Baton Rouge Coroner Wants To Hire More Sexual Assault Nurses

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Sexual assault victims in East Baton Rouge Parish for years have gone to local hospitals for treatment and to be examined for possible physical evidence from an attack. But officials with the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office are now pushing to take over supervision of this work.

The Advocate reports Coroner Dr. Beau Clark recently asked for an extra $490,000 from the city-parish for his 2015 budget proposal, which includes funds to hire four sexual assault nurse examiners.

Clark also wrote the state attorney general last month seeking to clarify his authority over sexual assault investigations.

But some question the need for the change. East Baton District Attorney Hillar Moore III said prosecutors are satisfied with the current system.