Proclamation Recognizing the First Wednesday of April as Start by Believing Day in Sauk County

Sauk County shares a critical concern for victims of sexual violence and a desire to support their needs for justice and healing.  In 2017, the law enforcement agencies of Sauk County received a combined total of 159 reports of sexual assault; and Hope House of South Central Wisconsin served the needs of 224 Sauk County victims of sexual assault, including answering 1,066 crisis line calls from sexual assault victims, providing personal advocacy to 166 victims, criminal justice support to 30 victims, emergency legal advocacy to 28 victims, hospital and medical advocacy during forensic exams to 20 victims, information and referral to 145 victims, and support groups for 30 victims. Current estimates suggest as few as one in five sexual assaults will be reported to law enforcement and less than three percent will result in the conviction and incarceration of the perpetrator. Research documents that victims are far more likely to disclose their sexual assault to a friend or family member, and when these loved ones respond with doubt, shame, or blame, victims suffer additional negative effects on their physical and psychological well-being. The Start by Believing public awareness campaign (a program of End Violence Against Women International) is designed to improve the responses of friends, family members, and community professionals, so they can help victims to access supportive resources and engage the criminal justice system.