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Thursday, April 21, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Local group offers counseling to rape victims
By James Buckman
By James Buckman
Kansan staff writer
A local victim support group hopes that this week's observance of Victims Rights Week will help educate the public about their service.
Marchia Epstein, a volunteer counselor with the Douglas County Rape Victim Support Service, said she has received an important message to convey.
"What a lot of people don't understand is that what happened to them and how they are feeling about it is common," she said. "They may
think they are crazy, and then not talk about it.
"They may not know that help is available."
But help is available, Epstein said. And enough people now are realizing that they can get support from the police and that they do not report the rape to the police.
The service handled 56 cases from November 1988 through October 1987. During approximately that same period of time, only 10 rape cases were reported to law enforcement agencies in Douglas County.
The support service has been in operation since 1972, and Epstein said the training method of the seriosiest patients has evolved through the years.
The volunteers are trained to be familiar with hospital, police and court procedures to be able to help encounters in any pt 3Sems they might encounter.
Epstein said, "We provide one-on-one support, but we also work on helping the students through the legal system if necessary, but never else may be involved in terms of
sexual assault."
Both the dispatcher for the KU police and a spokesman for Lawrence Memorial Hospital said that their institutions would refer rape victims to the victim support services at the victim's request. The spokesman for LMH said that most victims requested the referral.
After being referred to the service, the volunteers will meet the victim at the police station and report the police and eventually may accompany them to court, Epstein said.
Douglas County program offers support for victims of crimes
A Douglas County program set up last summer helms crime victims get through the experience.
office of district attorney in 1984.
By a Kansan reporter
Douglas County District Attorney Jim Flory was a proponent of the program when he ran for the
"It's something I've wanted to have for some time." Flory said.
Victims are contacted by someone from the program after the crime report has been filed. The program offers services from keeping victims posted on court dates to counseling to changing the locks on their doors. The important thing, Flory said, was to have personal contact with the
victims.
They get through the experience.
The Victim/Witness Program through the Douglas County District Attorney's office offers a wide range of support for victims of crimes against the person.
Judy Osburn, coordinator of the program, said the program was intended to make things easy for victims.
"We try to make the legal system more understanding for the witness and victim," she said.
Flory said that the program didn't offer assistance to burglary victims but that he would like to see it expanded to them in the future.
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