Sexual Assault Response Team offers much-needed services

Seventy-three sexual assault cases have already been reported to Middle Way House so far in 2009.

Moreover, for every reported rape, three to 10 go unreported, said Toby Strout, Middle Way House executive director.

These statistics are especially important for American college women, of whom as many as one in four will experience unwanted sexual intercourse while attending college.

These jaw-dropping and downright disheartening statistics explain the importance of the recent formation of a county-wide Sexual Assault Response Team.
The response team is intended to aid victims of sexual assault and offer guidance through their trauma.

“The protocol describes the SART as a community-based effort to coordinate resources to respond effectively to sexual assault incidents and collect evidence with sensitivity for the victim,” according to an IU press release.

Going to the police can be excruciatingly difficult for the victims of sexual assault. SART aims to keep the option of legal prosecution on the table while the victim deals with emotional and interpersonal issues surrounding the assault by providing free hospital care through a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and an advocate to explain the victim’s legal rights.

This is a fantastic development sure to greatly benefit the Bloomington community as well as the population of IU. Monroe County is setting a meritorious example for neighboring counties such as Owen and Greene that plan to model SART programs after that of Monroe County.

While the heart of the matter, the fact that so many sexual assaults occur on college campuses in the first place, tragically remains in full force, taking the appropriate steps to adequately assist victims is a crucial contribution to the well-being of the community.

Ensuring that these victims will eventually be able to take legal action and offering them help is a great cause.

SART will hopefully play a large role in aiding Monroe County’s sexual assault victims and provide a working example for other Indiana counties to follow suit.