Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services
SART and DVRT
DVRT Volunteers respond to the police department after a domestic violence incident to assist the victim and her/his children. SART Responders can provide support and information at medical or law enforcement proceedings.
Domestic Violence Response Teams
DVRT volunteers respond to the police department after a domestic violence incident to assist the victim and her/his children. They provide support, information and referrals, and can keep children occupied while the victim completes the required paperwork for a temporary restraining order.
DASI trains and supervises volunteers on the DVRTs. The NJ State Police DVRT provides services to victims of domestic violence in Sussex County municipalities served by the NJ State Police (including Montague, Wantage, Hampton Township, Fredon, Augusta, Frankford, Branchville, Sussex, Sandyston, Lafayette, Green, Andover Borough, Stillwater, and Walpack). The towns of Newton, Andover Twp., Stanhope, and Vernon have teams that will respond to police departments in those municipalities. Volunteers for DVRTs must complete 40 hours of specialized training, and pass criminal background and reference checks. They share on-call schedule coverage, and respond during overnight and weekend hours.
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is available to assist victims after a sexual assault. SART includes a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate, a Forensic Nurse certified in sexual assault, and law enforcement investigators trained in responding to victims of sexual assault.
Under New Jersey law, a victim of sexual assault has the right to have a specially trained Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate present during all medical and law enforcement procedures. While it takes tremendous strength and courage to reach out to others for help at such a difficult and traumatic time, the Advocate can be an important resource, providing support, information about victims’ rights under the law, as well as referrals to other community services. The services of a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate are free and confidential.
SART can be activated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 911, the DASI 24-Hour Helpline at 973-875-1211, or going to the Emergency Department at Newton Medical Center.
