According to the most recent crime statistics released from the Memphis Police Department, over 550 sexual assaults were reported in 2000.
While the reported cases of sexual assaults are slightly lower compared to the previous five years, Memphis’ sexual assault statistics continually rank as some of the highest in the nation.
In hoping to reduce the surging sexual assault cases across the nation, April marks the beginning of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
According to Carmen Mills, director of the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center, the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, though generally unknown to some, acts as a starting point to end sexual assaults across the nation.
“The good thing about the awareness month is that it calls attention to the problem,” Mills said. “By looking at the problem, the awareness month is something we need get out.”
Mills said that on average, the MSARC reportedly sees nearly 1,400 cases of sexual assaults per year, and in 2002, the center has already treated 276 cases, on average with the previous years.
According to the Memphis Police Department, the most recent crime reports of rapes is 114 per 100,000. From 2000, 559 forcible rapes were reported. In the city of Memphis, the MSARC reported an average of 3.8 sexual assaults per day. Mills also said that on average, only 16 percent of sexual assaults are reported to authorities.
Of the 1,135 victims treated at the MSARC in 2001, more than half were children. Mills said that teenage females between the ages of 13 to 17 are at greatest risk for a sexual assault. She also added that the number of sexual assaults increases during the summer months and attributes this to students being out for summer vacation.
Mills also stated that areas with higher crime rates often have high sexual assault incidents reported per year.
To help promote the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the MSARC, in conjunction with Hot 107.1 FM, is helping to sponsor “Take the Night Back” a 5K walk hoping to help end sexual violence.
“This is the third annual walk, and each year, we get more people to participate,” Mills said. “Last year, we had about 350 people in the race and this year, we hope to have about 500.”
For more information about the MSARC or “Take the Night Back” marathon, call the MSARC office at (901) 272-2020 or visit the site at www.MSARC.org. Tickets for this Friday’s event cost $12 for pre-registration and $15 for same day registration. The 5K walk begins at 7:30 p.m.
