WellCommons

Editor’s note: The victim in the wrongful conviction case of Joe Jones has been in contact with the Journal-World since October. She has expressed gratitude for the articles about the case, and their role in reopening the case, leading to a DNA profile match. However, the woman has expressed frustration, at times, with the coverage and a lack of information from her point of view. While the woman declined a Journal-World interview request, she provided this letter.

I am the victim that Joe Jones was convicted for kidnapping with a knife and raping in 1985. Confirmation has been made through DNA that the true assailant has been found. This is a day I thought would never come. I want to thank Shaun Hittle for pursuing this matter. However, his articles have never been about the victim’s side of the story. In fact there have been some things printed that were not correct, but I was not asked before they went to print. For instance I was not even in the town the night Joe Jones was arrested. He was seen walking down the street the next night by my witnesses and that’s how he was arrested. I am writing this because these articles on this case are strictly one-sided and I believe it makes my witness and I feel like wolves. Shaun Hittle knows better than that but it never made it to print. These articles were going to be written no matter what it put the victims through. I believe when you open up people’s lives like this there should be more of a balance and a compassion for both sides and relate the hell that both sides have gone through. If that’s not going to be done at least get the details right. I know the big story here is about a wrongly convicted person which is big. My life has not been the same for the 26 years either. Not from living that night, to the release of Joe Jones in 1992, or since Shaun Hittle showed up about eight months ago out of nowhere to drag me through all this again.

I must admit that I was pretty angry for the first few conversations with Mr. Hittle for opening this issue up again. It was a very large pill to swallow in 1992 when Joe Jones was released. Very hard back then to understand how a brand new scientific test could override three eyewitnesses. One of my witnesses was pulled from the car and thrown to the ground with that same knife pointed at her. The other saw this whole thing happen. I have no knowledge of any of the evidence still being held from that night to be able to be run through a databank. I, nor my witnesses, ever knew of another person out there committing the same types of crimes at knifepoint in the same area existed either. We did not know that there was a guy out there that some thought looked enough like Joe Jones to be his brother. After 1992, I thought my witness and I must be crazy, and no one was going to pay for what was done. No one was trying to make me feel better or offer any hope for closure. No one at the police department or D.A.’s office said they could keep looking. No one there was looking to solve an unsolved crime. No one there now, was even around back when this happened. Nothing happened till Shaun Hittle contacted them. When the databank became available my rape kit was not run through for a match. It was even said that these issues are not pursued usually unless the victim pursues the matter. What was I going to pursue? When these things were brought to light, I realized that we truly had made a very large mistake. Not just us, but some on the judicial side as well. I wrote Joe Jones at Christmas and told him I was very sorry he spent those years in prison and told him I had to admit that I was wrong. That we both were wronged and both had been through years of hell over this.

I do, however, want it understood that I do not accept any guilt or blame for the hard times that Joe Jones has gone through since his release. He made his own choices and had $350,000 to do it with. I too could have, and did make a few bad choices after being kidnapped at knifepoint and raped out in the middle of nowhere for hours, thinking I was going to be murdered. I have not though let it rule my life.

I was extra disappointed that in this last article Shaun Hittle nor the Topeka Police Department mentioned that I too have been very active in this matter. No mention of all the regular phone calls I’ve had with Shaun Hittle and the police department. I also obtained some information that the TPD was not aware of, about an attack that happened at the same location on two other women, which I found through court records. I am very driven that the right person pays for what he has done to me as well as what he put Joe Jones through. I want him to get the same sentence that Joe Jones got. If it’s good enough for Joe Jones, it’s good enough for him.

This case has only reached this point from Shaun Hittle looking for justice for Joe Jones. I think it’s great and Joe Jones deserves it. I am very happy for him. Thank you Shaun Hittle for pursuing this matter and maybe it will be closure for me also. Thank you to Det. Arensdorf for all the time, effort and legwork you put in to this. Thanks for making me feel okay. Joe Jones, do treasure this day, you deserve to and I will do the same. Once again I am sorry for the time you spent convicted for something you did not do. This is my side of the story.

— The victim of a crime but not a victim in life.

Convicted felon Sherman L. Galloway will always be on the mind of his victim, Jean Rhea, who continues to fight to keep him incarcerated long after she left the state. On Dec. 4, 1981, Galloway was convicted of sodomizing and raping Rhea, who at the time was a Kansas University student. Galloway is up for a special parole hearing Tuesday. by Nick Krug

TOPEKA — A handful of people sit at small tables in a long, narrow room in the Landon State Office building in Topeka on Wednesday.

As people enter, a woman approaches and asks, “Are you here to support or oppose?”

Three people — two men and a woman — sit facing the visitors. One of them calls up “No. 3.”

It quickly becomes clear that the three chairs set up in front won’t be enough. More are added, and in total, eight people sit in front of the state of Kansas’ Prison Review Board with one mission: keep Sherman L. Galloway behind bars forever.

Michael Riner, a retired Kansas University police officer who helped arrest Galloway, is one of the first to speak to the three-person board.

“There aren’t a lot of things I’m afraid of, but he’s one of them,” he tells the board.

For the next half-hour, the board hears from several people involved in Galloway’s 1981 Douglas County rape case.

Every month, the board hears the vivid details of cases like Galloway’s: sex crimes, brutal assaults or murders that happened decades ago.

“For the victim, that trauma is still there. They’re reliving it again,” said David Riggin, head of the board. “It’s the hardest part of the job.”

Unforgettable attack

Jean Rhea was a KU student, a tennis teaching professional and the women’s head tennis coach at Baker University in Baldwin City in 1981. She was working to become a collegiate women’s coach and professor.

On the hot, humid evening of July 8, 1981, Rhea set off for a two-mile jog along Memorial Drive on the KU campus. It was 10 p.m., and Rhea said she thought the street would be safe because it was well-lighted and well-traveled.

“As I came around the Campanile and got up close to Snow Hall, I heard footsteps running hard behind me,” Rhea said. “As I turned to look, a hand grabbed the back of my head and a knife was put to my throat and a voice told me, ‘If you make a word I am going to kill you.’”

“And with a knife at my throat, he then drug me across Memorial Drive over to shrubs and bushes that were on the other side and up above Potter Lake. He raped me. He bit me. But more than anything, he threatened to kill me every minute when I was with him if I didn’t do exactly what he said.”

At one point, Rhea said, she made a decision to fight back because she feared he would kill her.

“I got up and started moving away very quickly because I knew he was in a position where he couldn’t run after me. But he did. He popped up and he ended up landing on top of me, and we rolled down the hill and we ended up in Potter Lake, and he told me, ‘I am going to kill you’ and I stopped the knife before it entered my chest. And I put my feet on his chest and pushed him off of me, which I don’t know how I ever did.

“And then I got up and I ran. He had his jeans around his ankles so he couldn’t chase me right off.”

Rhea, who was naked and bleeding, ran toward Memorial Drive where a passing driver stopped his car near the Campanile just in time. She jumped in the passenger side of the car as Galloway started running up the hill after her.

The driver, the late Paul Mott of Eudora, took Rhea to her home, and her roommates called KU police. She then went to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and underwent testing with a rape kit.

On Dec. 4, 1981, Galloway was found guilty of aggravated sodomy and rape.

Another victim came forward after Rhea’s case. Galloway had robbed, kidnapped, raped and sodomized her a month before Rhea’s attack.

Galloway was given another sentence of 30 years to life in prison on May 25, 1984. He is serving the sentences consecutively. But because of sentencing laws, he became eligible for a parole hearing in 1996 and has been eligible at various intervals since.

Rhea, who now lives in California and works as a psychologist for a large nonprofit, rattles off the years Galloway has been eligible for parole; seven times since 1996. Each time, she must revisit the crime and mobilize her army of advocates and relatives to fight to keep Galloway locked up.

The board

Last year, the Prison Review Board reviewed nearly 500 cases of Kansas inmates eligible for parole. With now-defunct indeterminate sentencing laws from decades ago, offenders such as Galloway, who were given a life sentence, are usually eligible for parole much sooner, said Riggin, head of the board. And most of the cases the board reviews involve very old — and violent — crimes.

The board, operated by the Department of Corrections, holds public comment sessions every month in Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka, giving victims, and offenders’ families, a chance to advocate against, or for, an inmate’s release.

“They become fairly traumatic,” said Riggin, as families with very opposing viewpoints tell their story, all in the same room. Working with a victim services coordinator, Riggin said the board does its best to keep the sides separate if they choose. At some hearings, only a few people show up. Other times, dozens attend.

Victims and families are free to attend any and all of the three sessions held monthly. For example, several members of Rhea’s family went to the Wichita session Tuesday, while her other advocates came to Topeka on Wednesday.

No one from Galloway’s family attended.

After the public comment sessions, the board speaks with the offenders and votes on a decision. Riggin said a wide variety of factors influence their decisions. In some cases, an offender came in at a young age, has shown remorse and worked hard at treatment programs.

“Is that individual the same person?” asked Riggin, of one of the main questions the board considers.

That’s often weighed against likelihood of reoffending.

“We’re going to look at an offender’s risk,” he said.

The board has several options in each case. They can grant or deny parole. If they deny, they then decide how long before the offender’s case will be heard again. The minimum is one year, the maximum is 10. Galloway, for instance, had parole hearings in 1996, 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

‘We deserve a break’

Rhea, who planned to attend Wednesday’s hearing but missed it because of a canceled flight, said she hopes the board denies Galloway’s parole and gives him a 10-year wait before he’s eligible again.

“We deserve a break,” Rhea said.

Rhea’s advocates told the board about Galloway’s defiant attitude and threats made against them.

Paula Kissinger, also a retired KU police officer, was the officer initially dispatched to handle Rhea’s case. Kissinger testified at the trial and has spoken at several of the parole hearings. The last time she spoke, she said she received a call a few weeks later from a Kansas prison. The person on the other end didn’t speak. Kissinger said she assumes it was Galloway.

Riner, the retired officer, said Galloway threatened to rape the female members of his family and kill Riner if he were ever released.

“We take very seriously the threats he’s made,” Riner said.

Each time Galloway is eligible for parole, it’s a painful reminder of the crime, Rhea said, who struggled with substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder for years after the attack. She credits the people in her corner, such as Kissinger and Riner, for helping her get through it. She encourages victims to speak out and find those who want to help.

A sexual assault “can be socially isolating,” Rhea said. “They don’t have to do it alone.”

As the years pass, Rhea said she’s grown stronger, and facing the crime is somewhat easier.

“It is empowering,” Rhea said of fighting to keep Galloway behind bars. “I’m glad I stood up and continue to stand up.”

Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition against Sexual and Domestic Violence, addresses advocates and service providers Wednesday in Topeka. Grover's speech was part of Safe Homes, Safe Streets, an annual two-day event aimed at increasing awareness for domestic and sexual assault issues. by Shaun Hittle

Topeka — Rebecca Scott, director of development for SafeHomes, a domestic violence service provider in Winfield, expressed a common theme shared by advocates at the annual Safe Homes, Safe Streets two-day event in Topeka this week.

The sexual and domestic violence support system in Kansas isn’t breaking, but it’s bending pretty far as providers struggle to meet an increasing demand for services.

“We’re always full,” said Scott of SafeHomes’ 15-bed domestic violence shelter, but they don’t turn victims away. “You roll out the air mattresses.” Several other providers and advocates shared their story with about 80 people Wednesday after a group of advocates met with legislators urging support for services.

“I’m not bringing you good news today,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition against Sexual and Domestic Violence, or KCSDV, which sponsored the event.

With only about 500 beds in the entire state dedicated to sheltering those escaping abuse, “service providers are working at capacity all the time. When a bed opens, it’s filled immediately,” Grover said.

At the Johnson County-based SafeHome domestic violence shelter, executive director Sharon Katz said they sheltered 91 more women in 2011 than 2010, forcing some victims to sleep on mattresses on the floor.

In addition to increases, victims also seem to need more services, and the level of violence has increased, said Joan Schultz, executive director at the Willow Domestic Violence Center in Lawrence.

One measure of increased violence is the number of domestic violence-related homicides in the state, which have steadily increased in during the past several years. In 2010, there were 32 such murders, up from 17 in 2007.

What accounts for the increases in need and violence is difficult to pinpoint, Grover said, but she cited economic factors.

“They do exacerbate situations for victims,” she said. “They’re more desperate when they come in.”

**Domestic violence by the numbers (2010)**

• Incidents reported to police in Kansas: 23,828

• Arrests: 14,194

• Incidents reported to the Lawrence Police Department: 738

• Arrests: 407

* Statistics provided by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation

From left, Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib, and Detective Capt. Mike Pattrick, along with Lawrence Memorial Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Julie Jacobson watch Sarah Martin, also a SANE nurse, demonstrate a new imaging system used to collect evidence in sexual assault cases. LMH had a private open house Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, for its SANE program. by Richard Gwin

District Attorney Charles Branson lauded Lawrence Memorial Hospital for improving its services to sexual assault victims during the past couple of years.

“There has been tremendous improvement,” Branson said. “The training and emphasis LMH has put on these cases is wonderful.”

LMH has a new examination room, new state-of-the-art equipment, and more nurses trained to be a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). The hospital went from two nurses to 10, and there are three nurses who are in the process of completing their training. There is one nurse on call at any given time. Last year, LMH paid $118,245 for SANE nurses to be on call.

“They now have 24/7 coverage for sexual assault exams,” Branson said.

These improvements began in September 2009 when Branson publicly raised concerns about the number of rape victims being transferred from LMH to hospitals in Topeka and Kansas City.

At the time, he said delays in an examination could destroy evidence needed to hold an attacker accountable. He also feared that victims would abandon the reporting process instead of going to another hospital.

Since then, there have been no transfers of adult patients. There were 40 cases in 2010, and 45 last year. In 2009, three of the 64 cases were transferred. In 2008, five of the 34 cases were transferred.

Pediatric cases

Branson and LMH leaders agree that it’s still best to send pediatric cases — children 14 and younger — to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., because it is better equipped and trained to handle such cases.

Jessie Fazel, SANE coordinator at LMH, said it takes 40 hours of training to become a SANE nurse and an additional 40 hours for pediatrics. At LMH, the nurses also go through an orientation process where they observe a couple of sexual assault cases, assist a couple of cases and then they are observed taking care of two cases. After they become a SANE nurse, Fazel said they need to perform cases to stay proficient and competent.

She said there are not enough pediatric cases in Lawrence to do that. There were three children transferred last year, one in 2010, and five in 2009.

“Children’s Mercy has a dedicated facility that only deals with child abuse and sexual assault cases,” Fazel said. “It would kind of do them an injustice to keep them here.”

If someone is concerned that a child has been sexually assaulted, Fazel said they can go to LMH where the hospital will facilitate law enforcement involvement and transportation to Children’s Mercy.

“We are here as a resource and we know how to facilitate all of that,” she said. “We strive to be the best in everything we do and we want to provide the best care that we can to our community.”

Fazel is president-elect of the Kansas chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. The state chapter formed in January 2011 and the meetings rotate quarterly among eight Kansas hospitals, including LMH. She said topics have included the court process, documentation and missing and exploited children.

In addition, Fazel said LMH will be hosting a two-day advanced training session in May for SANE nurses and anyone involved in a sexual assault response. The sessions will feature nationally known speakers in the field of forensic collection.

Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of GaDuGi SafeCenter, praised LMH for its response to a community need.

“They responded with great integrity and they got it done,” she said.

Russell said the new examination room has made a huge difference for victims. It is located away from the Emergency Department and is designed to give victims more privacy and a sense of security and hope. There also is a shower.

“For a victim to be able to receive treatment in a private room that is welcoming and soothing that means everything,” she said. “We have had comments from victims that the experience at the hospital was not as upsetting as they thought it might be.”

LMH began using a new $25,000 system for collecting evidence called a Secure Digital Forensic Imaging System in June 2010. The camera It provides high-resolution and detail-oriented evidence. There is a yearly fee of $900 for the electronic encryption and storage capabilities.

“It’s very safe for transferring the information online,” Fazel said.

The startup costs for the new services cost about $150,000, and it was provided through the Douglas County Community Foundation, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, LMH Endowment Association and LMH employee Audrey Bishop.

Jessie Fazel, coordinator of Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, is holding a high-resolution digital camera that is used to collect evidence. The hospital began using the camera in June 2010. The camera is just one of several improvements that the hospital has made during the past couple of years in its services to sexual assault victims. by Kevin Anderson

Community efforts

There has been a renewed effort for sexual assault response among Douglas County agencies as well.

Branson said communication has improved among members of the Sexual Assault Response Team, which has been around for years. Members include the district attorney’s office, LMH, Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas University’s Watkins Health Center and GaDuGi SafeCenter. This fall, the group created a new protocol that defined their roles.

Russell said that was a big step for the group.

“I think there is a greater recognition of the importance of a coordinated community response,” she said.

There is no charge to a patient for a SANE exam, and by law the hospital is required to provide this community service. It costs approximately $2,000 per case. The Douglas County District Attorney’s office pays $500 per case and the balance is written off by LMH. Last year, the district attorney’s office paid $250 per case. The payment will increase to $750 next year.

BY THE NUMBERS

Lawrence Memorial Hospital has improved its services to sexual assault victims. Here’s a review of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in 2011:

• 48 — sexual assault cases.

• 0 — adult transfers.

• 3 — transfers of children ages 14 and younger to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

• 4 — instances where two or three victims were in the ER at the same time.

• 28 — patients elected to report to law enforcement.

• 8 — patients elected to not report to law enforcement, but sent evidence to KBI to be kept up to five years. Victim can file a report and pursue charges within this timeframe.

• 9 — patients declined or were out of the 72-hour window for forensic evidence collection.

• 10 — nurses trained to handle SANE cases.

• 3 — nurses are in process of completing orientation.

• $118,245 — wages paid to have one nurse on-call.

• $2,000 — approximate cost per SANE exam for LMH. There is no charge for patients.

• $250 — district attorney’s office paid LMH per case.

MIKE STOBBE,AP Medical Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — It's a startling number: 1 in 4 women surveyed by the government say they were violently attacked by their husbands or boyfriends.

Experts in domestic violence don't find it too surprising, although some aspects of the survey may have led to higher numbers than are sometimes reported.

Even so, a government official who oversaw the research called the results "astounding."

"It's the first time we've had this kind of estimate" on the prevalence of intimate partner violence, said Linda Degutis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey, released by the CDC Wednesday, marks the beginning of a new annual project to look at how many women say they've been abused.

One expert called the new report's estimate on rape and attempted rape "extremely high" — with 1 in 5 women saying they were victims. About half of those cases involved intimate partners. No documentation was sought to verify the women's claims, which were made anonymously.

But advocates say the new rape numbers are plausible.

"It's a major problem that often is under-estimated and over-looked," said Linda James, director of health for Futures Without Violence, a San Francisco-based organization that advocates against domestic abuse.

The CDC report is based on a randomized telephone survey of about 9,000 women and 7,400 men.

Among the findings:

— As many as 29 million women say they have suffered severe and frightening physical violence from a boyfriend, spouse or other intimate partner. That includes being choked, beaten, stabbed, shot, punched, slammed against something or hurt by hair-pulling.

— That number grows to 36 million if slapping, pushing and shoving are counted.

— Almost half of the women who reported rape or attempted rape said it happened when they were 17 or younger.

—As many as 1 in 3 women have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes, compared to about 1 in 10 men.

—Both men and women who had been menaced or attacked in these ways reported more health problems. Female victims, in particular, had significantly higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, frequent headaches and difficulty sleeping.

—Certain states seemed to have higher reports of sexual violence than others. Alaska, Oregon and Nevada were among the highest in rapes and attempted rapes of women, and Virginia and Tennessee were among the lowest.

Several of the CDC numbers are higher than those of other sources. For example, the CDC study suggests that 1.3 million women have suffered rape, attempted rape or had sex forced on them in the previous year. That statistic is more than seven times greater than what was reported by a Department of Justice household survey conducted last year.

The CDC rape numbers seem "extremely high," but there may be several reasons for the differences, including how the surveys were done, who chose to participate and how "rape" and other types of assault were defined or interpreted, said Shannan Catalano, a statistician with the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

"It is an evolving field, and everyone is striving to get a handle on what's the best estimate," Catalano said.

The CDC's numbers don't seem surprising to people who work with abused women.

"I think that the awareness is growing," said Kim Frndak, community educator for the Women's Rescue Center to End Domestic Violence, which operates a shelter on the outskirts of Atlanta.

"More and more people are really saying, 'Oh, this is something that we need to pay attention to as well,' because it's your sister, it's your mother, it's your daughter, it's your son, it's your brother. Someone in your own circle is being affected by domestic violence, and the effects can be devastating," she said.

Associated Press Writer Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.

About 75 runners participated in the GaDuGi SafeCenter's Halloween-themed 5K run Sunday along the Kansas River levee.

The benefit also included family-friendly activities after the race, like face painting, bean bag toss, sidewalk chalk, arts and crafts and, of course, candy.

GaDuGi provides 24-hour victim-centered services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties. Last year, the safe center provided direct services for 176 people.

Here are a few pictures from Sunday's event:

Runners compete in the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. Although not required to compete, costumes were encouraged. by John Young

Disguised as a black widow, Jennifer Smith, right, Lecompton, and Judi Long, Lawrence, approach the finish line of the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. by John Young

Jeremy Garrett, of Kansas City, Mo., runs along the Kansas River levee during the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday Oct 30, 2011. Garrett was first to cross the finish line. by John Young

http://admin.ljworld.com/media/photo/223819/

Susan Miller, right, Eudora, paints 1-year-old Lucy Chapam’s, Lawrence, face as her mother, Shawna, watches during the Trunk or Treat event held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at the corner of Second and Elm streets in North Lawrence. The event, sponsored by the GaDuGi SafeCenter, featured face painting, chalk art and other fun and games for children. by John Young

Dressed as a princess, 4-year-old Kenisen Large, left, Tonganoxie, and her 2-year-old brother Conlan, dressed as a frog prince, create chalk art during the Trunk or Treat event held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 at the corner of Second and Elm streets in North Lawrence. The event, sponsored by the GaDuGi SafeCenter, featured face painting, chalk art and other fun and games for children. by John Young

Two ghostly brides and a gorilla participate in the Downtown Lawrence Trick-or-Treat event Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. by Mike Yoder

The GaDuGi SafeCenter is having a Halloween-themed 5K run Sunday along the Kansas River levee.

Registration for “The Boo! Run” begins at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot near 402 N. Second St. and the run begins at 1 p.m. The cost is $25.

Participants are encouraged to run in costumes, and prizes will be given for best costumes in addition to the top runners.

There will be family-friendly activities following the race in the parking lot until 2:30 p.m. They include face painting, bean bag toss, sidewalk chalk, arts and crafts and, of course, candy.

Individuals can pre-register for the race between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday at GaDuGi SafeCenter, 2518 Ridge Court. Pre-registration cost is $20.

Proceeds benefit the safe center, which provides 24-hour victim-centered services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties. Last year, GaDuGi provided direct services for 176 people.

For more information, call 843-8985.

GaDuGi's website. by kbritt

Verizon Wireless announced Wednesday that it has donated $2,000 to Lawrence's GaDuGi SafeCenter as part of the company’s national HopeLine program, which is dedicated to assisting communities, local shelters and agencies in ending domestic violence.

GaDuGi Safe Center is one of 23 violence prevention organizations in Kansas that will be receiving funds to support local education programs and shelter operations. It provides 24-hour services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties.

Verizon's HopeLine program provides wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention.

Since the launch of the HopeLine phone recycling program in 2001, Verizon has:

• collected more than 8 million phones,

• awarded more than $10 million in cash grants,

• properly disposed of nearly 1.7 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way,

• distributed more than 106,000 phones with about 319 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence,

• kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, call GaDuGi at 888-899-2345 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

The state of Kansas and county sheriff’s offices keep pretty close tabs on the more than 4,500 registered sex offenders in Kansas. Only 8 percent of registered sex offenders currently are not complying with registration requirements, which include verifying home addresses four times a year.

Since 2006, 688 sex offenders on the Kansas Offender Registry have moved out of Kansas and not returned. This chart shows the registration status of those offenders in the states they moved to. There are 77 offenders who were deported, 113 who are in prison in another state, 161 not registered in the new state, and 337 who did show up on their new state's registry.

But when a sex offender moves out of state, it’s a different story.

A Journal-World investigation identified 161 registered sex offenders who have moved out of Kansas since 2006, but who do not show up on offender registries in the states they moved to.

For instance, in 2001, Curtis Mongold was convicted in Douglas County of sexually assaulting a girl. In addition to serving three years in prison, Mongold received a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.

Curtis Eugene Mongold's Kansas Registered Offender picture form 2010. Mongold, 49, was convicted of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child in Douglas County in 2001 after sexually assaulting a Lawrence girl. Mongold spent four years in prison and was released in 2005. He notified Kansas authorities earlier this year that he was moving to California, though he is not registered on that state’s offender registry. Mongold is required to register for life.

In January, Mongold notified Kansas authorities that he was moving to California, where he’d have to register. But there is no record of Mongold in California where he is supposed to be registered, according to the National Sex Offender Public Website, which collects registry information from all 50 states.

Kyle Smith, deputy director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said that the KBI sends letters to states that offenders move to, but after that it’s somebody else’s responsibility.

“It’s up to (the new state and the offender) to do,” Smith said.

There could be cases where an offender moves to one state, then to another, but that information isn’t necessarily communicated among states, Smith said.

That’s exactly the problem, said Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for more accountability in sex offender registries nationwide.

“We’ve established a law that requires society’s most cunning of criminals to register on an honor system,” Ahearn said. “Where are those 161 offenders?”

Differing laws in different states makes keeping track of sex offenders a complicated endeavor, Ahearn said. In some cases, an offender in one state may not be required to register in another state. That leaves some clever offenders engaging in what Ahearn calls “state shopping,” where offenders move to a state where registry laws may not be as strict.

Ahearn scoffs at the idea that some states don’t aggressively monitor what happens to an offender when they leave a state.

“If you are going to require a sex offender to register for life, you should be monitoring them for life,” Ahearn said.

Kansas taking steps

Despite the issues identified during the Journal-World investigation, Kansas has taken steps to improve its sex offender registry.

A law that went into effect July 1 strengthened Kansas’ offender registry, increasing penalties for offenders who fail to register while reducing from 10 to three days the length of time offenders have to notify authorities of an address change. The updates earned Kansas recognition as just the 10th state in the country to comply with the 2006 federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, known as SORNA.

SORNA also gives the U.S. Marshals Service authority to investigate sex offenders who move out of state but fail to register in their new state. Matt Cahill, senior investigator with the marshals service’s Kansas office, said they’ve apprehended several sex offenders who fail to register in another state, which is a federal and state felony. Cahill said his office relies on tips from the public and law enforcement about which offenders are not in compliance across state lines. At Cahill’s request, the Journal-World forwarded the list of 161 offenders identified for this story to Cahill’s office for review.

Smith said that Kansas is also working on software that will allow the state to communicate more quickly with other states, intended to fix some of the problems with interstate movement. That software could be ready as early as next spring, Smith said.

But the way the sex offender registry system currently operates, in Kansas and across the country, could leave communities in the dark when dangerous offenders move in from another state, Ahearn said, subverting the intent of such laws.

And the pain that abuse victims have suffered is compounded by the mystery of where their offenders may be, Ahearn said.

“That’s terrifying to (victims) to not know where their offender is,” she said.

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Sexual assault is a problem, and it’s time men joined the conversation.

That was the message delivered Wednesday night during an event for Kansas University’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Week.

A panel discussion focusing on the issue of sexual assualt and the role men play took center stage in the Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Panel members included Ken Sarber, a public health educator from Student Health Services; Chris Stoppel, associate director of New Student Orientation; Ben Pyle, a KU junior and vice president of administrative affairs for the Interfraternity Council; and Shade Keys Little, the KU chancellor’s husband.

The panel facilitated an open conversation about the topic, which affects as many as 19 million women each year. The theme Wednesday was “Men’s Outreach: It’s a men’s issue too.” Barry Grissom, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, introduced the event and said it was a men’s issue because men are often the perpetrators and because men can help prevent the crimes and offer support.

“It’s a hidden crime but a huge issue,” Grissom said. “We need to talk about it amongst ourselves. It’s time to recognize that sexual violence is everyone’s problem.”

Wednesday night a handful of people did just that, touching on topics of language choice, risky behaviors and available community resources. Sarber, who talks with thousands of students on campus about the issue of sexual violence each year, said everyone had the ability to help.

“Each individual has the opportunity to step up and say this is not OK,” he said.

Members of the panel explained that men can help prevent sexual assault by intervening in potentially harmful situations. They said men can also help by being supportive of friends who’ve been victims of sexual violence and having open and honest conversations with each other.

Sonja Heath, assistant director for the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, moderated the event and keyed in on the importance of having that conversation.

“It’s meant to be a foot in the door,” Heath said of the panel discussion. “Hopefully the students will see that these conversations are happening and that it’s OK. We want to have these conversations with men so you can be part of the solution, too.”

The events, which are meant to raise awareness of sexual assault, continue through Friday.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month. by kbritt

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence urges all Kansans to strengthen their efforts to provide safety and support for victims and accountability for perpetrators in their community.

Each year in Kansas, the crime affects:

• 3,040 women

• 962 men

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation:

• 1 — rape is reported to law enforcement every 7 hours and 24 minutes.

• 78 — percent of the time the perpetrator knows the victim.

However, these numbers cannot reflect the true magnitude of the problem because rape continues to be one of the most under-reported crimes. Nationally, only 41 percent of rapes are reported to law enforcement, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2009.

This year’s campaign, “It's time … to get involved,” incorporates a bystander approach to sexual violence prevention. A bystander, or witness, is anyone who sees a situation but may or may not know what to do, may think others will act or may be afraid to do something.

Research shows that engaging bystanders is a promising way to help prevent the widespread problem of sexual violence in communities.

Here are some ways you can support victims and help end sexual violence:

• Attend a sexual assault awareness event in your community. Find an event at kcsdv.org

• Learn the facts about sexual violence and speak out against rape myths.

• Know the Kansas Crisis Hotline number — (888) END-ABUSE.

• Be familiar with sexual and domestic violence advocacy organization(s) serving your community and be ready to make a referral. Find a program near you at kcsdv.org

• Donate to or volunteer at your local advocacy program.

KU EVENTS

Kansas University is observing Sexual Assault Awareness Week — April 18-22 — with a panel discussion and candlelight vigil.

The details:

• Today, April 20 — at 6:30 p.m, Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. There will be a panel discussion. Barry Grissom, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, will give opening remarks. Panelists include KU students Dagoberto Heredia, a senior from Great Bend and president of HALO; Ben Pyle, a junior from Ames, Iowa, and vice president of administrative affairs for the Interfraternity Council; KU staff members Ken Sarber, public health educator from Student Health Services, and Chris Stoppel, associate director of New Student Orientation; and Shade Keys Little.

• Thursday, April 21 — at 7:45 p.m. at Wescoe Beach. Students, faculty, staff and community members will gather to read impact statements from survivors. They will stand silently along Jayhawk Boulevard as the Campanile bell tolls 561 times — the number of survivors from Douglas and Jefferson counties that GaDuGi Safe Center has assisted in the past year. Amy Price, Lawrence Police Department detective, will provide opening remarks.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator Jessie Fazel looks over the new Secure Digital Forensic Imaging system Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. She explained how the new $25,000 piece of equipment will be used to collect evidence during a private open house. by Richard Gwin

Lawrence Memorial Hospital has stepped up its efforts during the past year to increase services to sexual assault victims.

Those efforts include training more nurses, creating a new examination room and purchasing a $25,000 state-of-the-art imaging system.

“We have really striven to be at the forefront of evidence collection. Our patients are going to receive the best care in the area, and we have amazing equipment that we can now use,” said Jessie Fazel, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) coordinator and nurse. “I feel like we are well equipped to handle these cases.”

Last fall, District Attorney Charles Branson raised concerns about the number of adult victims being transferred to hospitals in Topeka and Kansas City.

In 2008, there were 34 sexual assault patients and five were transferred. In 2009, there were 69 patients and three were transferred.

The problem was that LMH didn’t have enough nurses trained to handle sexual assault cases. At the time of Branson’s letter, there were five. Now, there are 17.

This year, there have been 39 patients and no transfers.

“The hospital has done a great job of training new staff and putting some really great efforts forward to make this a really great community hospital that can serve all of the needs of people in Lawrence and Douglas County,” Branson said.

From left, Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib, and Detective Capt. Mike Pattrick, along with Lawrence Memorial Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Julie Jacobson watch Sarah Martin, also a SANE nurse, demonstrate a new imaging system used to collect evidence in sexual assault cases. LMH had a private open house Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, for its SANE program. by Richard Gwin

Sarah Martin, a Lawrence Memorial Hospital nurse who is trained to handle sexual assault patients, demonstrates the new Secure Digital Forensic Imaging system during an open house Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the hospital. The system captures sharper images that can be used as evidence in a sexual assault cases. by Richard Gwin

He was among 40 people who attended a private open house Wednesday of the new third-floor examination room.

SANE nurses answered questions and demonstrated how the new Secure Digital Forensic Imaging system captures sharper images. The system also has a high level data encryption which secures the evidence collected.

According to LMH, it is the first hospital in northeast Kansas and the Kansas City region to use the system.

“It is absolutely amazing,” Branson said. “We can really use that information and those images in courtrooms to prosecute offenders and hold them accountable for their crimes.”

He also was impressed by the examination room, which is designed to give victims more privacy and a sense of security and hope. There also is a shower.

“The room is great,” Branson said. “What they’ve done is they’ve paid attention to some real detail and really created a room that’s going to be a comfortable environment for somebody that’s going through a traumatic situation. It’s not a sterile environment that you would kind of expect in a hospital setting.”

The new services cost about $150,000, and it was provided through the Douglas County Community Foundation, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, LMH Endowment Association and Audrey Bishop.

Bishop, associate vice president of LMH’s physician division, didn’t want to reveal how much she donated, but said it was a worthwhile cause.

“I am a former attorney, so I know how important the evidence is, and I was thrilled that we had the opportunity to provide a safe and caring place for victims,” she said.

Nurses will begin using the new examination room and equipment today.

For years, rape survivors have called GaDuGi SafeCenter, asking for help in finding the right therapist.

“Lawrence is graced with many therapists, all skilled and compassionate, but we were constantly on a search for that particular person who specialized in working with victims of sexual assault. And that person wasn’t out there for us,” said Sarah Jane Crum, the director of GaDuGi, Lawrence’s sexual assault 24-hour crisis center.

Thanks to a $41,000 grant from the governor’s office, Crum now can refer victims to GaDuGi’s newest employee, Susan Miller.

Susan Miller is a new counselor with GaDuGi. She will work with victims of trauma. Miller was photographed at Wednesday at the United Way office building, 2518 Ridge Court. by Mike Yoder

Under the one-year grant, Miller, a licensed clinical professional counselor and trauma specialist, will hold one-on-one counseling sessions and host support groups throughout the community.

The therapy is free and available to anyone who has been sexually abused at any point in his or her life. It is also available to friends and family of sexual assault victims.

The missing link

For Crum, the therapy will provide a missing piece in the community’s support network.

“This is an idea we have had for years and years,” Crum said. “I think sometimes you put the wish out there and then you say to yourself, somewhere, somehow, some way, we are going to find a grant that supports that.”

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women allocated money throughout the country to aid victims of sexual assault. Kansas will receive $409,000 over two years. GaDuGi was one of three sexual assault centers in Kansas to tap into the funding.

Juliene Maska, administrator of the Governor’s Grants Program, said that as long as Congress appropriates the funding, the projects will continue. She also stressed the importance of offering free therapy for sexual assault victims.

“So often the population that does report (sexual assaults) is a young population and then with a large university community, they are not going to have access to funds to pay for mental health services, even with a sliding scale fee. So to be able to access good-quality service free of charge … is a good thing,” she said.

While GaDuGi provides support in the hours after an assault and as victims navigate the legal system, it has never offered counseling. In the past, survivors have had to make numerous phone calls to find a therapist who was trained in treating trauma and one who was accepting clients. The cost of therapy can be expensive, even for people who have insurance.

“There is all kinds of layers that create barriers and we don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Crum said.

How to cope

A good part of Miller’s work will be teaching survivors how to cope with the trauma of sexual assault.

“That adrenaline burst that you get when you are defending yourself — that is a huge amount of energy that courses through your body and that can get stuck there if you don’t know how to settle it or if you don’t allow it to settle,” Miller said. “That is what causes symptoms of post-traumatic stress.”

In some cases, PTSD can develop into other mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, bipolar and eating disorders.

Before joining GaDuGi three weeks ago, Miller had worked for 18 years as a counselor for Independence Inc. It was there that Miller gained experience working with clients suffering from trauma.

“I noticed real early on in my practice at Independence Inc. that people with disabilities have been traumatized over and over in all kinds of ways,” Miller said. “I was seeing lots of suffering and I wanted to be able to help with that.”

Miller will be practicing a therapy method known as somatic experiencing, which uses the body’s sensations to help people develop skills in recognizing when their nervous system is aroused and to find ways to release that feeling. Patients won’t have to relive or re-enact the trauma.

For clients who see Miller shortly after an assault, she will use Trauma First Aid, which was developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help stabilize people who had just experienced traumatic events. The hope is that early intervention could prevent PTSD from forming later.

“You would never wish this upon somebody, but if it is going to happen, why not provide something that helps turn it around, so it can become something where a person has learned something from that experience,” Miller said.

GaDuGi support

GaDuGi counseling services are free to anyone who has been sexually assaulted at any point in his or her life.

To schedule an appointment, call Susan Miller at 843-8985, ext. 370, or e-mail her at counselor@sunflower.com. Miller will also conduct several support groups throughout the community.

The first will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 23 at Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave. The public is invited. Through making art, the session will teach skills for people recovering from trauma.

Last week’s attempted sexual assault and brutal stabbing of a 23-year-old woman — in the middle of the afternoon — left those who use the South Lawrence Trafficway bike path feeling uneasy.

“I would never imagine something like that would happen here,” 19-year-old Nathaniel Mehl said.

Mehl jogs on the path regularly and happened to be running on the afternoon of June 16, when he helped stop the attack in progress.

Those who teach self-defense classes in Lawrence said the incident has sparked an increased interest, especially among women concerned for their safety.

Robert Riley, owner of Lawrence Jiu-Jitsu, 315 N. Second St., said he offers a class specifically designed for women, hoping to give them the skills and confidence to fend off an attack.

“The most important thing I always want to instill in all of my students is the willingness to engage,” Riley said. “Have that be your instinct in lieu of just freezing up and not knowing what to do.”

Riley said Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the few self-defense systems designed to give a weaker person the ability to subdue a much larger attacker, but the different holds and techniques are not something that can be learned in a one-day seminar.

“Everyone needs to understand that self-defense is not something you can learn by reading a pamphlet,” Riley said. “It might take months, or even up to a year, to be proficient, to learn how to defend yourself adequately.”

Riley did offer some tips for women. If you find yourself in a similar situation, he suggests making as much noise as possible to draw attention to yourself. If you are going to be out jogging or biking in an isolated area, carry a whistle, wear a body alarm or carry pepper spray.

Police said the secluded location of the bike path makes it a difficult area for officers to patrol.

“There is no easy way to get to it,” Lawrence police Sgt. Bill Cory said. “It is so far out on the edge of town, and call volumes can keep us from getting out there on a routine basis.”

Police encourage people who use the bike path to be vigilant.

“Citizens just need to be aware of their surroundings,” Cory said. “Know who you are coming up against, who you are passing. If you’re riding on that path and you’re coming up on someone who looks out of the ordinary and you feel uncomfortable, turn around, go the other way and call police.”

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine.

District Attorney Charles Branson praised Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s efforts during the past eight months to increase its services to sexual assault victims.

“They’ve really made a great effort at trying to make sure they are delivering the services that the community needs,” Branson said this morning at his office.

Last fall, Branson raised concerns about the number of adult victims being transferred to hospitals in Topeka and Kansas City.

“That was particularly alarming to me because there was a delay in being able to see people ... and being able to collect evidence to be able to do the things that we really, as a community, should be doing here locally.”

Today, he has no complaints. That’s because LMH has taken a number of measures, including increasing the number of nurses trained to be a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). In 2009, there were nine, and now there are 16. Three more nurses are scheduled for the 40-hour training in June.

It’s paid off.

There have been 18 adult sexual assault cases this year and none of the victims were transferred. In 2009, there were 64 cases and three were transferred. In 2008, there were 34 cases and five were transferred.

Branson and LMH leaders agree that it’s still best to send pediatric cases — children 14 and younger — to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., or Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, because they are better equipped and trained to handle such cases.

One child has been transferred this year. In 2009, there were five transfers, and there was one in 2008.

“Pediatric cases take special care, special training, special processes. We still feel that it’s best if those children are seen at other facilities,” Branson said.

But, he hopes such services will be added in the future.

New equipment, room

Besides training, LMH has obtained a new state-of-the-art system for collecting evidence that it will begin using in June. Only a few hospitals in the state have the Secure Digital Forensic Imaging System, which costs about $25,000.

Branson described it as a very secure system that provides high-resolution and detail-oriented evidence.

“We think it will be a great benefit to help process cases and hopefully hold offenders accountable,” Branson said.

In March, LMH nurses requested an examination room away from the Emergency Department for forensic evidence collection. Their request was granted.

The new examination room is more homelike with a waiting area. The room is designed to give victims more privacy and a sense of security and hope. There also is a shower.

Dana Hale, vice president of nursing at LMH, said, “As you can imagine, the women would like to shower afterwards and we have not been able to offer that in the past.”

Hale estimates LMH has spent about $150,000 to improve its services.

Among other improvements:

• In October, Jessie Fazel was named SANE coordinator. She oversees scheduling, education and orientation of nurses.

In October 2009, Jessie Fazel became SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She is an emergency room nurse who is trained to handle sexual assault exams. As coordinator, she oversees scheduling, education and orientation of SANE nurses. She also serves of the Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team. This picture was taken a year ago. by Philip Heying

• Amy McGowan, assistant district attorney, provided two training sessions for nurses. She gave an overview of the criminal process, what a nurse can expect as a witness, and how to prepare for the courtroom.

• In December, a SANE instructor provided an eight-hour training for all of the emergency room nurses. If a SANE-trained nurse isn’t available, the ER nurse will be able to collect data and a doctor can do the exam.

Hale said the biggest challenge has been for newly trained SANE nurses to complete the competencies required to perform exams independently, and therefore, be able to serve on call. The nurses have to participate in four exams and be monitored by someone who is competent.

Community efforts

LMH and Kansas University’s Watkins Health Center have established an agreement to allow nurses to do pelvic exams at the clinic to help reach that competency level.

It’s just one example of how Lawrence community leaders are working together to better serve sexual assault victims.

LMH and Watkins are part of a Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that has been around for years. Other members are the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, KU Public Safety Office, Lawrence Police Department, GaDuGi SafeCenter, and the district attorney’s office.

Branson said an outside agency has put together a protocol to help define what each member’s role is within the community. That protocol is under review.

“We’ve all learned something about each other in how we operate and how we do things that we didn’t know before, and I think that’s going to be a real benefit to all of us,” Branson said.

Pam Lawrence, coordinator of adult and child services at GaDuGi, thinks the community and LMH are making great strides in helping sexual assault victims.

She praised LMH for the new equipment, exam room and boosting the number of trained nurses. She said it is extremely difficult for a sexual assault victim to take that step to get an exam.

“It’s a hard thing to go through — just the evidence collection. It’s very intrusive,” Lawrence said. “It’s just such a traumatic situation. We should be looking at what we can do to make it less stressful for them, and I think we are headed in the right direction.”

In Kansas, sexual assault affects about 3,000 women and 900 men each year.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation:

• Every 8 hours, one rape is reported.

• 78 percent of perpetrators know their victims.

As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence urges all Kansans to strengthen their efforts to provide safety and support for victims and accountability for perpetrators in their community.

“We are urging all Kansans to believe and support victims, and to hold perpetrators accountable by speaking out against these crimes. We can end sexual violence in Kansas, but it’s going to take everybody working together to create communities where sexual violence is not tolerated.”

— Sandy Barnett, executive director of KCSDV

All Kansans can do something to support victims and end sexual violence in their community:

• Attend a sexual assault awareness event in your community. Find an event at kcsdv.org.

• Learn the facts about sexual violence and speak out against rape myths.

• Know the Kansas Crisis hot line number: (888) END-ABUSE.

• Be familiar with sexual and domestic violence advocacy organization(s) serving your community and be ready to make a referral. Find a program near you at kcsdv.org.

• Donate to or volunteer at your local advocacy program.

In Lawrence, there are two:

• GaDuGi Safe Center: 841-2345.

• The Willow Domestic Violence Center: 770-3030 or 843-3333.

Between July 2007 and June 2008, 23 sexual and domestic violence advocacy organizations in Kansas reported:

• 45,000 — crisis hot line calls.

• 23,000 — victims served.

• 44,000 — counseling hours provided.

• 1,700 — victims who needed medical assistance.

• 2,800 — victims sheltered.

• 62,900 — number of nights that victims and their families spent in shelter and transitional housing.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association has purchased a Secure Digital Forensic Imaging System for the emergency department.

The system is used to document and collect evidence in sexual assault and physical abuse cases. It will allow for the capture of sharper and higher quality documentation of evidence. The system also has high level data encryption which secures the evidence collected.

The association said in a press release Wednesday that the equipment will be used by LMH’s sexual assault nurse examiners when evaluating patients who have experienced sexual and/or physical abuse.

Donations from the LMH Endowment Association, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, the Douglas County Community Foundation and LMH employee Audrey Bishop made the purchase possible.

The purchase comes six months after District Attorney Charles Branson wrote a letter to LMH President and CEO Gene Meyer expressing his concern about the number of rape victims being sent to out-of-town hospitals.

“This is a problem that’s been ongoing for a while,” he said in a September interview.

Branson said that turning people away could lead some rape victims to abandon the reporting process and that delays in examination could destroy evidence needed to hold an attacker accountable.

During an October interview, Meyer said LMH planned to boost the number of sexual assault nurses capable of performing the exams from five to 17.

According to Wednesday’s release, LMH now has 12 nurses trained to handle such exams.

Both LMH and the District Attorney’s office declined to comment until a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

— 6News Director Jesse Fray contributed information to this story.

NPR and the Center for Public Integrity are debuting a four-part series on campus sexual assaults. In yesterday's story -- Campus Rape Victims: A Struggle for Justice -- NPR reporter Joseph Shapiro began with startling research from the U.S. Department of Justice:

A college campus isn't the first place that comes to mind in a discussion about violent crime.

But research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1 out of 5 college women will be sexually assaulted. NPR's investigative unit teamed up with journalists at the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) to look at the failure of schools — and the government agency that oversees them — to prevent these assaults and then to resolve these cases.

Part Two -- Failed Justice Leave Rape Victim Nowhere to Turn -- was aired today on All Things Considered.

The Center for Public Integrity has been following this issue for a while. Their reports -- Sexual Assault on Campus: A Frustrating Search for Justice -- are well worth reading.