$1.1 million in legislative money will help more thoroughly investigate sex crimes

More than $1 million in legislative funding will be used to improve Arizona's handling of sexual assaults, state Attorney General Janet Napolitano said last night.

Napolitano, speaking at the annual meeting of the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, detailed the ways in which $1.1 million of legislative funding will be used to improve Arizona's prevention, prosecution and response to sexual assault.

"Arizona has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the nation," Napolitano said. "Yet, Arizona currently has one of the lowest arrest rates for sexual assault."

According to SACASA, only 16 percent of sexual assaults in Arizona are reported to the police.

Napolitano plans to use the $1.1 million to change the way Arizona handles sexual assault.

$450,000 was given to the Arizona Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a sex crimes analysis network. The computer program will allow Arizona police to investigate sex crime suspects more thoroughly by cross-referencing the methods of operation of a particular suspect in multiple states' databases.

"This network is a planned outcome from a public outcry (about sexual assault) in 1999," said Col. Dennis Garret, director of the Arizona DPS.

Garret said the new network will allow investigators to better handle sexual assault cases.

"In the past, there was no way to link cases across jurisdictions," Garret said. "Too often, agencies are investigating different cases, unaware that they are investigating the same suspect."

The new system is still being developed, but Napolitano said it will be operational by 2002.

Napolitano also appropriated $100,000 to produce and run informational television ads about sexual assault.

The ads, which began running on cable stations throughout Arizona Sept. 28, were produced in both English and Spanish and are aimed at women between the ages of 12 to 24.

The ads are meant to let victims of sexual assault know that they are not alone and that help is available.

"Many survivors of sexual assault are ashamed or don't know where to get help," said Michael Bolchalk, president and CEO of Michael Bolchalk Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations. Bolchalk's firm produced the ads.

"With these ads, we want to do three things: first, raise awareness about sexual assault. Second, establish a resource for victims to find help. Third, we want to promote agencies that can provide assistance to victims," Bolchalk said.

Napolitano said that the number of calls reporting sexual assault has increased since the ads began to run. She called the increase positive saying, "Every call we get is potentially a life we can save."

Napolitano also provided funding for a collaboration of regional groups throughout the state to determine a set of guidelines for Arizona regarding sexual assault.

The guidelines are the first-ever of their kind in Arizona. They will help set protocols for police and other professionals handling sexual assault cases. A state-wide training conference will be held in November for all those affected by the new guidelines.

"We hope that victims will soon acknowledge a change in treatment," said state Sen. Virginia Yrun. "As a result, more cases will be reported and more offenders prosecuted."

Napolitano agreed.

"Only through a collaborative effort will we be able to hold more offenders accountable," she said.

For sexual assault assistance, call 1-800-656-HOPE or log on to azsexualassault.com.