ISP Forensic Services Receives $500,000 Grant to Support Sexual Assault Nurse Program
MERIDIAN, Idaho — Idaho State Police Forensic Services (ISPFS) has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant to strengthen Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) resources and improve access to medical forensic services, particularly in rural Idaho communities.
The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, will support ISPFS forensic nurse education and development for at least three years. It will also support travel and help equip collection sites with supplies needed for medical forensic examinations.
Sexual violence remains a significant issue in Idaho. Recent research from the Idaho Statistical Analysis Center estimates 13.6 percent of adult Idahoans have experienced sexual violence during their lifetime. In 2024, 1,883 sexual assault victims were known to law enforcement, while more than 8,000 received assistance through federally funded victim service programs.
Access to qualified forensic medical professionals can be particularly challenging in rural areas. These forensic medical examinations require specially prepared and trained medical professionals who provide patient-centered medical care while documenting injuries and properly collecting and preserving forensic evidence to support criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“The focus of this grant is to help communities have specialized resources and well-trained professionals available closer to home,” ISP Forensic Services Laboratory System Director Matthew Gamette said. “A survivor of a sexual assault should not have to travel hours to another community simply because that is where resources are available. This funding helps us continue working with healthcare providers to better serve the people and communities that rely on them.”
Since 2017, ISPFS has trained over 300 sexual assault nurse examiners and helped establish more than 29 examination locations in rural Idaho. More than 35 examination sites are now available statewide.
The grant will help sustain those efforts by supporting nurse education, travel, equipment, and supplies. This grant will also allow victim services to be provided more robustly in several rural areas of the state. The ISPFS program has historically relied on federal grants and other funding sources to provide education, training, and support to medical professionals all over Idaho supporting sexual assault survivors.
The award was made through the Office for Victims of Crime’s FY25 Increasing Availability of Medical Forensic Examinations for Victims of Sexual Assault program.
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Posted in District 1 - Northern Idaho, District 2 - Central Idaho, District 3 - Western Idaho, District 4 - Southern Idaho, District 5 - Southeastern Idaho, District 6 - Eastern Idaho, Forensic Services
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