Guest commentary: Project HELP is there, cares for all rape victims

We, at Project HELP Crisis Center, are so afraid sexual assault victims (and this includes both females and males, all ages) will continue to walk away from the court process in fear and disgust because of the attention-grabbing headlines which vastly distort the reality of a sexual assault.

We are so proud of all rape victims. They have survived! Those who have walked their healing path through the court-system process have needed additional courage, resiliency and stamina in order to withstand the intense scrutiny in his/her life after a sexual attack.

Rape victims are our neighbors, friends and family members. They are loved ones. They are human beings struggling through life-changing, horrific traumas.

They cry real tears, they feel real fear and they are being shattered daily by the public bashing brought forth through the Kobe Bryant media circus identifying the victim and scrutinizing her past.

At Project HELP Crisis Center we don't ever want a victim to "give up," but with the glare of such a high-profile case and the extreme scrutiny of the victim it has brought with it, it is understandable why he/she would. The perpetrator should be on trial when the time comes, not the victim.

Perpetrators are innocent until proven guilty, but victims (only rape victims) are guilty until proven innocent. What's wrong with a society where the second most invasive (the first being homicide) and emotionally scarring crime has only 1 percent to 2 percent successful prosecution rate in our state?

Less than one-fourth of victims report a sexual assault. Needless to say this is a startling and discouraging figure. We are afraid this figure will become even less in the months and years ahead because victims are afraid of being re-raped by the system.

Rape crisis centers help victims in the immediate aftermath of the assault medically and emotionally, plus help them look at their options. One of these options is reporting crimes to police.

Most people, before this current atmosphere in our society, would advise victims to report in order to stop the rapist from raping someone else. How many fathers and mothers of rape victims will recommend this option now?

Our hotline this year has talked to 227 rape victims; 113 of them have come to the crisis center for counseling. This year we have worked with victims ranging in age from 3 to 80.

This crime is happening here.

When rape victims choose not to report to law enforcement, you and I and our daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers are less safe. Rapists will rape again. Most rapists will rape over and over with increasing escalation of violence until they are stopped -- if they are stopped.

Project HELP Crisis Center is there for all victims of crimes, and as the sole rape crisis center in Collier County we walk the pathway of hope and healing every day. We will be there for victims day and night to provide comfort, solace and support in life's darkest moments.

Victims do not have to report crimes in order to receive free and confidential help from us. They can call our 24-hour hotline at any time, 262-7227.

We care.

Beth Knake is executive director of Project HELP Crisis Center.