Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. announced the appointment of Rosie Martinez, Victims Unit Director to the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force “Subject Matter Expert Advocate Group” of the Office of the Governor of Texas (SASTF). The Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force was created by House Bill 1590 during the 86th Legislative Session. The task force is overseen by the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office and seeks to establish a survivor-centered, trauma-informed collaborative and coordinated response to sexual violence experienced by adults and children in Texas. The work of the SASTF is divided into five project areas: forensic exams and evidence kits; policies and best practices for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of sexual assault; training and resources for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges; improvements to the collection and reporting of data related to sexual assault; and a statewide inventory of resources for survivors.
The Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office will collaborate with the SASTF in the area of Subject Matter Expert (SME) Advocate Group. This will allow our office to contribute and collaborate with state agencies and stakeholders in public policy and legislation to improve victim services, increase prevention education for sexual abuse and develop best practices to assist victim of sexual assault in the State of Texas.
Martinez is a nationally accredited Victim Intervention Specialist with a designation of Advanced Level with 20 years of victim services experience in system based and community based programs. She serves in several national, state, regional and local boards, committees, and task forces as an expert in the victim services field. Her contribution to this new task force will allow our region to develop and improve victim services in Hidalgo County. Our office will continue to collaborate with national, state, regional and local agencies to improve victim services to victims of crime.
.){kind=link}