April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office reports that there were 284 sexual assault cases reported in the county from January 1, 2015 to April 12, 2019, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
“One sexual assault is too many, but I am cautiously optimistic about the significant reduction in these occurrences in Atlantic County since 2015. I am hopeful that those in our community will make a concerted effort to recognize and respect the rights of one another to ensure a continued reduction in crimes such as these,” Prosecutor Tyner said.
Sexual Assault Cases reported in Atlantic County 2015-2018:
2015: 164
2016: 29
2017: 41
2018 until current: 50
Sexual violence is a serious public health problem in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual violence is any sexual activity where consent is not freely given. Sexual violence affects millions of people each year in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2015 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reports:
More than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives.
Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape in their lifetimes.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.
People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.