Task Force Committees
Committee Membership
Each Task Force member serves on a committee, subcommittee or work group. Committees, subcommittees and work groups are open to interested individuals who have both the experience and expertise necessary to participate in the fulfillment of each group’s annual workplan. People interested in participating on the Task Force or a committee go through an application process. Applications are reviewed by committees which make recommendations to the Attorney General, who then appoints members for two-year terms.
Committee membership is generally limited to fifteen members with exceptions for the Campus and Prevention & Education committees. If you are interested in applying for membership on a Committee please click here for an application.
Committee Information on this Page:
Campus Committee
Co-Chair: Margaret Trout, Willamette University
Co-Chair:
Carl Yeh, University of Oregon
The purpose of the Campus Committee is to promote sexual violence prevention efforts and a victim-centered sexual assault response on college and university campuses. Members of the Campus Committee collaborate to reduce the occurrence and to improve the response to sexual assault at institutions of higher education in Oregon. The goal is to promote the safety and success of students and enhance the quality of their lives. For 2007, Committee work includes disseminating the "Recommended Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexual Assault Response and Prevention on Campus," developing position papers addressing issues of privilege and confidentiality for campus officials and issues relating to student conduct code and drinking violations and sexual assault, developing and publishing a Campus SART Handbook, and planning for the second biennial statewide conference to address sexual assault intervention and prevention on Oregon campuses to be held in 2007. The Campus Committee is comprised of members from 24 Oregon University and college campuses.
- To view Campus Committee minutes click here.
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Criminal Justice Committee
Chair: Darin Tweedt, Oregon Department of Justice
Vice Chair: Lieutenant Steve Bellshaw, Salem Police Department
The purpose of the Criminal Justice Committee is to improve the effectiveness and consistency of the response to sexual offenses. These efforts include improving the sensitivity of the criminal justice system to sexual assault victims and improving the gathering of relevant evidence. In 2005, the Criminal Justice Committee supported five regional law enforcement trainings and one statewide prosecutor training. Committee members assist in the selection of trainers, develop the training curricula, participate in training evaluation and in the development of recommendations for improving future trainings. In addition, the committee is developing an investigation checklist for law enforcement first responders. The Criminal Justice Committee is comprised of representatives from the fields of investigation, prosecution, forensic evidence collection and analysis, and victim advocacy.
- To view Criminal Justice Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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Legislative/Public Policy Committee
Chair: Ronelle Shankle, Oregon Department of Justice
The purpose of the Legislative/Public Policy Committee is to develop, monitor, and advocate for legislation and public policies that best address the issues of adolescent and adult sexual assault. During the 2005 legislative session the Committee was successful in the passage of two bills SB 198 and SB 199. SB198:Personal Representative Bill allows adult victims of person crimes to choose to have some one (advocate, family member, friend) accompany them to and through all appropriate and specified legal and medical proceedings. SB199:Increasing Victim Privacy, creates and protects a victims' right of privacy relating to sexually explicit matters in sexual assault cases, and some other cases. Upon the request the district attorney or the victim, the court will order the parties to not copy or disseminate matters of a sexually explicit nature without the permission of the court. Certain exceptions may apply for law enforcement and certain service providers.
In 2007, the top priority of the Committee is to pass the Task Force's legislative agenda. Additionally, committee members will monitor legislation and public policy initiatives relating to sexual assault that are developed by other groups and individuals.
This committee is comprised of the Attorney General, statewide public policy experts, advocates, attorneys, and other individuals with expertise or interest in legislative and public policy work.
- To view Legislative & Public Policy Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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Medical Forensic Committee
Chair: Cindy Smith, UO University Health Center
The primary goal of the Medical Forensic Committee is to develop an effective medical response to and standardize the care of sexual assault victims throughout the state of Oregon. Other goals include ensuring that all forensic medical exams in Oregon are performed by a SANE or a specially trained medical examiner. In 2005, the Committee supported Oregon’s first Acute Child Abuse Response Training for medical practitioners, updated Oregon’s adolescent and adult guidelines for sexual assaulted patients (details), and organized Oregon’s third annual SANE Training.
The Medical Forensic Committee is comprised of SANE nurses, physicians, and public health professionals.
- To view Medical Forensic Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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Offender Management Committee
The purpose of the Offender Management Committee is to specifically address issues relating to the management and treatment of the sexual offenders who commit crimes against adolescents and adults. The goal of the committee is to reduce sexual assault by improving the methods of managing identified and unidentified sex offenders. In 2005, the Committee worked on the articulation of the distinctions and commonalities of child molesters and peer sex offenders, identification of training standards for sex offender treatment providers, and the development of an Oregon speaker’s bureau to respond to requests for presentations about sex offenders.
The Offender Management Committee is comprised of many of Oregon’s most respected and known leaders in the field of sex offender management. Representatives on the committee are from the corrections, law enforcement, the Parole Board, private and government-based treatment providers, and victim advocates.
- To view Offender Management Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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Prevention and Education Committee
Co-Chair: Samantha Naliboff, Volunteers of America Home Free
Co-Chair: Rebecca Peatow Nickels, Portland Women's Crisis Line
The purpose of the Prevention and Education Committee is to define and promote sexual violence prevention by engaging in activities to increase awareness of sexual violence and prevention strategies, and to provide support, guidance and training relating to sexual violence prevention and education.
2007 priorities for the committee include developing resources for local efforts such as the prevention website www.EndSexualViolenceOregon.org, planning a statewide conference on sexual violence prevention, developing materials and activities for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and engaging in a statewide initiative to prevent sexual violence against individuals with developmental disabilities.
Members of the committee include educators from schools, universities, and non-profit prevention programs as well as prevention experts from statewide entities who share responsibility in overseeing sexual assault prevention efforts in Oregon.
- To view Prevention & Education Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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Research, Evaluation and Data Committee
Chair: Bonnie Braeutigam, Domestic & Sexual Violence Fund Coordinator, CAF, DHS
The purpose of the Data, Evaluation and Research Committee is to guide the efforts of the Task Force as they relate to data identification and collection, program and process evaluation, and Oregon’s sexual assault research agenda. 2007 efforts included publishing the sexual assault data grid that identifies known data sources in Oregon, hosting Oregon’s first Sexual Violence Research Agenda Forum, and assisting committees to conduct effective evaluation of their efforts.
This committee is comprised of individuals with expertise or interest in evaluating data, program and process evaluation, and in developing and monitoring research.
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Steering Committee
Chair: Attorney General Hardy Myers
The purpose of the Steering Committee is to provide guidance to the work of the Task Force. Membership is generally comprised of Chairs/Co-Chairs from each Task Force committee as well as the Attorney General and the Task Force’s Executive Director. The Steering Committee determines the agendas for Task Force meetings and educational sessions, reviews new member applications, conducts new member orientations, and acts as an advisory body to the Task Force staff. Steering Committee membership is limited to appointed Task Force members.
- To view Steering Committee minutes click here.
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Victim Response Committee
Chair: Rebecca Swearingen, Saving Grace
Vice-Chair: Karen Johnston, Grant Co. Victim Assistance Program
The purpose of the Victim Response Committee is to promote an effective and consistent response to sexual assault victims statewide. 2007 priorities include coordinating the annual weeklong Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Training, developing “best practice” standards and guidelines for victim response, and identifying resources to support advocates in the field. The Mental Health Subcommittee is a subcommittee of the Victim Response Committee and is working to improve access to quality and trained mental health professionals and services for survivors of sexual violence.
The Victim Response committee is comprised of victim advocates from non-profit and DA-based programs and individuals from statewide groups whose responsibilities include advocating for sexual assault survivors.
- To view Victim Response Committee minutes click here.
- To view the committee slot list click here.
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