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Posted: 1/11/10

Reports and scares about date rape have plagued the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City.

In December, it was reported that two young women were drugged and later date raped after attending Howl at the Moon.

Detective Catherine Johnson, of Kansas City Police Department Sex Crimes, said date rapes are not currently tracked.

In 2009, there were 282 reports filed that fell under the classification of rape, sodomy or sexual assault.
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“The number of reports taken has risen from 2008 to 2009 (237 in 2008 vs 282 in 2009),” Johnson said. “I cannot say that the rise in reports has anything to do with the Power and Light. It could very easily be an increase in reporting due to community education, not an actual increase in the number of crimes. Rape is a highly under-reported crime.”

Alison Jones-Lockwood, of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, told KMBC most date rapes go unreported.

“I would say we see drug-facilitated sexual assaults on a pretty regular basis,” Jones-Lockwood said.

The Kansas City Police Department educates their officers on date rape drugs. One of their educational tools, a PowerPoint presentation, is available on the U-News Web site.

The presentation highlights several date rape drugs, their forms and their effects.

The top drug used to facilitate sexual assault is alcohol. It is involved in 75 percent of attacks, according to Suite101, an online publication.

Johnson said there are a number of reasons that this is the case.

“A perpetrator is only going to use the amount of force necessary to render the victim unable to resist,” Johnson said. “Who needs force when there is alcohol? Remember, rape is not about sex. It is about power and control.”

Often, drugs such as gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), rohylpnol (roofies) and Ecstasy are used in date rapes. GHB and roofies can be dissolved in a drink.

One way to avoid concerns is to get a new drink once you set yours down.

“It only takes a second for someone to put something in your drink and it will most likely take affect before you recognize that you have been drugged,” Johnson said. “Do not accept drinks from anyone – even someone you know.”

Avoiding date rape, or sexual assault in general, is about being careful, Johnson said.

“The best advice I can give to young people to avoid being victimized is to be aware and be responsible. Drink responsibly. Know the affects that alcohol has with any medications (over the counter, herbal or prescription) you may be taking. Avoid consuming alcohol when using these medications.”

She also recommends going out in groups.

“Keep an eye on your friends and if you begin to notice that they are acting out of character, get them out of the situation,” Johnson said. “In some situations, it may be necessary to get the person to a hospital for medical treatment.”

She said a predator wants to separate the victim from the crowd.

“Whether it is to follow them to the bathroom, follow them outside or follow them home. Listen to your gut. If the hair on the back of your neck stands up or that guy talking to you is giving you the creeps – listen to it.”

Finding help

If a person believes they have been raped, call 9-1-1 or respond to an area hospital immediately. St. Luke’s Healthcare Systems (Plaza, Northland and East locations), Truman Medical Center and North Kansas City Hospital all have dedicated sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE).

“The SANE will collect evidence to be used to build a case if the person wishes to pursue criminal charges, but just as important, the SANE will provide medical treatment,” Johnson said.

There are several options for victim support. Missouri Crisis Line is available at 816-531-0233.

UMKC also has several resources available for victims.

Marita Barkis, Ph.D., director of the UMKC Counseling, Health and Testing Center, said they see people in many different circumstances.

“We see students who know that they have experienced date rape,” Barkis said. “Other times, people are somewhat uncertain if they should consider a situation a ‘date rape’ and are trying to clarify this for themselves. Sometimes the incident has happened in the past months or even years rather than in the past few days. Sometimes people, male or female, have come for some other symptoms like a new relationship issue, anxiety or depression and then it begins to leak out that this happened and they have been uncertain about how to accept this or to understand it for themselves.”

No matter the situation, the center is there to offer support.

“The role of the Counseling Center is to support the individual with both information and options and to facilitate the person’s personal process to work through this experience,” Barkis said. “The staff is professionally trained and the services are legally confidential.”

Students qualify for eight sessions at the Counseling Center a year for free. After eight sessions, there is a small fee.

Staff and faculty can also utilize the Counseling Center at a small fee. Counseling Center fees and services are available in a document on the U-News Web site.

UMKC also has a Victim Services Adjudication Advisor to provide trainings for faculty, staff, students and departments on issues related to sexual assault, relationship/domestic violence and/or stalking.

Michelle Kroner, the Victim Services Adjudication Advisor, said information is provided to all incoming freshman/transfer students via in-person trainings or through an online course on Blackboard.

rherndon@unews.com

reposted from http://media.www.unews.com/media/storage/paper274/news/2010/01/11/News/Fighting.Back.Against.Date.Rape-3852355.shtml

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