What We've Learned About Rape Since the Murders of the Cleveland Strangler

In many ways, the Imperial Avenue murders opened the eyes of Clevelanders to the prevalence and impact of sexual violence. Rape and violence against women are not new and certainly not exclusive to Cleveland. Prior to this tragedy, however, it was easier for our community to ignore rape and sexual abuse and pretend that it doesn't happen here.

The National Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States will be raped in their lifetimes. Most are harmed by someone they know, trust, and love. Only a small percentage of rapes are committed by strangers.

While progress never erases the pain and suffering that has been endured, I am heartened that positive changes have taken place since the world learned of Anthony Sowell. For example, Cleveland Police Department and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center have developed a much stronger partnership. There are now victim advocates, independent of law enforcement or prosecutors, stationed inside the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit, working side by side with detectives to provide emotional support, information, and resources to survivors.

I believe this partnership increases victim engagement in the criminal justice process and helps connect survivors immediately to supportive services. But there are still a lot of lessons to be learned or, in some cases, re-learned.

First and foremost, when survivors of rape and sexual abuse come forward, they must be believed and supported. We must treat them with the same level of dignity and respect, no matter their race or ethnicity, their gender or sexual orientation, their neighborhood or residence or history of substance use.

Second, research is evolving to teach us about the impact of trauma on the human brain. As one's body endures trauma, the brain kicks into survival mode and processes events and details in a very different way. This explains why survivors' reports in the initial aftermath of an assault are often fragmented or disjointed. There is a lot to be learned about the neurobiology of the trauma, which can inform our criminal justice system.

Third, victim advocates are an essential part of a community's response to sexual assault. Advocates are not optional; they are necessary. We know that survivors who feel believed and supported are more likely to participate in the criminal justice process, which, in turn, puts more offenders behind bars and prevents future crimes from occurring. Advocates also help connect survivors to other supportive services, such as counseling.

Using a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults provides the best path to healing for survivors and increases the chances that offenders will be caught and held accountable. Ignoring these best practices would keep our communities vulnerable.

After tragedies happen, we must let all survivors of rape, abuse, and violence know that we believe and support them. We must remind them that what happened was never their fault and that blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the offender, never the victim. And rather than talk at a survivor about what she should or should not have done, we need to listen—sit and listen and let a survivor tell us how we can help her or him recover.

These steps are the beginning of healing for survivors, their families, and the community at large. It's that simple.

We believe you.

Sondra Miller is the President & CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. With a mission to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse, promote healing and prevention, and advocate for social change, the Center serves nearly 20,000 people each year in Northeast Ohio.

To support the survivors of rape and their families, donate to the Cleveland Rape Crises Center.