07 Apr District Attorney Matt Ballard Leads Anti-Sexual Assault Campaign
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Research shows if a person discloses a sexual assault and the first reaction he or she receives is negative the likelihood the victim will seek professional help or report to police plummets. Terrifying given, on average, a rapist will attack 6 people. So every attack that goes unreported could well mean five more rapes: A victory for the perpetrator.
District Attorney Matt Ballard, District 12, is heading up an effort to fight sexual assault with a simple but effective campaign called “Start By Believing”.
Matt is a former sexual violence prosecutor and says “Victims need to feel empowered to come forward. Of all violent crimes what we see over and over is the fact sexual assaults tend to be the most psychologically damaging.”
During multiple events in April, 2015 Matt will invite our law enforcement partners, the Rogers State University community, members of the media and residents throughout the district to spread the word and together stand up against sexual assault and rape.
During each event there will be pledge sheets on hand for people to add their names and take group pictures for use on web sites and across social media. The pledge reads “My name is ______ and when someone tells me they were raped or sexually assaulted, I… Start By Believing”
Matt encourages other individuals and groups to take up the campaign, pledge and post to support survivors in the community and help make it a safer place going forward.
To request Matt attend your Start By Believing event please contact Community Outreach Coordinator Michelle Lowry: michelle.lowry@dac.state.ok.us (918) 923-4521
Making sure all victims receive proper treatment and are encouraged to report is key to a safer and healthier community.
As a prosecutor Matt says “My office has a hardline stance that people proven to have committed these types of crimes need to go to prison and be on the sex offender registry. Because there is a high likelihood the person will reoffend and these types of crimes can leave victims heavily traumatized.”
District 12 Events:
Thursday April 2, 2015
The Cherokee Nation hosts District Attorney Matt Ballard’s kick-off at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Members of the media and our helping agencies are invited
Monday April 6, 2015
Partnering with RSU to kick off the University’s Sexual Violence Prevention Week with a Start By Believing event
Tuesday April 7, 2015
All members of District 12 Law Enforcement are invited to join the Start By Believing campaign at 11:30am in the Rogers County Courthouse
Matt and members of his team will also attend the March 31, 2015 statewide Start By Believing campaign kickoff at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Learn more at StartByBelieving
Join the statewide efforts by “liking” the Start By Believing Oklahoma Facebook page
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