A brief ceremony was held in a green space off of N. Washington St. recognizing Rock County's 250 reported cases of sexual assault in 2008. April is sexual assault awareness month.
JANESVILLE — The number of Rock County sexual assaults reported in 2008 was about the same as previous years, but many cases go unreported, officials said Tuesday.
"Not all victims are coming forward," said Pennie Meyers, program director for the Sexual Assault Recovery Program for Rock and Green counties.
"We all need to be challenged to stop the silence."
Rock County had 250 reported sexual assaults in 2008, officials said.
About 20 people gathered in a park outside Mercy Hospital on Tuesday to recognize the victims. Pinwheels were planted in the ground for each victim.
Members of Mercy Health System's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, law enforcement agencies, the Rock County District Attorney's Office and victim advocates attended the ceremony.
April is sexual assault awareness month.
Jackie Friar, coordinator for the hospital's program, said victims feel violated and demoralized.
She said domestic violence and child abuse often coincide with sex crimes.
"Sexual assaults show no boundaries," Friar said.
District Attorney David O'Leary said the partnership among the hospital, YWCA Rock County, attorneys and law enforcement has helped in the investigation of sexual assaults.
For example, the fact that sexual assault victims now do one taped interview about their rape is important, he said.
In the past, victims might have been interviewed several times by various agencies, each time reliving the crime, O'Leary said.
Dave Moore, Janesville police chief, said sexual assaults are taken seriously. He said sometimes the entire detective bureau is tapped to investigate a sex crime.
"Few crimes are more horrific than a sexual assault," he said. "Those crimes are exceedingly personal, and the psychological injuries frequently outlast the physical injuries."