Top officials from across Suffolk joined the staff and supporters of the Crime Victims Center in committing to fighting sexual assault and violence during a special “Pinning” ceremony in Ronkonkoma last week.
With “frightening” statistics showing that one-in-four young women and one-in-thirteen boys are victims of sexual assault, the legislators and executives pledged to put their weight behind education, prevention and compensation to both prevent victimization and support those who have been impacted.
“With three daughters, this reality could very well hit my family,” said Congressman Nick LaLota in front of a crowd of more than 100 center staff and advocates. “I will lend my voice to make sure my constituents and Congress know seriousness of this issue.”
Every 68 seconds, a U.S. resident is sexually assaulted and every nine minutes, that victim is a child, data from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network shows. “The sheer magnitude of sexual abuse of adults and children is astounding and it’s a disgrace,” said Laura Ahearn, executive director of the center who is recognized as one of the nation’s leading sex crime victim advocates. “We have some very powerful people with us today who can make a big difference in reducing the frightening statistics of abuse,” Ahearn said.
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Crime Victims Center Executive Director Laura Ahearn discusses the frightening statistics
of sexual assault against children at a special "Pinning" ceremony with top officials to rally support in the fight against violence.
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“If I were starting a new company, I would definitely hire Laura Ahearn,” Mazzarella quipped after her introduction of the dozens of people she has recruited to the cause and the many programs she developed to assist the community. Personnel from the Ronkonkoma center spring into action when they learn of a crime and immediately advocate for the victims, especially in hospital settings where those subject to assault and their families are most in need of support. Their efforts encourage survivors to follow through with charges and help put perpetrators behind bars, Ahearn noted. By law, victims are entitled to compensation and the center plays a key role in making sure they receive reimbursement for their expenses related to the crime, such as medical costs and counseling.
In addition to being there for victims, the center works to prevent assaults through a number of education and awareness efforts. Their Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention and Sexing Prevention & Cyber Safety programs coordinate with government, community organizations, as well as schools and colleges, to help stop violence before it starts. Geared toward children, students and adults, the center presents courses with names such as You’re in Charge, When You Should Tell, Staying Safe, Don’t Cross the Line, Sexual Harassment Made Simple for Teens, Bringing in the Bystander, and Sexual Harassment for Adults.
They have a unit of retired law enforcement officers who monitor cyberspace for potential predators and are a driving force in updating and expanding sex offender notifications. They’ve been responsible for removing more than 600 registered sex offenders from Facebook, Ahearn noted.
Right from their website, residents can engage in a confidential chat to discuss incidences and services, and the center maintains a 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline, as well as a call center for Violent and Hate Crimes. Registered to do business as Parents for Megan’s law, they also have a Tipline and Helpline to target child exploitation and other sexual crimes. For more information, visit them at www.parentsformeganslaw.org
April is the nation’s 22nd Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 4 is recognized as “Teal Tuesday,” a day to support those impacted by sexual violence. Similar to the Crime Victims Center’s mission, the effort aims to stop sexual violence through education, boundaries and creating systemic change.
Crime leaves lasting scars, and the center seeks to lessen emotional trauma by addressing the depression, substance abuse, sleep disorders, suicidal ideations, and other issues a victim can suffer. They offer assistance with medical and legal referrals, obtaining orders of protection, counseling, and other services, along with employee training and child victim advocacy. Schools can obtain guidance from the center on fulfilling their New York State Erin’s Law requirements to provide education on child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention.
Also attending the pinning event hosted at the Plumbers Local Union #200 headquarters were representatives of Farmingdale and Suffolk Community College, along with Matthew Aracich, president of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk, which oversaw the distribution of the center’s educational material to 37 affiliated unions covering more than 64,000 members.
“Today we are with a whole group of people committed to making sure crimes of violence and sexual assault are not tolerated in our society,” Supervisor Romaine said. “Our first objective is public safety. Those who do wrong must know they will be held accountable.”