The statistics are startling: Each year, about 293,000 women, men and children are sexually abused or assaulted in the U.S. An American is assaulted at the rate of one every 107 seconds.
Perhaps even more startling, however, is the number of cases that go unreported. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 68 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police and an astounding 98 percent of perpetrators will not go to jail for their crimes.
Those numbers might be different in West Virginia, but victim advocates and law enforcement don't know for sure. Thanks to a $448,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department, the state Division of Justice and Community Services will conduct a three-year study to find out how many West Virginians are victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, the Gazette-Mail's Erin Beck reported.
The study will ask West Virginians several questions: whether they've been victimized, their willingness to ask law enforcement for help, their perceptions of the criminal justice system and community safety, and their knowledge of victim services and local crime policy, among other topics, Beck reported.
Victim advocates say having a clear picture of the number of sexual assaults and domestic violence cases can help them better tailor their services. Previously, prevention services were targeted toward so-called "stranger danger" with the thought that most rapes were perpetrated by strangers to the victim. But research has shown about 75 to 85 percent of victims know the assailant.
Intimate partner violence - together with rural locations, lack of public transportation, sparse resources and other obstacles - often prevent victims from seeking help. Advocates hope the study changes that.
"People who are out in the most rural areas may have difficulty getting the services and help they might need," said Joyce Yedlosky, team coordinator for the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Finding out who is victimized and why they don't report crimes against them is important. Not only will law enforcement and advocacy groups get a better understanding of who is victimized, they'll also know how to tailor their resources to better serve and educate the community.
Perhaps we'll begin to see the stigma associated with these crimes drop off and more victims reach out for help.