Estimated time to complete activity: 90 minutes

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of nurses, physicians, and other health and legal professionals involved in the treatment and care of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Statement of Need/Program Overview

This webinar will enhance the SANEs ability to provide fact and expert testimony in criminal trials. SANE trial preparation focused on documentation, notice of expert, motions and rulings effecting testimony, and suggestions for meeting with attorneys will be reviewed. Foundations of evidence-based testimony will be discussed, and guidance for providing ethical and effective testimony on direct and cross-examination will be provided.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Summarize the necessary steps to prepare for courtroom testimony
• Identify the foundations that aid in providing evidence-based testimony
• Outline the goals of direct testimony and cross-examination

Faculty

Tara Henry, MSN, FNP‐C, SANE‐A, SANE‐P

President, Forensic Nurse Services, Inc., Fairbanks, AK

Ms. Henry is a family nurse practitioner specializing in the area of forensic nursing. For the past 16 years she has provided medical‐forensic care to living and deceased patients affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse across the life span. She also provides expert witness testimony in both superior and district courts throughout the State of Alaska regarding topics in forensic nursing, strangulation, sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex‐related homicide. In addition to being a forensic nurse, Ms. Henry works as a nurse practitioner in the emergency department of two Alaska Native‐owned hospitals. She travels throughout the United States providing domestic violence and sexual assault training and consultation services for health care providers; hospital administrators; State, Federal, and municipal law enforcement agencies; advocacy agencies; municipal and State prosecutors; and defense attorneys. In addition, she works with several Alaska Native‐owned hospitals providing sexual assault program evaluations, quality assurance and peer reviews, and contract clinical services for domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse cases.

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