By Mark Peterson, Beaver County Radio Special Assignment Correspondent.

(Beaver County, PA)  April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Beaver County Radio has partnered with The Women’s Center of Beaver County to raise awareness about the topic.  Four weekly segments will air throughout the month with each focusing on different aspects of sexual assault.

 

Today’s installment is the second in the four part series and sheds light on the importance of having companionship and advocacy in the courtroom.  Many times, victims of sexual assault have to relive their horrible ordeal all over again through lengthy court proceedings and testimony.  Having a trusted ally to be present throughout the process with the victim can help lessen the burden and fear of  having to recount their experience in the presence of the perpetrator.  Beaver County Radio spoke with Patty Huselton earlier in a live on air interview about this very subject.  Ms. Huselton is a legal advocate available to victims of Sexual Assault through the Women’s Center of Beaver County.

 

Huselton also shared that many times, the accused will do everything in their power, and exhaust all legal avenues to try and get a case dismissed, or to buy time before ultimately being convicted.   Sometimes, those tactics can lead to a rather lengthy courtroom process.  A long period of fielding questions, and having to recall and provide testimony about the incident can be very intimidating and cause fear and anxiety for the victim of sexual assault. That is why having an advocate to support , encourage and advise throughout the process can have an impact  toward producing a positive legal outcome.  The Women’s Center of Beaver County provides these services and welcomes inquiries.  Raising awareness of this valuable courtroom advocate service is all part of local initiatives from the Women’s Center of Beaver County to coincide with National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which happens in April of every year.

For more information, call the Women’s Center of Beaver County at 724-775-0131. Help and counseling are available 24 hours a day.

Part three in this special series is scheduled to air and be published online next Thursday, April 22nd, so be sure to check back then for more valuable information on the issues surrounding sexual assault  from Beaver County Radio and The Women’s Center of Beaver County.