Suffolk County Unites Against Sexual Abuse

Long Island has seen less crime on the streets since the coronavirus outbreak, but domestic and sexual abuse have become a growing concern. Roughly 450,000 cases of domestic violence are reported in New York State every year. Since the Crime Victims Center recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness month, they’re encouraging community members to take online courses and learn how to spot and report sexual abuse.

The Crime Victims Center reports every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. A child is victimized every nine minutes. The organization aims to stop sexual violence and is launching a month-long “Just Do One Thing” Campaign. The CVC is offering age appropriate courses for children, which are taught by educators who typically work in schools. Educators will remotely host free programs for adults and children. More than 200,000 public and private school students have taken these courses, which are based on school curriculum. The idea is to teach children how to say ‘no’ without using scary language. The CVC says parents can watch the classes with their children, calling parents the first line of defense.

The CVC is conducting training for employers who might have the time now to come into compliance with New York State law. Adults can take the Guardian of Children Program which is specifically tailored to prevent, detect, and report sexual abuse. Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini says people need to prevent sexual assault from happening in the first place and adults can be a force multiplier for educating the community.

“The more adults, parents, children that we empower, the less sex crime we will see,” Sini said.