Illinois the first state in the nation to implement a law
mandating the submission and testing of sexual assault evidence. Under the act, local law
enforcement must submit DNA rape kits to Illinois State Police crime labs for testing within 10
business days of receiving the kit from a hospital, and ISP must analyze the kit within six months
of receipt.
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