Sexual assault survey with relevance to college campuses unveiled
We have noted the sad reality regarding sexual assault of women generally and the particularly high level of sex-based crimes against females that occur on American campuses across the country in prior select blog posts.
We noted in a recent post entry, for example, the rather astounding report that “about 20 percent of female college students in recent years have been victims of sexual assault.” As we pointed out further in our September 15 post, one estimate posits that only about one of every 10 coeds that is assaulted ever reports the crime and that, on average, it takes that person about 11 months to come forward with information.
That blog entry introduced the Callisto program to readers, which is a website tool that an assault victim can use interactively to report a crime and to learn about important next-step resources for coping. Callisto is currently being used in a pilot program on select California campuses.
Now comes news regarding material developments regarding another tool that researchers say can help “measure this problem [sexual assault on campuses] and position colleges to address it in ways that are based on evidence.”
The tool is called the National Campus Climate Survey. It was created by a joint team of University of Michigan researchers and members of a social science research company. The survey seeks to provide highly accurate information regarding campus sexual assault and to help assist authorities in addressing and thwarting campus-based sex crimes. The survey is available for use at any college in the country, with its creators saying it “is quickly and widely available at an affordable cost.”
Tools such as the survey and Callisto are clearly and urgently needed. According to one government estimate, about one-quarter of all American women have been victims of forcible sex acts by the time they are in their 40s.
Serving clients throughout the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California area, we represent victims in a variety of civil litigation cases. If you or a loved one has been injured, turn to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury or sexual assault lawyer.
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