'We owe it to survivors': State lawmakers address how they're supporting sexual assault victims

State lawmakers spoke Thursday morning about their efforts to support victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in North Carolina.

Attorney General Josh Stein, U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, state Rep. Gale Adcock and advocates spoke at the North Carolina Department of Justice in Raleigh.

“What happened to you was wrong, was painful and we will do everything we can to deliver justice on your behalf,” Stein said on behalf of the victims.

Stein said the state is adding lab personnel to test the backlog of rape kits that hit an all-time high in 2019 at 16,000. Recent testing resulted in 63 arrests related to 91 assaults.

“More than three-fourths of the kits that can be tested either have been tested, or are in the process of being tested, and we’re seeing results,” Stein said.

State leaders are also working to make sure victims meet specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in the exam room. SANE nurses help victims of sexual assault begin to process their trauma and collect evidence in the immediate aftermath of an incident to help law enforcement move investigations forward.

Ross said she made sure there were millions of dollars in federal funding to train SANE nurses in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law in March.

“We owe it to survivors who have endured unspeakable trauma to ensure they receive the care they deserve and are able to seek justice,” Ross said.

Stein said Thursday his office is launching an initiative to train 50 SANE nurses across North Carolina.

“What happened to you was wrong, was painful and we will do everything we can to deliver justice on your behalf,” Stein said to sexual assault survivors in the room.

The Southern Partnership Regional Education Center will serve as a partner for the program. The program is due to launch by the end of the summer.

The goal of the program is to have SANE nurses in every hospital system.

"Women who have been traumatized by sexual assault need increased access to a trusted, compassionate, specially trained SANE nurse in their community, at a hospital near them,” Adcock said.