WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — Blue is the power color of the day at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center on Denim Day as staff members show solidarity toward sexual assault victims.
The idea of Denim Day dates back to a 1999 assault case in Italy.
“There was a rape victim whose assailant was exonerated because she wore tight jeans, and the argument was, she must have assisted in some way and the assailant went free while she was a victim, and she was, in fact, raped,” said Sentara Health Chief Nursing Officer Amber Price said.
Arguing the assault was consensual, the judge threw out the case. The next day, women in the Italian parliament showed up to work wearing denim jeans. It’s now become an international show of support for those victims.
Forensic nurses at Sentara Williamsburg, where they have a sexual assault nurse examiner program, are trained to not only conduct an exam but also be there emotionally for victims.
“It has to do with respect,” Price said. “It has to do with making sure that people are believed, and collecting the evidence in such a way that we’re not traumatizing the patient even further.”
Sentara Health Forensic Nurse Betsy Holzworth is one of those collecting that evidence.
“It’s hard. The patient is either in disbelief, or they have such injuries they can’t really speak,” Holzworth said. “An exam can take [anywhere from] two hours up to eight hours depending on how much they’re willing to give us at that point in time. We have to stop, we have to start. You know, everything is based on how they’re feeling.”
Only one of her 50 cases has gone to trial, and the assailant put behind bars.
“It was rewarding,” Holzworth said. “At the start of the case, all you want to do is cry. But you don’t. You come in and you’re there for them. They just need some support and that’s what we’re there to do.”
New legislation taking effect this year aims at removing barriers to seek help after an assault. House Bill 2117 allows for the collection of evidence anonymously without contacting police — giving the victim time to decide if they want to press charges. It also removes the fear of arrest of the victim for minor offenses like drug possession when seeking help.
“The most important thing for us is that we can immediately treat and care for a patient,” Price said. “[It] tends to be that the longer we wait, the worse it is for everybody. We want evidence to be collected as soon as we can get it, and the victim is allowing us to collect it.”
They stress the sooner a victim reaches out for help, the more likely they are to avoid lifelong trauma.
“We want patients to know they’re not to blame, and that there’s someone in their corner,” Price said.
If you or someone you know has been a victim, there are resources out there to help. Click here for more information.
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