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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2004)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 23, 2004 AG extols fund for victims of sex crime Launching Oregon’s Sexual Assault Victims’ Emergency Medical Re- sponse Fund was an- nounced by Attorney Gen- eral Hardy Myers. The fund, enacted by the 2003 Legislature as Senate Bill 752, makes fundamental improvements in the provision of medical care and the payments for forensic examinations ad- ministered to victims of sexual assault. The fund, said Myers, dramatically improves the response to victims of sex- ual assault by ensuring that the costs for medical care will be paid when the vic- tim is examined within seven days of an assault, regardless of whether the crime is reported or not. The fund also will pay to collect forensic evidence and for prescriptions to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted dis- ease for assault victims. In establishing the fund, the Dept. of Justice (DOJ), working with advo- cates, care-providers and law enforcement, adopted a set of guidelines to better standardize the provision of care to victims and the collection of evidence for law enforcement. “Today marks a new era in Oregon’s commit- ment to victims of sexual assault,” Myers said. “No longer will rape victims get a bill for their medical care and examinations. No longer will law enforce- ment agencies have to choose between the collec- tion of evidence and the bottom line. Victims and law enforcement can prop- erly turn their attention to the hard work of recovery and prosecution.” Prior to the enactment of the fund, statutes re- quired law enforcement agencies to pay for the cost of medical examinations required in the investiga- tion of sexual offenses. This policy posed chal- lenges for medical- providers, for the law en- forcement community and, most devastatingly, for victims of crime. Hospitals and care- providers were forced to distinguish, often arbitrar- ily, between medical care and forensic examination and then determine the proper billing mechanisms. Local law enforcement was asked to pay the medi- cal and forensic costs with no additional funding. Ab- sent a statewide standard, victims of crime were of- ten left holding the bill. The fund will provide a centralized funding source for the medical and forensic claims arising from incidents of sexual assault. It will be financed through grants, gifts and other sources. Providence Health Systems contrib- uted $50,000 to the fund. Statewide, medical- service providers adminis- ter nearly 2,000 forensic examinations annually. The fund will compen- sate up to $610 for exams conducted by a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Ex- aminer (SANE), and $535 for exams conducted by a non-SANE medical profes- sional. There is no good deed too small to perform. - Anonymous - PROMOTIONS - Illinois Valley Fire District Vol- unteer Lt. Tom Zulliger (left) has been promoted to captain at the O’Brien Station; and staff Divi- sion Training Chief Jeff Gavlik has been ad- vanced to the rank of deputy chief. The promo- tions were announced by Chief Harry Rich on Mon- day, June 14. O’Brien housing pending With final plat ap- proval from the Josephine County Board of Commis- sioners for the Sunny Pines Subdivision, a new four-lot development will take shape in O’Brien. The developer, An- drew Rubin of Grants Pass, said that brush removal and site preparation for new homes on the 5-acre parcels could begin imme- diately. “We have had interest expressed on the lots,” he said. “You could see activ- ity as soon as this week.” Rubin has owned the property off Kinnickinnick Road for 20 years, he said. It was anticipated that county commissioners would approve the final plat during their meeting on Wednesday, June 23. Page 9 Learn new skills. Serve your community. IVFD Fire Academy Phone 592-2225