Is the victim advocate directly responsible for minimizing the loss of potential evidence prior to the arrival of the SAFE examiner?

Answer 1

No, the victim advocate is not directly responsible for minimizing the loss of potential evidence prior to the arrival of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE). Their primary role is to provide support and assistance to the victim, ensuring their emotional and practical needs are addressed during a traumatic time. While they may offer guidance on what to avoid in terms of evidence preservation, the responsibility for evidence collection and preservation typically lies with law enforcement and medical professionals.