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Community Education

West Virginia's Forensic Medical Examination Fund

What Does the Forensic Medical Fund Accomplish?

It provides payment to licensed medical facilities for forensic medical examinations of victims of alleged sexual assault,

Ensures that victims of alleged sexual/ assault are treated appropriately,

Provides important evidence to law enforcement personnel in the investigation of sexual assault cases,

Provides adequate and appropriate evidence to prosecutors in order to effectively prosecute individuals alleged to have committed sexual assault,

Improves the overall investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases.

PLEASE NOTIFY PATIENT ACCOUNTS THAT YOU WANT YOUR BILL PAID FROM THIS FUND.

The Violence Against Women Act, created by the United States Congress, provides that each state must have a method to pay the cost of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual assault. In accordance with this mandate, the West Virginia Forensic Medical Examination Fund was created by the 1996 West Virginia Legislature and is contained in West Virginia Code § 61-8B-1 and West Virginia Code § 618B-15, -18. Prior to the establishment of the Forensic Medical Examination Fund, West Virginia had no specific mechanism to pay for this type of examination.

In accordance with statutory provisions creating the West Virginia Forensic Medical Examination Fund, the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute was charged with the responsibility of administering the Fund and providing reimbursement to licensed medical facilities performing forensic medical examinations. The Fund is restricted to the payment of all reasonable and customary costs of a forensic medical examination, which are conducted within a reasonable time of the alleged violation. However, no payment can be made from this Fund for non-forensic procedures or treatment.

The legislation provides that following the forensic medical examination, the medical facility shall submit a statement of charges to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the alleged offense occurred, who shall then certify, if proper, that the forensic medical examination was conducted as part of a criminal investigation. Thereafter, the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute will pay from the Forensic Medical Examination Fund up to $350.00 for the exam.

The major objective of the Forensic Medical Examination Fund is to provide payment for forensic medical examinations in sexual assault cases. However, additional benefits include providing a more effective prosecution of persons alleged to have committed a sexual assault while protecting the rights and dignities of victims of sexual assault.

THIS PROCESS IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.


 

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