Police officers, medical personnel, prosecutors and government officials have progressively become more sensitive to victims of sexual and domestic abuse since 1971, when Du Page County State`s Atty. James Ryan was a trial attorney. But he said there is always room for improvement.
At a recent conference on sexual assault, sponsored by the YWCA Du Page District and Glen Oaks Medical Center, Glendale Heights, Ryan said it is vital that police officers, the first ones on the scene after an assault, question and acquire evidence with gentleness and patience.
”Society must change its attitude toward sexual offenses. The victim is not on trial. She is not at fault, yet continues to be reluctant to come forward,” said Ryan.
The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a network of sexual assault centers, and the Illinois Crime Prevention Association, composed of police officers and private security agencies, and city police departments are also striving to improve their approach to victims and reduce crime through educational programs.
Hanover Park police officers recently completed such a program on sexual assault, sponsored by their department and the Community Crisis Center in Elgin.
Educating young adults and perpetrators of violent crimes is the flip side of learning how to treat the victim more effectively. Studies estimate that offenders commit an average of 380 sexual crimes before they are even caught.
In response to more than 245 incidents of domestic violence occurring in this county per month, the Domestic Violence Perpetrator Treatment Program has been made available through the Psychological Services Unit of Du Page County. Abusers can be court mandated or voluntarily enrolled in a comprehensive domestic violence treatment program.
Laws are also continuously questioned and changed to better serve the victim of sexual assault. Congress has reintroduced the Violence Against Women Act, which demands greater penalties for rape, aggravated rape and repeat sex offenders.
In July, Gov. Jim Edgar signed legislation that will allow law-enforcement officials to imprison stalkers before they can harm or kill their victims.
The Illinois Sexual Assault Act, passed in 1984, focuses on the behavior of the offender instead of the victim. This act carries serious penalties for crimes against children, older people and people with disabilities.
It also allows court action in marital rape cases, which one study reports as occurring in one in 10 households.
Gender-motivated crimes may also be redefined as a bias or hate crime against women. This would enable civil right suits to be brought against assailants.
