VPC highlights services during sexual assault awareness month
April is sexual assault awareness month. Violence Prevention Center Program Advocate Jessica Burks told WTIP that the center was taking the month to highlight the prevalence of sexual violence, the societal problems around the issue, and the support that is available to victims.
Burks shared statistics about the frequency of sexual assault, saying that every year, about 443,000 people over 12 years old in the United States experience an assault. She added that one in six women, and one in 33 men, have experienced a rape or attempted rape during their lives.
Though media portrayals of sexual assaults often present perpetrators as strangers, Burks said that in 60% of cases, victims know their assailants.
“When a victim knows the person who assaulted them, that can make reporting even more complicated and sometimes difficult. Statistics also show that only one out of every three victims of sexual assault report the assault to law enforcement,” Burks said, “Some commonly cited reasons for why victims choose not to report include a fear of retaliation, a belief that the police either won’t or can’t do anything to help, a belief that the assault was a personal matter and not a criminal matter, a belief that the assault was not important enough to report or not wanting to get the perpetrator in trouble. Because again, remember, this could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, someone that’s known to the victim.”
Burks said that victim blaming is also a significant obstacle for those who have experienced an assault. Whether it is the fear of blame from those around them, or a victim blaming themselves, she said it is a major contributor to why someone may chose not to report a rape.
In addition to a culture of victim blaming, when it comes to prosecutions following a report, many survivors don’t see justice.
Burks said, “Overall, a combination of under-reporting and an underwhelming criminal justice response means that 98% of sexual assault perpetrators walk free. So statistics show that for every 1000 sexual assaults, only 50 reports lead to arrests. 28 cases lead to felony convictions, and only 25 of those convictions lead to actual incarceration.”
For those who have experienced a sexual assault, the VPC has a series of support options. Burks said they offer judgement-free listening and exploration of options. Advocates can also accompany survivors to forensic exams and to speak to law enforcement. Additionally, VPC staff can help with navigating the criminal justice and court systems, school safety, housing, and safety planning in other aspects of someone’s life that have been impacted by an assault. She added that the support offered by the VPC extends beyond victims. She said that those who are part of a victim’s support system can also seek help from the VPC.
While hearing about a friend or family member’s experience of being victimized is difficult, and it may not be clear how best to support that person, Burks said the most important thing to start with is listening. “Being a listening ear for someone and receiving them with non-judgment and with support and belief in what they’re telling you is extremely impactful for a survivor. It can truly make the difference in their healing path moving forward,” she said.
Violence Prevention Center Program Advocate Jessica Burks spoke to Julie Calson live on North Shore Morning. Audio of that interview is below.
The Violence Prevention Center can be reached at 218-387-1262, and their phone line is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Kirsten Wisniewski April 14, 2026
