VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women has long been prevalent across the nation. Wisconsin is no exception! The number of women in Wisconsin who are victims of crime is staggering.

There were over 4,600 reports of sexual assault in Wisconsin in 2009 alone, with 84% of victims female. 72% of those targeted were juveniles, 61% under 11 years of age. In 2008, there were nearly 30,000 domestic abuse incidents reported to law enforcement and referred to district attorneys offices in Wisconsin. Three quarters of these victims were female. The number of domestic homicides in Wisconsin in 2008 was 54, with 63% of the victims being female.

Violence against women is an issue that deserves our attention. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is combating this problem is a variety of ways. In March, the Department began using grant money to fund a new resource prosecutor devoted to violence against women. The Violence Against Women Resource Prosecutor (VAWRP) is a full time Assistant Attorney General who provides advice and technical assistance to prosecutors throughout the state on domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking cases. Additionally, the position allows for local prosecutors to receive training at the semi-annual State Prosecutors Education and Training (SPET) Conferences as well as other specialized conferences. The VAWRP is also available to act as special prosecutor for district attorneys, upon their request.

The Department also provides grant money through the Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS) to various crime victim services in Wisconsin that aim to help victims of sexual assault

Unfortunately, we can only do so much in law enforcement to curb this trend. It is estimated that nationwide, less than half of all sexual assaults are reported to police. We can only seek justice where we know crime exists, and for crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault, we rely almost exclusively on victims coming forward to the authorities.

This is why it is so important to bring these facts to light. It is essential that we make known to this large contingent of Wisconsin citizens, victims who may feel isolated and wrought with fear, that they are not in fact alone. The law enforcement agencies and prosecutors of Wisconsin are always willing to come to the aid of crime victims, and we at the Department of Justice will do our best to aid them in that endeavor.