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Midland County SART reports high SAFE-accompaniment rate, flags challenges in follow-up and prosecutions
Summary
Midland County’s Sexual Assault Response Team reported a 96% SAFE exam accompaniment rate but noted low indictment rates, case delays and difficulty contacting survivors after exams; SART proposed coordination, training and survivor-centered communications to improve outcomes.
The Midland County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) presented its biennial report to the Commissioners Court on Jan. 6, detailing services and interagency coordination from September 2023 through August 2025. Lee Anne McCombs, SART coordinator and adult client advocate with the Midland Rape Crisis & Children’s Advocacy Center, said the team convened quarterly to review cases, align protocols and prioritize survivor-centered practices.
The report showed Midland Memorial Hospital conducted 100 adult SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam) exams during the period; advocates accompanied survivors at 96% of those exams. "Despite this decline [in exam numbers], hospital advocates maintained consistent coverage and provided timely, compassionate responses, achieving a 96% accompaniment rate," the SART report states, a point McCombs reiterated to the court. The SART credited trained SANE nurses, MRCCAC advocates and cross-agency coordination for that performance.
The report, however, flagged systemic challenges. Data supplied by law enforcement for the reporting period showed 95 adult sexual assaults investigated by the Midland Police Department and 38 by the Midland County Sheriff’s Office; of those combined investigations only eight indictments were reported. The SART noted lengthy laboratory processing and turnover among prosecutors contributed to delays. "Conviction rates remain low, and relatively few cases reach the grand jury stage," the report said, recommending joint trainings, protocol reviews and regular case reviews to reduce stalled cases and improve prosecutions.
SART members also highlighted difficulties sustaining survivor contact after the initial SAFE exam. The team recommended survivor‑centered outreach, coordinated communications across agencies, and reviewing unsuccessful contact attempts at future SART meetings. The SART’s SAFE accompaniment program numbers and the case review of a December 2023 incident were cited as evidence that immediate response and advocacy are strong, while later-stage engagement remains a gap.
The Commissioners Court formally acknowledged receipt of the SART biennial report. The report recommends strengthening case timelines, expanding joint trainings, and continuing to prioritize trauma‑informed, survivor‑centered practices. The SART will return to the court with updates and proposed steps for interagency follow-up and training schedules.
