NCJ Number
52897
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM IN RURAL WEST VIRGINIA CONCERNING THE NATURE OF RAPE, THE NEEDS OF RAPE VICTIMS, AND THE REVISED STATE RAPE LAW ARE DISCUSSED, AND PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
MANY MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, EMERGENCY SQUAD, AND POLICE GROUPS HAVE HAD LIMITED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH SEXUAL CRIMES IN THE RURAL APPALACHIAN REGION OF THE STATE, AND REACT IN A CONFUSED MANNER WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A RAPE VICTIM. THE CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE APPALACHIAN MENTAL HEALTH CHAPTER IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM AIMED AT DEVELOPING RAPE PREVENTION MEASURES AND ASSURING MORE HUMANE TREATMENT OF RAPE VICTIMS. PROGRAM PRESENTATIONS FOCUSED ON THE NATURE OF MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIPS, THE NEW WEST VIRGINIA SEXUAL ASSAULT LAW WHICH MADE PENALTIES FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES LESS SEVERE AND MADE THE CRIME OF RAPE NON SEX-SPECIFIC, AND ISSUES SUCH AS THE VICTIMS' PART IN CAUSING VICTIMIZATION. SPECIAL PROBLEMS THAT INTERFERED WITH PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND SUCCESS INCLUDED THE INFLUENCE OF CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT SEX ON IDEAS OF RAPE AND RAPE-INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, THE LACK OF VICTIM-ADVOCACY GROUPS IN RURAL AREAS, AND THE WEAK STRUCTURES OF INFORMAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHICH WERE GENERALLY UNDERINFORMED ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FAR REMOVED FROM FORMAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS. IN RURAL AREAS, THE RAPIST IS OFTEN WELL KNOWN TO THE VICTIM AND TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILY, THE VICTIM HAS LESS ANONYMITY THAN URBAN VICTIMS, AND CAREGIVERS HAVE LESS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WORKING WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. IT IS STRESSED THAT COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS SHOULD STRIVE TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY COMPETENCE AND NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR WORKING WITH RAPE VICTIMS. AN OUTLINE OF THE RAPE-PREVENTION PROGRAM SEMINARS AND A RAPE-ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED AT THE SEMINARS IS APPENDED.