According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 2 out of every 3 rapes in the U.S. are committed by someone the victim knows. This might be an acquaintance, someone they are on a date with or someone they’ve newly met at a bar or club. But no matter who commits the crime, it’s a serious offense either way. The FBI ranks it as the second most violent crime, only after murder.

RAINN offers a few tips to help you recognize and get out of a potentially dangerous situation:

• Reduce your risk by sticking close to friends. Always make sure your friends know where you are and who you are with.
• In any relationship, you should read signals. If someone is not listening to you, not taking you seriously, or not responding when you say no, you should take that as a sign that they will not respect your wishes.
• If you are out in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, get out as safely as you can. If you have to, lie. Make up an excuse to remove yourself from the situation. Tell them you have to go to the bathroom, or to meet a friend, anything to get yourself out.

The circumstances vary from case to case, but the end result is the same. It doesn’t matter what the victim was wearing or if they were drinking. Rape is rape. It is a very serious crime that can have a long lasting effects on a victim.

 

More and more, DNA evidence is playing a larger role in solving cases. Whether used to link a suspect to evidence in a crime, in child ID kits, or collected after sexual assault, this 21st century fingerprint gives law enforcement some accurate information that can help bring you much closer to getting justice.

Which is why collecting DNA during fingerprinting after a felony arrest could be so important in helping to keep our communities safer. With many crimes committed by repeate offenders, this practice could help your state catch criminals sooner. DNA Saves is committed to helping to educating the public and law makers on the importance of DNA evidence, and how it helps in fighting crime. Continue reading Help Your State Bring Crimefighting Into The 21st Century »

There have always been crimes fueled by hatred or prejudice, but according to the FBI, it wasn’t really until a generation ago that the term “hate crime” entered our collective vocabulary. At least since the 1920s, the FBI has looked into crimes that appear motivated by bias, including civil rights violations. But hate crimes can extend beyond race or religion, and can include attacks motivated by gender, sexual orientation or even disabilities.

Often, this bullying and violence stems from attitudes learned at a young age. American society is increasingly diverse, and our children are going to encounter people of various ethnicities, cultures, and faiths in school and in the community. An understanding of tolerance for those differences among us is something that will help our children navigate the world around us and help them succeed. As Kid’s Health points out, tolerance is about accepting people for who they are, and treating others the way you would like to be treated. Continue reading Teaching Your Kids Tolerance »

For many of us, gang violence seems like something that happens in other neighborhoods, in movies or on TV. But it’s important to recognize how pervasive it really is, and how susceptible our kids and teens could be to the dangers. Gang violence is not just limited to urban centers, to poverty or any particular ethnic group or race.  The National Center for Victims of Crime reminds us that gangs can reach out to rural and suburban communities, no matter the socio-economic or cultural make up.

Such violence brought tragedy to three California families in May of 2009. Police say that a group of thugs walked up behind unsuspecting 25 year-old C.J. Davis as he was on his way to the market, and opened fire on him with an assault rifle. While speeding away from the scene and with police in hot pursuit, the Cadillac carrying the gang members slammed into another car at an intersection, killing the other driver instantly. The impact sent the vehicles spinning out of control, striking and killing a pedestrian as well. While three of the gang members have since been apprehended, a fourth, Rafael Campbell is still at large. Continue reading How Gang Violence Can Affect Your Community »