NCJ Number
253509
Date Published
December 2018
Length
44 pages
Annotation
Findings and methodology are reported for a project whose goal was to better understand the gaps in service for underserved communities (e.g., people of color, people with disabilities, rural residents, etc,) in terms of access to services at sexual assault centers throughout Maine, as well as to provide recommendations to the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) and sexual assault centers on future policies and practices.
Abstract
The study found that underserved clients under age 24 reported significantly higher rates of receiving a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE), receiving medical attention, and reporting an incident to police, compared to clients ages 24 to 55 and underserved clients ages 56 and older. Underserved clients ages 56 and older reported significantly lower rates of receiving a SAFE, receiving medical attention, and reporting an incident to police, compared to clients ages 24 to 55 and underserved clients under the age of 24. Male clients reported significantly lower rates of receiving a SAFE and significantly lower rates of receiving medical attention, compared to female clients. Clients identified as people of color reported significantly lower rates of receiving a SAFE and significantly lower rates of reporting an incident to police, compared to clients identified as White. Clients living in rural Maine reported significantly lower rates of receiving a SAFE, compared to clients not living in a rural area. One-to-one support was the highest reported service, which was provided to 3,888 clients (76.87 percent of the 5,058 total client records). Recommendations pertain to demographics, data-entry practices, service types, referral types, and future collaborations. 15 figures, 9 tables, 7 references, and appended methodological information