by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Created by an executive order from the mayor in 1998, the Jacksonville Advisory Council on Sexual Assault is just now taking shape — and taking action.
Christine Rasche, associate professor of criminal justice and sociology at the University of North Florida, tells the history behind the formation of the Council.
“A reporter did an investigative report on how rape was handled by the State Attorney’s Office back in the mid-1990s because they were concerned about the lack of prosecutions,” said Rasche, this year’s Council chair. “Out of that came a task force of community members. One of the outcomes was the recognition that there was a whole variety of concrete little things that could be done. They came up with a huge list of recommendations for all the different agencies that were out there.”
Topping the list was the creation of the Advisory Council to act as an umbrella organization to monitor the delivery of services.
“They wanted it to be a collaboration between the mayor, the state attorney and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office,” said Rasche. “Bureaucracies are set up to handle issues unilaterally, not across agencies.”
Due to the lack of precedent for the Council and the monumental task it was undertaking, it has taken the group a year and a half to get organized.
Faced with coordinating the work of numerous nonprofit and government agencies took a great deal of preparation. Adding to the chore was wading through the task force’s 150 recommendations. The Council concluded its review process last fall. This spring, three new committees were formed.
“Our ongoing concern is that victims of sexual assault should have access to advocates as early as possible,” said Rasche. “They should not be left surrounded by medical personnel and police without access to someone whose sole purpose is to help her. The FBI has said that rape is the most under reported crime in the United States. For every one reported, they think there are 10 times as many. Those that choose to report it find themselves in the company of those whose prime agenda is to solve the crime or collect evidence.”
Coupled with the onslaught of clinical information gathering by emergency workers is the difficulty in sometimes connecting victim advocates with victims early in the investigation. To solve the problem, the Council has reached an agreement with the JSO to implement a call-out procedure for advocates in Duval County.
According to Shirley Webb, executive director at the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, the first director of Hubbard House and the first Council chair, the Advisory Council serves to coordinate services to make sure resources are put to their best use and to prevent duplication of services.
She identified three main areas the group is targeting: 1) law enforcement and prosecution; 2) resources and services, and 3) community awareness and education.
Identifying the top target areas was the result of hearing expert testimony.
“The feedback comes from survivors, law enforcement and various other populations,” said Webb.
“Just based on the list of recommendations, the sheriff’s office, state attorney’s office and victim services center have changed the way they’ve done some things,” said Rasche.