Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, and Ames is not an exception.

But local officials are trying to help survivors cope with the aftermath of a sexual assault through Iowa’s only organized and operable Sexual Assault Response Team.

In fact, SART recently was honored by the Urban Institute of Washington D.C. for its work with sexual assault survivors in under-served populations.

Sexual assault has a broad definition, but the Iowa Criminal Code defines it as sexual contact by force, the threat of force or against the will of the victim.

Also included in the definition is sexual contact done while the victim is under the influence of a drug-induced sleep or lacking the mental capacity to make a rational decision.

“That means if a woman has been a victim of a date rape drug or passed out from alcohol, it is covered by the definition,” said Julie Wooden, sexual assault services coordinator at Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support (ACCESS).

SART was formed a year and a half ago to address the needs of sexual assault survivors in Story County.

The team consists of professionals who represent the various agencies involved in sexual assault cases. All members are specially trained in dealing with sexual assaults.

“We’re trying to make it easier for her,” said Patricia Harvey, coordinator of SART. “When someone is sexually assaulted, they have a lot of needs to be met — criminal justice, medical and emotional needs — and that is why we have representatives from all of those different agencies.”

The agencies represented in SART include the Story County Attorney’s Office, the ISU Department of Public Safety, the Ames Police Department, the Story County Sheriff’s Office, Mary Greeley Medical Center, ISU Student Health Center, Planned Parenthood of Ames and ACCESS.

“We introduce her to an officer, an advocate and a sexual assault nurse examiner and let her make the decision of what she wants to do,” Harvey said. “All decisions are left to her; we just try to let her know her options.”

In addition to representatives from various agencies, SART provides a 24-hour response hotline for sexual assault survivors. The hotline, 296-6397, is available for survivors, friends or family members requesting help.

“When someone calls, we activate the team and get an advocate to speak with her,” Harvey said. “We will send an advocate and a plain-clothed police officer to her, or she can come to [ACCESS] if she has a preference.”

The team dictates what information it offers according to where the call is coming from — a private residence, a law enforcement agency or a medical center — and what kind of services she already has used.

“We tell them what the medical people can do for them — treating them for STDs, making sure they’re OK physically, and if there’s a chance they’re pregnant, we offer some options there and collect evidence,” Harvey said. “If she talks to a law enforcement [official], she can file a criminal report, an anonymous report or she can file a report through the [All University Judiciary].”

An anonymous report also can be filed by the survivor or a friend.

“They’re not required to put their name on it,” said Aaron DeLashmutt, patrol officer for DPS. “It asks what happened, so it can be reported. [The survivor] also has the option of writing the suspect’s name on [the report].”

Law enforcement generally does not charge the perpetrator unless the survivor wants to pursue criminal charges against the person, and the survivor has up to three years to make that decision.

Although SART doesn’t force survivors to obtain a medical examination for evidence collection, it is highly encouraged to help in criminal cases.

“We do try to let them know it’s best to collect evidence now in case she changes her mind six months later [and wants to pursue criminally],” Harvey said. “We can collect evidence and keep that and not do anything with it until she tells us she wants to do something with it.”

Harvey added it’s not impossible to prosecute without physical evidence, but it’s harder to prove the case in court.

“I don’t want people to think it is ever too late to come forward,” she said. “I want them to know they can be helped.”

Harvey said all medical services provided through SART are paid by the state of Iowa through the Crime Victim’s Compensation Program.

“They have a sexual abuse examination program and that pays for the medical care and meds they use to treat the survivor,” she said. “They pay all related costs — clinician fees, lab tests — anything related to treatment.”

Harvey said most sexual assault survivors who come forward are women, and the number of students reporting sexual assaults has increased since SART was organized last year.