employers, qualified interpreters, and providers from organizations that address needs of specific populations (e.g., persons with disabilities, racial and cultural groups, senior citizens, the poor and homeless, runaways and adolescents in foster care, and domestic violence victims). Families and friends of victims also can play an important role in the initial response, because victims may first disclose the assault to them, ask for their help in seeking professional assistance, and want their ongoing support. However, they are not considered first responders in this document, because they are not responding to these disclosures in an official capacity. Forensic scientist: The forensic scientist is responsible for analyzing evidence in sexual assault cases. This evidence typically includes DNA and other biological evidence, toxicology samples, latent prints, and trace evidence. Some forensic scientists specialize in the analysis of specific types of evidence. In this protocol, forensic scientists working in jurisdictional crime laboratories are often referred to as “crime lab/laboratory 23 Drawn from M.A. Dutton, “The Dynamics of Domestic Violence: Understanding the Response from Battered Women,” Florida Bar Journal 68(9), January 24, 1994. 24 Drawn from the Power and Control Wheel developed by the Domestic Violence Intervention Project of Minnesota. 17 personnel” and “crime lab/laboratory scientists.” Forensic scientists analyzing drug and alcohol samples are also referred to as “toxicologists.” Forensic scientists in many communities may respond to crime scenes to collect evidence and to process the scene. Jurisdiction: This term is used in two ways in the protocol. One is to broadly describe a community that has power to govern or legislate for itself. For example, a jurisdiction may be a local area, a state, a territory, or tribe. A jurisdiction may also be referred to in the protocol as a “community.” The term also describes the authority to interpret and apply laws and is used in this context mainly when identifying who has “jurisdiction” over a particular case. Language assistance services (LAS): Language assistance services are oral language services for interpretation and written language services, translation of written materials into languages other than English for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Law enforcement representative: Different types of law enforcement agencies exist at the local, state, territory, tribal, and federal levels (e.g., state, county, tribal, or local police or sheriff, sworn police on college campuses, the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and military police). Any of these agencies could potentially be involved in responding to sexual assault cases. Also, in areas without a local law enforcement agency, public safety officials may assist in immediate response to sexual assault victims. Some agencies may have staff with specialized education and experience in sexual assault investigations, which may be dedicated to investigating sexual assault cases and/or may be part of a special unit for investigating sexual assaults. In this protocol, personnel from law enforcement agencies are referred to as “law enforcement officers” or “law enforcement representatives,” unless more specificity is required. Limited English Proficient (LEP): Refers to individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability read, speak, write, or understand English. LEP individuals may be entitled to language assistance services to ensure they have meaningful access to a benefit, program, or service that receives federal financial assistance. Prosecutor: Different types of prosecution offices exist at the local, tribal, state, territory, and federal level (e.g., tribal prosecutor’s office, county prosecutor’s office, district attorney’s office, state attorney’s office, United States Attorney’s office, and military judicial branches). Any of these offices could be involved in responding to sexual assault cases. In addition, some offices may have personnel with specialized education and experience in sexual assault prosecutions, who may be dedicated to prosecuting sexual assault cases and/or may be part of a special unit for prosecuting sexual assaults. In this protocol, attorneys from prosecution offices will be referred to as “prosecutors” unless more specificity is required. Sexual assault: Generally speaking, sexual assault is the sexual contact of one person with another without appropriate legal consent. This definition includes, but is not limited to, a wide range of behavior classified by state, territory, federal, and tribal law as rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and sexual battery. Refer to applicable statutes for precise definitions in a specific jurisdiction.25 Sexual assault medical forensic examination: The sexual assault medical forensic exam is an examination of a sexual assault patient by a health care provider, ideally one who has specialized education and clinical experience in the collection of forensic evidence and treatment of these patients. The examination includes gathering information from the patient for the medical forensic history; an examination; coordinating treatment of injuries, documentation of biological and physical findings, and collection of evidence from the patient; documentation of findings; information, treatment, and referrals for STIs, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse, and