Palomar Health honors assault victims

ESCONDIDO – Palomar Health Forensic Health Services honored 891 child abuse and sexual assault survivors from San Diego County, April 5, in a ceremony culminated by advocates placing pinwheels on the lawn of Palomar Medical Center Downtown representing each survivor who reported their assault and were served by Forensic Health Services in 2017.

Palomar Health Forensic Health Services was founded 30 years ago, but beginning in 2017, expanded to cover the entire county. It is the only program conducting forensic health evaluations of sexual assault victims in the county and one of only two conducting child abuse forensic evaluations. The evaluations are performed by specially trained nurses, and the evidence gathered is used in court to prosecute perpetrators.

San Diego County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior said at the ceremony, "We cannot get justice without Palomar," referring to the importance of the forensic evaluations in the evidence-gathering process.