According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, there was a 15 percent increase in the number of rapes reported to police in Maine in 2007. Although alarming, we don’t really know whether this means the number of rapes is increasing or if more victims are reporting the crime. We hope it is the latter, as we have been working in our communities to provide sexual assault victims with a more sensitive and coordinated response.

The Sexual Assault Crisis Center began Maine’s first Sexual Assault Response Team in 1996. SARTs are interdisciplinary teams comprised of law enforcement, prosecution, health care and victim advocates. These disciplines work together to support an informed and sensitive response to this devastating crime. The SART coordinator provides support and advocacy to victims to help them navigate the criminal justice system.

Since the inception of SART, we have seen the reporting rate for sexual assaults nearly double in this community. Of the people who report a sexual assault to the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, almost 70 percent now also report the crime to the police.

As we learn more about the prevalence of sexual violence and reporting trends, we will use this information to better inform our prevention efforts, working to end this violence. In the meantime, victims/survivors and their loved ones can receive support and services by calling the statewide sexual assault crisis and support line at 1-800-871-7741, 24-hours a day.

Until sexual violence ends, we will be here to help.

Marty McIntyre, Auburn

Executive Director, Sexual Assault Crisis Center