Infignos Media - Alabama crisis agencies loaded with rape cases

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Alabama crisis agencies loaded with rape cases

Sunday, February 19, 2012

It's been topping headlines almost constantly for the past three months. We've covered rape cases from Gadsden, to Alabaster, Birmingham, and Tuscaloosa. The latest, a 14 year old student at Clay Chalkville High School faces a rape charge after investigators say he raped a fellow student. Those types of reports are drastically increasing for the agencies helping victims. In fact, over the past year, the Birmingham Crisis Center served 4,000 victims through counseling and medical exams. They say, statewide about three rapes are reported every day.

"It's happening in our schools - a lot of times it's not talked about, so it's important to realize this is happening to people at a young age," Meg McGlamery, Director, Birmingham Crisis Center said.

The case from Clay Chalkville High School is one of several recent reports. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Randy Christian told us, "Such a sad story on so many levels. It was awfully brave of this young girl to step forward and demand justice."

"It really does take someone a lot of time to build the courage to tell someone," McGlamery said. "They are scared they're going to be blamed or not believed."

Counselors tell us, it's common for victims to wait several weeks, even months, to report the crime. But a recent mandate, allows victims to wait until they're emotionally ready to file a police report - Meaning, more cases are coming forward.

"Farther down the road when you've had a chance to heal and get a little farther from the sexual assault, that evidence is there in case you do want to pursue a case," Kathy Wells, Executive Director, Safehouse said.

Safehouse in Shelby County works with victims offering counseling, prevention education at schools, even a shelter for women and children needing care.

"There is such a stigma, such a shame associated with it," Wells said. "That's why it is so important to be able to talk about it and let people know that. They feel like it's their fault, and it's not."

Here in Central Alabama ages of victims range from just one year old to 89 years old.

"It's one of those things we want to put the earmuffs on and not talk about. But the truth is, it's happening all around us," McGlamery said.

Here are the links to these organization's websites: http://www.crisiscenterbham.com/ http://www.safehouse.org/

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