Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and I'd like to honor the importance of this month by discussing a form of sexual assault that is a critical issue still affecting women and girls -- acquaintance rape and its lack of prosecution.

While many of us tend to think of "stranger danger" and dark alleys when we think of rape, the reality is that acquaintance rapes account for over 70 percent of all sexual assaults. The nature of acquaintance rape and society's reaction to it often present further problems for victims beyond coping with what happened to them.

Acquaintance rapes are the least frequently reported type of sexual assault and the hardest to prosecute. Often the perpetrator of the assault claims the sexual contact was consensual, and there are usually no witnesses. The lack of "hard" evidence in acquaintance rape allegations results in many cases being thrown out by law enforcement agencies or prosecutors.

Recently, the Chicago Justice Project published a report that shows the Chicago Police Department categorized 17 percent of sexual assault allegations between 2000-2009 as "unfounded," meaning they did not feel there was enough evidence to prove that an assault actually occurred. This rate is three times the national average, and most of these cases were instances of acquaintance rape.

In addition to the issues with law enforcement, survivors of acquaintance rape suffer the same depression, grief and trauma as those who did not know their attackers. Many of us are familiar with the recent news story about Elizabeth Seeberg, who reported being sexually assaulted by a Notre Dame football player and died nine days later from an overdose of prescription medication. In this case, the university allowed the student athlete to continue playing football despite the allegations against him and did not interview him until 14 days after the incident was reported. The case was ultimately dismissed because of Elizabeth's death.

In spite of many public awareness campaigns over the last 20 years, acquaintance rape remains an issue across the country and in Illinois. In a survey of more than 6,000 students at 32 colleges and universities in the U.S., data showed that one in four women had been victims of rape or attempted rape and 84 percent of victims knew their attacker. Yet only five percent had reported it to the police. Women and girls will continue to be reluctant to come forward if these cases are not treated as a priority by law enforcement.

These examples and statistics underscore the critical importance of believing victims of acquaintance rape. Most victims of sexual assault are asked to recount the details of their assault several times -- to medical staff, law enforcement officials, state's attorneys, and others -- and each time can feel like reliving the assault all over again. The only way we can truly support victims of acquaintance rape is if we advocate for school and law enforcement officials to believe them. Otherwise, perpetrators of this type of sexual assault will never have to face consequences for their actions, and they will be more likely to assault in the same way again. And victims will continue to either remain silent or discover that their word is not enough to prove what happened to them. Neither is right.

So this Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let's all commit to being advocates for victims of sexual assault in any form. Whether it's challenging our criminal justice system or simply telling a friend who confides in us, let's all rally around this important message: "I believe you."

 

Follow Christine Bork on Twitter: www.twitter.com/YWCAChicagoCEO

Comments

[Puck342]

11:33 AM on 04/07/2011

I'm confused by this article. Is it calling for more people to simply articulate their belief in the claims of a potential rape victim? Because that makes sense.

But it also seems to be saying that the police should do more, go farther, on just the words of a given individual. I'm honestly not sure, for the article seems to be rubberbanding between various issues that aren't directly connected; like a university not looking into a start athlete, and acquaintance rape being the most under-reported type of rape. I just don't see a clear message from the author, aside from saying "I believe you", but once again, given the repeated reference to a lack of proper material remonstration, I feel like that would have to imply more. For such an incredibly serious topic, perhaps a more clearly written and conceived article?

I think that the lack of reporting and prosecuting of sexual crimes is atrocious, but we (in theory) have due process in this country. No one should be convicted of anything based purely on a single person's testimony, in the total absence of any physical evidence, that is just a material step that we as a society cannot afford to take.

Unappetizing as it is at times, both defendants and accusers have rights in our country and our legal system. A he-said, she-said case unfortunately cannot be simply resolved by choosing to believe one party.

[dbrett480]

02:58 PM on 04/07/2011

An officer may believe the victim based on sheer gut instinct. But that is meaningless if there is no other evidence. He said/she said cases can't be prosecuted if the only evidence is what one person said.

[gravamen]

05:42 PM on 04/07/2011

Acquaintance rape takes place primarily on college campuses, and often fits the 'he said/she said' scenario. Although such cases are usually not prosecuted, the guidance letter sent to schools and universities this week from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights states that "police investigations or reports are not determinative of whether sexual harassment or violence violates" civil rights laws. "Conduct may constitute unlawful sexual harassment ... even if the police do not have sufficient evidence of a criminal violation." The newly stated guidelines also demand that institutions consider such allegations under the "more likely than not" standard of evidence, rather than the stricter "clear and convincing" standard that some now use.

[ChangeAgent007]

11:16 AM on 04/07/2011

I was a victim of this type of sexual assault. I didn't even know it could be categorized that way until 15 years later. All the anger, depression, and trauma after that makes much more sense now. I think girls need to be talked to specifically about what is acceptable and what is not and what to do if something does happen. I know there are efforts already happening, but more is needed.

I am starting a women's group at my center that is specifically for women with disabilities who have been victims of sexual assault. I would like to see if there is a way to incorporate more preventative measures. It's a place to start.

[gravamen]

11:12 AM on 04/07/2011

I agree that the issue isn't necessarily that the victim isn't believed. In the Notre Dame case, Ms Seeberg received a text threatening retaliation from the football team if she reported the assault....hard to doubt her story after that. Yet the police waited 14 days to question her attacker, and nothing ever happened to the texter. The problem with the Notre Dame case, as in many others, is that the campus police conducted the investigation. There is a huge conflict of interest when a police force reports to an entity for whom the publicity surrounding such crimes can be devastating, particularly when it's ND and a football player is involved.

[dbrett480]

02:56 PM on 04/07/2011

Campus police departments, especially in private universities, are not known for their judicial independence. They answer to the college administrative staff, and if the dean doesn't like what an officer does he can overrule it and even fire the officer.

[dbrett480]

07:36 PM on 04/06/2011

The issue isn't whether or not law enforcement officers believe the victims. I work in law enforcement and I believe that most sexual assault victims are telling the truth, but without corroborating evidence the district attorney cannot prosecute many of these cases.