Townhall II assists sexual assault victims

From Jan. 1, 2008 to Sept. 23, 2013, the Kent Police Department have taken 54 reports of rape.

According to RAINN, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, one in six women and one in 33 men have experienced an attempted or competed rape. 80 percent of rape victims are under the age of 30.

Though the age range of victims in the rape reports to the Kent police was from age 3 to age 44, the majority of those raped were in their late teens or early twenties.

Lieutenant Jim Prusha with the Kent Police said he thinks some victims may feel embarrassed, or feel the incident was their fault and don’t want people to know about it, and that could be why only 54 rapes reported within the last five years in Kent.

Townhall II, whose mission is to promote the health, wellness and recovery of individuals through prevention, education, advocacy, intervention and treatment, gets between 50 and 100 crisis calls per year, and within the last 12 months has had 75 calls.

Paul Dagas, coordinator of the crisis helpline, said Townhall II takes a wide variety of calls from people who have just been raped, been raped in the past, are victims of incest or sexual harassment, or are calling for someone else.

Prusha said another reason many who may be victims of rape don’t report it is because the process of reporting can be uncomfortable.

[pullquote]We try to be as compassionate as possible while still doing a complete, thorough job. — Lt. Jim Prusha[/pullquote]”The investigation process is very detailed and thorough,” said Prusha. “But it is necessary for successful charges and prosecution. We try to be as compassionate as possible while still doing a complete, thorough job. The last thing we want to see is for a rapist to be found not guilty because of a shoddy investigation. We hope victims can realize this.”

If someone wanted to report a rape, Prusha said they would call or go to the police department to be interviewed about the details of what happened. They, and any witnesses, would be asked to write a statement, and police would collect any evidence relating to the incident. Prusha said if there is a possibility evidence exists in or on the person’s body, they would be referred to a hospital for a medical exam. The victim would then be asked follow-up questions and interviewed by detectives.

Following the reporting and collection of evidence, a victim’s advocate would be assigned to assist the victim through any court proceedings such as a grand jury and trial.

“I don’t believe this will ever become a comfortable topic,” he said. “Police have to know the details of what happened and victims are usually sent to a hospital for a medical exam. Police may be able to have representatives give speeches to explain the investigation process, but social service agencies, schools, churches, media sources, etc. can all work to improve the likelihood that a victim may file a report.”

Cindy Bloom, victim prevention and outreach services coordinator at Townhall II, has several responsibilities at Townhall II, including educating students on what is consent, warning signs of dating violence, and being and active bystander. She also coordinates the victim outreach program, trains advocates, responds to 24/7 advocacy requests, and coordinates the Townhall II Teen Team.

Bloom said one reason for discrepancy of numbers between rapes reported and rapes that happen could be because the survivors are afraid, embarrassed, ashamed, and just want to forget what has happened to them.

She said reporting to the police is a decision victims of rape have to make on their own, and although they have a very different job than advocates, by doing their job they give the person time to process the traumatic event that has happened to them, call them an advocate to support them, and avoid blaming.

“Townhall II does not give advice,” she said regarding the crisis hotline, “we educate on all options with no pressure to make one decision or another, give referrals and resources, and give support, encouragement and empowers.”

Degas said victims deal with the incident in different ways, and Townhall II is there to support them.

“Some are helped by calling, some by counseling, some by support groups, some non of the above,” Degas said. “We don’t force anything on anyone because everyone needs something different.”

Bloom said there are many resources available in Kent or nearby for those who have been raped, including Townhall II, which offers advocacy services, crisis hotline services, support groups and counseling.

“Rape is never, ever, no matter what, the victim’s fault,” said Bloom. “Take care of yourself. Be patient and kind to yourself. Reach out to Townhall II advocates if you need help or support: we are trained, always available and we care greatly. For those who know someone who has been raped, do not pressure the survivor to make any decisions. Believe them, don’t blame then, and refer them for help.”