I received this press release today:
PEORIA, IL—The CENTER for PREVENTION of ABUSE believes that all persons deserve the right to live free from violence, regardless of “collateral” issues.
In recent news articles and coverage of the arrest(s) of Monterius Hinkle, it has been suggested by local leadership that female victims of violence are held to a higher standard by prosecutors and juries than their assailants. Martha Herm, Executive Director at The CENTER for PREVENTION of ABUSE, and Julie Boland, Program Director of the Sexual Assault Service program, assert that it is the community and those who commit violent acts that should be the ones held to the highest scrutiny.
Herm and Boland assert:
- “Each one of us must learn to separate the victim’s life and actions from those of the perpetrator. We need to draw a box around the incident. The bottom line is…did someone commit an act of violence against another’s will? YES or NO?
- What a sad message we’re sending to those who have been victimized that they shouldn’t come forward because they won’t be able to get help. In crimes of sexual assault, victims are small children, teens and college students, they are mature women and seniors who may live by themselves or in long term care facilities. They are boys and men. It happens in all socio-economic circles. No one is immune.
- All members of our community deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness. That treatment must start with the criminal justice system, but can’t end there. It is critical that we work together to change the attitudes of everyone in central Illinois. Even if the police arrest the rapist and the prosecutor takes him to court, the decision of what happens next is often in our hands. We must hold sexual predators accountable for their actions. We must ask ourselves how we would want to be treated if we were victimized. We must stop blaming victims in order to excuse the crimes of their attacker.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, there is help. The CENTER for PREVENTION of ABUSE is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide help and hope to those who have been harmed at the hands of another. To get help or to learn more, please call 309-691-0551.
I can only assume that this is in response to cases where the alleged victim has a reputation for being promiscuous. Is there something specific that motivated this press release?
Yes. It’s State’s Attorney Kevin Lyon’s subtly blaming the victim.
And who is to blame when its an 80 year old lady in her own home not bothering anybody? I have to agree with the group it shouldn’t make any difference who, what, where, or when a person is a victim. They suffered just the same. I’ve worked in the child abuse program and seen way too much of it.