Glossary

An individual professionally trained to support victims and promote victims’ rights. Advocates ensure that all of the victim’s concerns and needs are met including emotional, physical, and psychological. Sexual assault victim advocates may be volunteers or individuals employed by the local Rape Crisis and Recovery Center, or a government agency.

Child Sexual Abuse

Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs), sometimes referred to as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), are registered nurses who are specially trained to provide medical care for survivors and to collect and preserve potential forensic potential evidence of a crime. FNEs are trained to provide trauma-informed and victim-centered care for survivors.

An act of using force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a person for commercial sex acts. However, if the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18, force, fraud or coercion are not required to constitute sex trafficking. While movement or transportation of the individual may occur as part of the crime, movement is not a requirement.

Judge Advocate General Corps, the attorneys who prosecute and defend military criminal cases. They are like State's Attorneys in that they do not represent the victim, but instead the branch of service.

Military Sexual Trauma

Prison Rape Elimination Act

A type of prevention activity that aims to stop sexual violence before it occurs.

Rape Crisis Centers (RCCs) are certified organizations located throughout Maryland that provide confidential services to adult and child victims of sexual assault and their families, partners, and loved ones. Services provided include crisis intervention, counseling or counseling referral, accompaniment to hospitals, police interviews, and court proceedings, and assistance navigating the legal and judicial systems.

A reporting option in the military which allows a victim to receive health care (medical and mental), access to a SARC/SHARP or SAPR VA, and legal counsel from and SVC or VLC. This report can later be converted to an Unrestricted Report.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 

Often referred to as a rape kit, a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) is a package of materials used to collect samples (evidence) from the survivor’s body by a qualified medical professional, often a Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE). Victims will be asked to provide a narrative of the assault to help determine what evidence should be collected in their case (i.e. where the swabs should be taken). The contents of the SAEK may vary by jurisdiction but generally include paperwork to document the exam, swabs and glass slides for biological evidence collection, containers for blood and urine samples, evidence bags for clothing and other large pieces of evidence, and envelopes for hair, fibers, and other trace evidence.

A Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) is a medical forensic exam that provides survivors with important medical care and treatment and allows for the collection and preservation of potential forensic evidence in what is known as a SAEK, or "rape kit." A SAFE is conducted by a specially trained and certified nurse, known as Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) in Maryland.

The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, also known as SAKI, is a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant program dedicated to address the growing number of unsubmitted and untested SAEKs in law enforcement custody, and to help provide resolution for victims when possible through a comprehensive team approach.

Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (Military term)

A Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a group of professionals who are responsible for addressing sexual assault cases in the local community. SARTs usually consist of individuals from the local law enforcement agencies, victim advocates, forensic nurse examiners from the local hospital, prosecutors from the State Attorney’s Office, Crime Victim Rights Attorney’s, the state coalition, and representatives from the crime lab. These teams often incorporate additional local organizations that are also impacted by sexual assault such as local colleges and universities, military bases, and faith-based organizations.

Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Victim Advocate (Military term); often shortened to Victim Advocate or VA.

Sexual Harrassment/Assault Response & Prevention Coordinator (Military Term; Army only)

Special Victims Counsel, legal counsel for military victims (includes active duty and their adult dependents, reserves, National Guard, and DoD Civilians); serves the Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.

A type of prevention that addresses the immediate responses after sexual violence has occurred and aims to prevent short-term consequences of violence.

A type of prevention that aims to prevent long-term consequences after sexual violence has occurred.

The practice of understanding the way trauma impacts the brain and behavior and adapting services to best serve trauma survivors.

A reporting option in the military which allows a victim to receive health care (medical and mental), access to a SARC/SHARP or SAPR VA, and legal counsel from and SVC or VLC. This also triggers an official investigation of the assault. It cannot be converted to a Restricted Report.

In the military, VA can mean either Victim Advocate or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Victims Legal Counsel, legal counsel for military victims (includes active duty and their adult dependents, reserves, National Guard, and DoD Civilians); serves the Marines and Navy.