Forum to help victims of sexual assault

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 3/13/03

Agencies in Mille Lacs County are trying to help victims of sexual assault. But first, they need help from the victims.

The Sexual Assault Multi-disciplinary Action Response Team (SMART) have hosted three community forums to better help victims.

And two more forums are scheduled for Milaca and Onamia this month to get feedback from victims and their family and friends.

SMARTís mission is to develop and implement a consistent, victim centered response to sexual assault which promotes healing, is culturally sensitive, and leads to increased offender accountability.

Representatives from agencies throughout the county are part of SMART, including all county law enforcement agencies, Pearl Battered Womenís/Sexual Violence Resource Center, Mille Lacs Health Systems, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Five County Mental Health, the Mille Lacs Band Womenís Project and the Mille Lacs County Attorneyís office.

The agencies have come together to help victims by having a better understanding of what needs to be improved - from the hospital to the criminal justice system.

An extensive survey has been created for victims. The survey is completely confidential and can be anonymous.

The survey asks questions about the actions taken by agencies after the assault was reported.

Questions range from the victimís experience with the 911 operator to the respect the victim felt with law enforcement officers to the comfort of the medical exam.

The survey also addresses the criminal justice system and how that was handled as well.

The agencies involved in SMART are working together now more than ever and victims have a rare opportunity to improve the system that is there to help them.

Geri Klug, SMART Coordinator, encourages residents to attend the forum saying, "They can show support of issues and a willingness to address what they feel needs to be changed.

"This is a very unique opportunity for them to tell the system what is good for them, rather than the system telling them whatís good for them."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the SMART organization wants to hear from you, whether it occurred in this county or not.

The forums will feature speaker Lydia Newlin of the Minnesota Center for Crime Victim Services.

Klug and Cinnamon Quale, American Indian Womenís Advocate and Sexual Assault Outreach Coordinator at Pearl, say thereís a large number of women who are not reporting sexual assault. They feel societyís perception that women are at fault may be the main reason why theyíre not reporting it.

"Weíve put it upon womenís shoulders to prevent sexual assault rather than the men being responsible for their actions," Klug said of society in general.

Since the beginning of 2003, there have been 11 sexual assaults reported in Mille Lacs County of women and men ages 12 and over. Pearl representatives say there are likely a lot more that have not been reported.

Quale points out that for all those victims who havenít reported the assault, thereís that many perpetrators who havenít been arrested and held accountable.

The Milaca forum is scheduled Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Milaca High School Choir Room.

The Onamia forum is scheduled Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Onamia High School Cafeteria.