Image: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Dylana Kneeshaw

FORENSIC EXAM KITS

Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre glad to see evidence kit storage option at Royal Inland Hospital

Sep 15, 2022 | 4:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — TRIGGER WARNING: This story discusses sexual assault and may be disturbing to some readers and viewers.

Survivors of sexual assaults in the Kamloops area now have more time to decide whether they want to report an incident to the RCMP.

A new system out of Royal Inland Hospital will allow for evidence from completed forensic examination kits to be stored for up to one year.

Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre’s interim coordinator Jenn Johnson says it allows for more flexibility for survivors who are trying to decide whether they want to involve police.

“Up until now, if someone went for a forensic exam after a sexual assault, the only option that they had was to report to the RCMP immediately (if they were to file a report),” she explains, “whereas now they’ll have the option to wait for up to one year before they make that report.”

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Reporting to police immediately after an assault is still an option. But should someone want an evidence kit to be held for potential later use, it will be preserved in a locked freezer in a secure location at the hospital.

“If and when the survivor decides that they want to involve RCMP, then there’s a process by which they’ll ask for that to be released. They sign a form and then it (the evidence kit) will be collected by one of the designated people at the hospital who has access to it,” adds Johnson.

As for why someone wouldn’t file a police report right away, there are a number of reasons. KSACC notes that often with traumatic experiences, someone may need more time to process what happened or remember details.

“We have seen that when people are faced with that decision,” said Johnson. “You can do a forensic exam now and report to the police right away, or you can just sort of do an exam and get medical attention now and not involve the police. Sometimes people will just decide not to involve RCMP at all because they don’t want to have to go and give that statement right away.”

Johnson says creating the storage system was supported by both the hospital and local RCMP.

“When survivors have that little bit of time then it’s going to be easier for RCMP to work with them as well,” she explains.

Alongside the extension option, the Centre currently offers accompaniment to the hospital for survivors, averaging about two calls per month. Lately, Johnson says calls have increased, although it isn’t clear whether the increase is the result of more incidents taking place, or more people who want to use the support service.

“At least five or six (calls) a month, and probably a bit more than that still.”

For supports, and more information, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the area can call Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre’s 24/7 Crisis Line at 1-888-974-7278.