Rape and sexual assault are devastating. Victims experience paralyzing fear, depression, and self-loathing. Their ability to be physically and emotionally intimate with others may be destroyed.

For male victims, the problems are compounded by taboo, disbelief, homophobia, and a lack of resources to help. For child victims, serious emotional and developmental impairments can occur, opening the door to more serious difficulties like teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and criminal behavior.

Moreover, victims aren't the only ones harmed. The shock waves emanating from such violent experiences rattle the lives of parents, spouses, children, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. These "secondary survivors" need resources to care for themselves as they support victims through recovery.

Costs to victims and society:

Tangible and intangible costs average $86,500 per victim. Victims' costs nationwide total $127 billion annually. Criminal justice system costs average $25,000 - $100,000 per trial. Prison costs per perpetrator average $15,000 - $20,000 annually.
Recognizing the emotional and financial toll of sexual violence on victims, families, and society, the Communities Against Rape (CARe) Initiative formed a commission of experts to examine the status of rape and sexual assault in Indiana. Their strategy for gathering information included surveying rape prevention professionals, conducting focus groups, reviewing codes and guidelines, and interviewing criminal justice professionals.
Many individuals and organizations are already hard at work on these issues. However, Indiana is still a long way from "zero tolerance," as this summary of results and recommendations will demonstrate.