JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In Florida, an estimated 3 of 4 sexual assaults go unreported to law enforcement.
"VictimsVoice," a new app being launched locally in June by the Women's Center of Jacksonville, is designed to change that statistic by providing a self-guided, online sexual assault reporting tool.
The app will function as a digital diary where victims can document abuse over time "in a safe, secure, consistent, complete and private manner," as well as legally admissible, to ultimately report to law enforcement, according to VictimsVoice founder and CEO Sheri Kurdakul.
Being piloted in Jacksonville and Adrian, Mich., and then distributed nationwide, the app will be installed on websites of police departments, sexual assault advocacy centers and other organizations. Survivors will be able to access it from any digital device, any time, any place.
"Being able to submit the report directly to law enforcement, or have us submit it anonymously on their behalf, empowers survivors to engage the justice system on their terms," said Teresa Miles, executive director of the center, which is a certified rape crisis facility for all genders in Duval, Baker and Nassau counties.
The pilot announcement was made in April because it is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The local launch is a partnership of the center, VictimsVoice, the 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and End Violence Against Women International, which provides training in sexual assault investigation and prosecution, among other things. The $20,000 cost came from an American Bar Endowment 2021 Opportunity Grant, one of only 15 awarded across the country.
That 3 of every 4 sexual assaults in Florida go unreported is one of many statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Safe reporting method
"There are many reasons why sexual assault victims are afraid to call the police," said Joanne Archambault, CEO of End Violence Against Women International and a retired sergeant from the San Diego Police Department Sex Crimes Unit. "But without a report, we have no way to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future attacks. We need to be much more creative about offering victims options, so they can feel comfortable reaching out to law enforcement."
The app will guide sexual assault survivors through what would be needed to complete a police interview. But it does so using "trauma-informed principles that focus on safety, choice, collaboration, trust and empowerment," Miles said.
The process uses "best-practices" interviewing techniques that prompt "survivors to describe what happened, their thoughts and their feelings, in their own words," she said. "The use of open-ended questions gives survivors the opportunity to share more information. Survivors of sexual assault don’t consciously choose what they remember or even how they responded to the assault. The survival part of the brain takes over."
VictimsVoice will ensure that the phrasing of questions doesn't blame survivors or for what they may be unable to recall, Miles said.
"The objectivity of a question being presented in written form, that is not accompanied by a perception of judgment or bias, could be a game-changer for survivors not coming forward due to shame and embarrassment," she said.
Holds offenders accountable
Sheriff Mike Williams and State Attorney Melissa Nelson said they hope the new tool can increase sexual assault reporting and offender accountability.
"Receiving information from survivors who would not otherwise report could help stop repeat offenders," Williams said. "We want to offer survivors every tool possible to report violence."
Nelson said, "Any time we support survivors in disclosing their abuse and treat them with respect, dignity and compassion, it is a victory for justice."
VictimsVoice founder Kurdakul said her own experience proved that being able to document sexual assault incidents is the "largest hurdle" to reporting.
In her early years she was a victim of child abuse. As an adult she suffered from domestic abuse, an "ugly divorce and a nasty custody battle," she said. Attorneys always told her "you've got to document everything."
"But documenting is hard to get right. It can be unsafe, insecure, exposed…," she said. "We’ve seen how effective our self-guided tool has been for domestic violence survivors. We’re excited to … create one for sexual assault survivors too."
Beth Reese Cravey: bcravey@jacksonville.com
WOMEN'S CENTER OF JACKSONVILLE
To seek help, donate, volunteer or get more information, contact the center at 5644 Colcord Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32211; (904) 722-3000; or go to thewcj.org. The center's 24-Hour Rape Crisis Hotline is (904) 721-7273.