Your Role in the Journey
Prevail is A Victim awareness and support program for Hamilton County Prevail, Inc. educates and engages the community to prevent crime and abuse while helping to restore the lives of those who have been affected All services are free of charge
What does Prevail do? Crisis Intervention (available 24/7) Support Groups Individual Services Protective Orders Employment Services Victim Notification Services/Court Support Victim Impact Panel Safe Dates Community Education Collaborate
What I hope to achieve First person account of sexual assault Assist responders in considering the needs of victims and their families. The importance of a victim centered Sexual Assault Response Team and community.
68% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police 98% of rapist will never spend a day in jail Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes.
The Offenders At least 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the victim.
No human interaction is neutral, it is either healing or wounding. Dr. Blount
Meet Michelle Meyer
I am Detective Billingsley of the Fort Wayne Police Department hold on and I will get you out.
Reactions Fear Sadness Isolation Guilt Denial Shame Depression Embarrassment Shock Anger Fear of Being attacked again Not being believed The unknown Trusting Tomorrow Living
Who I became Fearful Uncooperative Sad Unrealistic Angry Going crazy Uncomfortable No interest in activities Isolation/Labeled Numb/Detached Guilt Difficulty Concentrating Depressed Nightmares Withdrawn Loss of Self Esteem Embarrassed Fear of contracting Aids Shocked Confused In denial
When societies expectations regarding the attack are not met, the victim s behavior is often re-examined to fit another scenario that we believe makes more sense.
What I Needed Hospital/Doctor Reassurance Affirmation Information A chance to breathe
What I Needed Detective/Law Enforcement One contact person Empathy Permission to just be Reassurance to feel safe Communication
What I needed from SANE Advocacy Privacy Control Information Be present Medicine Information Kindness
What I needed from Advocacy HOPE Be real Affirmation Explain Be present Listen
What went wrong in my case. Lack of communication Lack of control on my part Knowledge of victim rights Knowledge of Criminal Justice System Uninformed What I needed that I did not know what I needed
The Justice System Can Re- Victimize by.. Granting more rights to the defendant than to the victim Being an on-going reminder of the trauma Triggering panic attacks Disaffirming the significance of the assault via the type of charges filed, if any Alienating the victim via lack of information on: The criminal case, Status of the offender, The often confusing criminal justice process.
What does it mean to be Victim Centered?
Victim Centered Ensuring victims have the best and most comprehensive services available
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) A multidisciplinary team providing victim centered response and high quality care to survivors of sexual assault.
Who is on your SART? Who is missing from you SART?
Engage and Educate the Community
If communication is good, then everything else falls into place
What I lost Security Innocence Relationships Independence Self confidence My future as I knew it Car Home Eventually my job Three years of life Freedom to run outside Privacy my life
What went very right James Irby Received 210 years Pled guilty, convicted of: Rape, Kidnapping, Criminal Deviate Conduct, Armed Robbery, Carjacking, Conspiracy/Armed Robbery, Burglary. Bennie Copeland Received 70 years Pled guilty, convicted of: Rape, Criminal Deviate Conduct, Aiding/Kidnapping, Conspiracy/Armed Robbery. Antoine Netherly Received 320 years Case dismissed but convicted in other incidents of: Rape Kidnapping Burglary Criminal Confinement Armed Robbery Carjacking Criminal deviate conduct
Why you are needed Victims are 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol 26 times more likely to abuse drugs 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide 3 times more likely to suffer from depression 6 times more likely to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder
Secondary Victims Victims friends and families are often overlooked They can be just as traumatized as the victim Families and friends should be informed about: What they may expect from the victim physically and emotionally How they can be supportive and helpful Services available for them
Remember I am your sister, daughter, brother, son, mother, grandmother, friend
How did I get here today Faith Art Chris Family Friends Prosecutor Therapy Victim Assistance Journaling TRUST Educating myself on stakeholders in criminal and victim worlds Advocating Testimony of survivors My Children Taking it one day at a time
Victory is knowing that you fought for me no matter the outcome. Kristina Korobov
Thank YOU! Contact Information Michelle Corrao michellecorrao@gmail.com michelle@prevailinc.com www.michellecorrao.com
RAINN - Statistics References