Despite increased kit testing, sexual crimes are still high and under-reported

In 2018, then Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley took action and applied for grant funding to address the statewide backlog of untested sexual assault kits. Since that time, a substantial portion of backlogged rape kits have been tested and some results have followed.

But, that doesn’t necessarily take care of the problem.

According to Amber Tinker, executive director of Haven House in Poplar Bluff, rape and sexual assault are crimes that aren’t going away; and there is still some misunderstanding.

“Rape is one of the most under-reported crimes out there,” Tinker noted. “And I can understand why some people might feel dismissive and ask why it doesn’t get reported more than it does. But that’s making an assumption about someone’s mental state — as if everyone has the exact same mental health.”

Through her work in Haven House, Tinker said she has met and worked with numerous women from a variety of different backgrounds. She has learned that no two victims are exactly alike.

“I think shame can be a big component for why rape is under-reported,” Tinker remarked. “Imagine suffering that kind of physical and mental trauma, and when you make a report you’re asked if you might have done something to cause the crime to happen.”

According to the National Sex Violence Resource Center, 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police, and only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities. Meanwhile, the prevalence of false reporting is between 2% and 10%.

“I don’t think anyone can judge the actions of someone else until they’ve walked in their shoes,” Tinker stated. “I don’t think anyone has the right to say what a victim should say or do.”

Tinker noted she is grateful for the fact that Haven House is able to provide the assistance of advocates to victims who help them through the process of making a report and being involved with them through the entire process.

“So many women don’t want to talk about what they experienced for however long because they just aren’t mentally ready to do so,” Tinker explained. “It’s so unnatural to go through that level of trauma and combine it with the sense of shame that goes along with it.”

Tinker went on to explain one reason for the sense of shame victims feel could be because many rapes and sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows and trusts.

“I think there is this myth that people believe that rape is a crime that occurs randomly, and that’s just not true” she exclaimed. “When you look at the statistics, the majority of cases involve someone the victims knows and loves.”

According to the NSVRC, nearly one in 10 women has been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime, and in eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the person who sexually assaulted them.

“Honestly, I think there is a fear that the victim will go through process of reporting, and all the discomfort that goes along with that, for nothing,” Tinker stated. “Or maybe they will go through all of it, but nothing will happen after the report is made and evidence is taken.”

Tinker noted that rape kits can be collected and held without filing a report until the victim feels ready to go through the process of filing the report.

“It doesn’t have to be done immediately. It can wait if it needs to,” Tinker said. “The important thing is for the victim to know that they do have an advocate who will help them every step of the way. I’m glad a lot of these rape kits have been tested and are being tested; and I hope justice is served. But I want everyone to know that we’re here as an advocate to do whatever we can to help. Not everyone has the same needs.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis and/or might need some assistance there is a local 24/7 hotline that is available for victims to call when they are in need of advocacy or help:573-686-4873.