LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[September 6th, 2006] TO CATCH A THIEF

I suggest you hire a black intern—let's call him "Tyrone Williams"—and repeat the bike-theft experiment ["Steal This Bike," WW, Aug. 23, 2006]. In contrast to the casual askance glances experienced by Silverman, it is likely that Williams would be carted away in handcuffs before his bolt cutters ever reach the first bike lock.

Gregory J. Wolley
Northeast 38th Avenue

RAPE RESPONSE TEAM

Thank you for calling attention to some of the issues surrounding sexual assault in our community ["Raped and Ignored," Aug. 16, 2006].

The Multnomah County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a multi-agency task force, is working to improve victim services and the response to sexual assault, regardless of whether the survivor chooses to make a report to a police agency. Task force members include the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, Portland Police Bureau, Gresham Police Department, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, Planned Parenthood, Portland Women's Crisis Line, Proyecto UNICA and the Department of Community Justice.

SART strongly encourages all sexual-assault survivors to seek medical attention. The Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Fund (SAVE Fund) will cover the cost of a partial medical assessment for a sexual-assault survivor within seven days of the assault. Advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide support and information about community resources and the criminal justice system. Advocate services can begin when a police report is taken or when a medical assessment is performed. Advocate services are available throughout the criminal prosecution and/or trauma recovery.

SART is seeking to expand the number of providers offering sexual assault forensic exams (SAFE kits) in Multnomah County. Evidence collected during a medical exam may be critically important if a case is prosecuted in court. Unless evidence is properly collected and preserved by trained personnel, it may be lost forever. Although the current system in Multnomah County may present some difficulties to some victims, OHSU does provide an extremely important service on a consistent basis in treating victims of sexual assault. In coming months, SART anticipates that other medical facilities in Multnomah County will also provide SAFE kits.

Michael D. Schrunk
Multnomah County District Attorney