ADVOCACY GROUP FINDS SUPPORT

The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence has begun to see results in bringing law enforcement, social-services agencies, medical personnel and crisis counselors under one roof to handle sexual assault cases.

Bettie Knoll, the group's secretary, said she hopes the organization will have funding and a permanent home within the next 12 months. The group's 12-member board meets monthly, and members of the group meet with the board every other month to hear what progress has been made.

The advocacy group organized late last year to serve children and adult victims of sexual violence. The group's main goal is to prevent retraumatizing sexual assault victims by having to repeat their stories to different officials at different places.

In an average case, a child might have to repeat his story to a teacher and principal, then to a police officer. Then he must repeat it to the Division of Family Services. Then the story also must be told to a counselor and prosecutor.

"That child doesn't want to tell that story over and over again, and neither does the rape victim," Knoll said. "Our goal is to bring all of those people under one roof so the victim can be interviewed and videotaped in one session."

Once the group finds a permanent home, victims will receive medical, legal and social help under one roof, and court advocates will be on hand to assist all victims through the entire legal process, said Knoll. In addition, a child advocacy center will serve young victims of sexual assault and molestation.

Assault victims react differently to their trauma, she said. Some don't talk at all while others only recall portions of what happened. When this happens and various officials have different versions of the same incident, a jury often finds the assailant innocent.

"If it's not in that initial report, the defense attorney will tear it apart, because it causes the jury to question the victim's story," Knoll said. "That's why it's so important to have everyone involved -- especially the emergency room and law enforcement people -- properly trained. I've seen it, and we've lost a lot of cases when the kids are telling the truth."

Knoll said response to the organization has been positive. Both Cape Girardeau hospitals and numerous local medical and social-services agencies are involved, as are citizens in Cape Girardeau and Southern Illinois. But support is much more widespread, she said. Perry County Memorial Hospital at Perryville and social-service workers in Advance and Senath are also involved.

The group has received several donations, as well as a medical instrument needed for a sexual assault medical exam and its corresponding computer equipment. A computer printer compatible with the other equipment is needed, Knoll said.

Efforts are under way to get funding from corporate and private sources, and a local business has tentatively offered to house the organization, she said. Once funding is acquired, the group hopes to hire a full-time director.

"I think this is a community effort," Knoll said. "They all see the problem, and we really believe this is the right way to go about solving it."