Sex assault victim services pilot program ends

A pilot program that began in November to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has ended, and Mt. Pleasant Police officers will continue to refer victims to the service that provided victim support.

Lt. Don Sytsema told city commissioners that the partnership between the department and the Recovery Independence, Safety & Empowerment that ended in May resulted in both in-person and telephone help to victims, and that the department will continue to work with R.I.S.E. to offer victims support.

Sytsema said R.I.S.E. staff responded to cases of domestic violence or sexual assault roughly seven times during the pilot program when the crimes were reported between 7 a.m. and midnight, and responded the next morning in after hours cases.

Designed to coordinate an immediate on-scene response to victims of domestic and sexual violence, R.I.S.E. also provides immediate on-scene crisis inter

vention, emotional support and victim rights advocacy.

In addition to assisting victims, the R.I.S.E. program provides victim-centered and offender focused services to minimize and eliminate further victim trauma, and enhances the ability of police to get information that may lead to reduced rates of repeat offenses and lead to prosecution

when appropriate, Sytsema said.

Formerly Women’s Aid Service in Isabella County, R.I.S.E. Advocacy, Inc. provides support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Its mission is to provide safety and empowerment to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, to work to eliminate sexual victimization and intimate partner violence through shelter, treatment, education and social change.