Justice That Endures : Strengthening Laws. Protecting Survivors.

For many survivors, trauma-informed care at GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination and Domestic Violence (SAFE & DV) and Child Protection Program is a first step toward healing. Those who opt to hold their offenders accountable may never see the powerful network of leaders working behind the scenes to ensure that care leads to justice, accountability, and long-term protection.  

Survivor care does not begin and end in an exam room. It is strengthened — or weakened — by the laws that govern evidence collection, the policies that shape investigations, and the prosecutors who bring cases to court. 

GBMC’s SAFE nurses provide compassionate medical care while carefully documenting and preserving forensic evidence. They understand that healing requires more than treatment; it requires dignity, validation, and access to trusted community partners. As Katie O’Malley, Executive Director of the Women’s Law Center of Maryland has shared, the SAFE Program ensures that seeking care after an assault does not cause further harm. Many of the Women’s Law Center’s clients have been served by this unit, and the program plays a vital role in helping survivors move forward with both support and strength.   

In accepting recognition among the inaugural Circle of Advocates, Maryland State Senator Shelly Hettleman (D-11) praised those who work directly with victims. “It’s only through letting survivors know that they have a safe space to come to, like here,” she said, “where their choices will be respected and where they can get the support they need that more folks will become comfortable reporting this horrific crime.” 

Lawmakers like Sen. Hettleman have worked to remove systemic barriers that once prevented survivors from pursuing justice. Sen. Hettleman has led landmark reforms to standardize how rape kits are handled across Maryland, extend evidence retention requirements to 75 years, and secure funding to ensure kits are tested. These changes mean that a survivor’s ability to seek justice no longer depends on geography or outdated policies. 

Former Speaker of the House of Delegates Adrienne Jones (D-10), also an inaugural Circle of Advocates honoree, has also advanced critical legislation to strengthen the infrastructure supporting survivors, including improvements to sexual assault evidence kit preservation and establishing a statewide funding stream for comprehensive domestic violence programs. These reforms directly impact SAFE teams and multidisciplinary partners, reinforcing consistent, trauma-informed responses across jurisdictions.  

And when cases move forward, prosecutors like Deputy State’s Attorney Lisa Fox Dever ensure that the evidence collected with such care is used effectively in court. With more than three decades dedicated to prosecuting sexual violence, child abuse, and domestic violence cases, Dever has worked closely with SAFE nurses and Sexual Assault Response Teams to strengthen investigations and improve outcomes for victims. Her victim-centered approach reflects the importance of collaboration between medical professionals and the justice system and was one reason GBMC honored her as a member of the inaugural Circle of Advocates.  

As attorney, advocate, and GBMC HealthCare Board member Michelle Siri has said, systems change when those with power, resources, and expertise choose to use them on behalf of survivors. When laws are strengthened, when evidence is preserved, and when professionals are trained to respond with skill and compassion, the impact is profound: more survivors come forward, more cases are resolved, and more families find protection.  

GBMC is proud to stand at the intersection of care and justice. With generous community support, the SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program will continue to serve as both a place of healing—and a critical link in a system working behind the scenes to protect survivors across Maryland.