BATON ROUGE (LA) - STOP RAPE CRISIS CENTER

• NCJ Number: 60498
• Author(s): D WHITCOMB; D A DAY; L R STUDEN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 90 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-030-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT

Annotation

AN AID FOR IMPROVING RAPE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, THIS MANUAL DESCRIBES THE SERVICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE STOP RAPE CRISIS CENTER (SRCC) IN BATON ROUGE, LA., ESTABLISHED IN 1975 WITH A GRANT FROM LEAA.

Abstract

TO LINK CRIMINAL JUSTICE GOALS (INCREASE THE REPORTING OF RAPE AND THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS) WITH VICTIM SUPPORT GOALS (INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN PROGRAM SERVICES AND REDUCE VICTIMS' TRAUMA), THE BATON ROUGE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CREATED THE SROC AS ONE OF 10 SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. THIS AFFILIATION GREATLY ENHANCES THE CENTER'S CREDIBILITY IN DEALING WITH OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, THE PUBLIC, AND POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL RAPE VICTIMS. IN ADDITION, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ACTIVE SPONSORSHIP OF THE RAPE PROGRAM HAS GUARANTEED THAT RAPE CASES WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION FROM PROSECUTORS, AND IT HAS ENHANCED COORDINATION AMONG PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. ONE OF THE SRCC'S MOST IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS IS ITS CAPABILITY OF GIVING FREE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT TO RAPE VICTIMS. TWO HOSPITALS SUPPLY PRIVATE TREATMENT ROOMS FOR RAPE VICTIMS, AND 12 PHYSICIANS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO GIVE TREATMENT. IN ADDITION, PUBLIC SUPPORT COMES IN THE FORM OF SERVICES FURNISHED BY 60 WOMEN VOLUNTEERS AND FREE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON RADIO AND LOCAL TELEVISION. THE SRCC APPROACH TO RAPE CRISIS ASSISTANCE IS DETAILED IN THIS REPORT, WHICH FOCUSES ON THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE, THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE SERVICES OF A TRAINED ESCORT COUNSELOR, AND PHYSICIANS' USE OF A RAPE EVIDENCE KIT. PROJECT COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE PROJECT SUCCESSES. RESULTS OF A CLIENT SURVEY POINT TO A HIGH RATE OF SATISFACTION--86 PERCENT RATED SRCC'S SERVICES 'EXCELLENT' AND 14 PERCENT DESCRIBED THEM AS 'GOOD.' THE ARREST RATE FOR REPORTED RAPES CLIMBED FROM 38 TO 69 PERCENT, AND THE CONVICTION RATE JUMPED FROM 3 TO 88 PERCENT. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND SEVERAL CENTER PLANNING AND OPERATING DOCUMENTS WHICH MAY BE OF USE IN PLANNING AND OPERATING A SIMILAR PROJECT ARE APPENDED.