MNCASA Training on Suspect Exams
Platform: Virtual Webinar
Cost: Free
Part 1) Sexual Assault Suspect Forensic Exams and How They Can Aid in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Assault Cases: https://mncasa.
Part 2) Suspect Exams: The Nuts and Bolts of Setting up a Protocol in Your Jurisdiction: https://mncasa.
Training Summary
When evaluating potential sources of evidence, law enforcement
professionals often focus on material that might have transferred from the suspect to the victim. However, evidence could just as likely be transferred from the victim to the suspect, offering opportunities to gather additional information and evidence. Law enforcement, prosecutors, sexual assault nurse examiners, and health care professionals to join us for a two part series that explores the investigative procedures, forensic practices, and interagency collaboration necessary to carry out a medical forensic exam.
In Part One, attendees will gain an overview of the suspect exam and learn: the benefits of suspect exams in prosecution of sexual assault case(s), the typical components of a suspect forensic exam, ways a suspect exam can aid in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases, the information that can be gathered from a suspect exam and better understand what occurred during an assault when a victim cannot recall the event.
In Part Two, attendees will learn practical steps for establishing a suspect exam protocol and learn: how protocol for suspect exams is developed collaboratively among multiple agencies, the procedure for obtaining a warrant for a suspect exam, how the treatment of a suspect can shape sample collection during the forensic suspect examination, best practices for engaging the suspect during the evidence collection process.
Instructors
Ellen Johnson | RN, SANE-A, CEN
Ellen Johnson has been a nurse for 47 years, specializing in Emergency nursing. She has been a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner since 2002 and now devotes all her time to that specialty. Ellen has supervised the SANE program at Regions Hospital since 2005. Regions Hospital SANE Program currently provides sexual assault exams at 5 hospitals in the East metro area. Ellen enjoys collaborating with community partners and is a frequent presenter locally and nationally on forensic nursing through the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), the Sexual Violence Justice Institute (SVJI) and the Ramsey County Sexual Assault Protocol Team. She has been an instructor for the 40-hour SANE didactic course since 2006 and has hosted IAFN clinical skills labs at Regions Hospital since 2015. Ellen is a lifetime member of both IAFN and ENA, and is active in both IAFN and the MN chapter of IAFN.
Jessica Bastil | Sexual Violence Investigator, CIU | Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office
Jessica Bastil is the Sexual Violence Investigator with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University. She has been in law enforcement for over 15 years with the last 8 years at the Sheriff’s Office. She worked as a patrol officer and held positions of field training officer, reserve coordinator, POR compliance check officer, CPR instructor, dive team member, general investigator and is currently assigned to specifically work CSC cases under a grant partnership with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. In 2017, Jessica received the Sheriff’s Office Investigator of the year award. Jessica is involved with the Ramsey County Sexual Protocol Team, East Metro Task Force, Minnesota Sex Crimes Investigator’s Association, and the Implementation work group. Jessica has had hundreds of hours of investigative training specializing in sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse, domestic abuse, kidnappings, and homicides