Attorney General Brenna Bird has announced two new initiatives aimed at improving support for crime victims in Iowa. The changes, introduced by the Attorney General’s Victim Assistance Section, include the appointment of a Sexual Assault Forensic Response Coordinator and the launch of an updated prosecutor portal to track victim restitution.
The new coordinator will be responsible for developing free training and technical assistance for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) across Iowa. These nurses play a key role in ensuring that sexual assault victims receive necessary care. By increasing the number of SANEs, the state aims to enhance services available to victims and provide additional support to hospitals, nurses, and law enforcement agencies.
In addition, the Victim Assistance Section has rolled out an improved prosecutor portal designed to streamline how county attorneys access information about victim restitution payments. Previously, delays were common due to outdated processes. The new interface allows county attorneys real-time access to restitution data, which is expected to speed up sentencing and improve collection efforts from defendants.
Attorney General Bird stated: “As a mom and a prosecutor, serving Iowans who have been victims of a crime has been my priority from day one and one of the main reasons I ran for attorney general. We are consistently working to improve all victim services. The special nurse coordinator and the new victim restitution payment portal will help sexual assault victims on their road to recovery and make sure they get the restitution they are owed.”
These upgrades are part of broader changes being made within the Victim Assistance Section under Bird’s leadership.
