I think it's important to remember that 99% of sexual assaults that were reported to Vermont law enforcement in 2004 were perpetrated by people the victim knew. |
I think there was a stigma about reporting to police, but I think it's getting better. A lot of people are working very hard to make sure services are sensitive to survivors, so I think that will increase people who report sexual violence, but we still have a long way to go. |
It's always a good idea to be aware of your personal and physical surroundings, but it's also a good idea to be aware of who you're hanging out with, who you're dating, who your children are friends with, because ultimately we're finding that's the population you should be worried about in terms of statistics in Vermont. |