Rape crisis center reports increase in assaults

There have been 502 assaults reported in Hennepin County this year - 78 in September alone. This number is the highest in 30 years.

One woman, brutally sexually assaulted by her best friend's brother, said that just after the attack, "I didn't think I was going to live." While most attackers are known to the victim, there has been an increase in stranger-perpetrated assaults (by 10%) and assaults with physical violence. "We've had significant injuries in a lot of the rapes this summer and we don't normally see that," said Sexual Assault Resource Service (SARS) Center Director Linda Ledray.

The SARS Center provides nurses to all Hennepin County hospitals to treat, counsel, and collect evidence from sexual assault victims.

The reason for the rise in rapes is not clear, but may be connected to an increase in violent crimes overall. SARS center directors believe that mace, self-defence classes, and not walking alone at night are reactionary, rather than rape prevention, geared towards males.

Rape Crisis Center Reports Increase in Assaults