LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: A FEELING OF INVASION NOT HELPED BY PAPER

To the Editor:

About two weeks ago, a friend of mine was awakened in her bed by a former neighbor man who had broken into her home and was holding her down. Through her quick thought and action, she was able to escape out the door and avoid serious physical trauma. There remains a feeling of invasion, of not being safe in her home and thoughts of "why am I the victim?"

The next day a full account of these events was on the Southeast Missourian's front page, including her exact address. This information is now available to any unbalanced person in the area as well as the victimizer's family and friends. This knowledge is very discouraging for someone who is trying to maintain the courage to prosecute this man so he doesn't attack again. There is a strong probability that he will be released from jail in a short time and angry with the victim. The victim has felt it necessary to stay with friends during this ordeal.

Since reading her address in the paper, I have felt that she was being unnecessarily re-victimized and placed further at risk. In the past week, I have informally asked ten of my colleagues, all mental health professionals, what they thought about printing her address in the paper. Every one felt she was being re-victimized by the newspaper. They had various comments regarding the newspaper's action:

-- "Are they callous or just unaware? They aren't supposed to print sexual assault victim's names or addresses."

-- "Now any (unbalanced person) in town can call her or go by her house."

-- "She should sue the newspaper but that won't get her privacy back."

-- "Just a general area of town or street name would have been enough information for the public."

I know that the Southeast Missourian Newspaper has always been a strong advocate of protecting victim's right and has encouraged Cape Girardeau to be a "caring community." For those who have access to confident or sensitive information about someone who has been traumatized and victimized, please be careful what you do with that information. It is important to avoid further victimizing a person who is already dealing with a traumatic situation.

JOHN BOYD

Community Counseling Center

Cape Girardeau