April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Coalition to End Family Violence are reminding the public that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Statistics show that one in two disabled women will be raped in their lifetime and one in three females will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Of forcible rapes, 29 percent occur when the victims are less than age 11.

Cherie Duval, president of the coalition, said she is "delighted" to be working with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association. "Since I’ve been with the coalition, the sheriff’s association has been a major sponsor and supporter of our activities."

Radio ads and billboards will include information on how to contact the coalition hotline at (800) 300-2181, the only one in Ventura County that provides 24-hour, bilingual counseling by certified counselors.

In 2004 the coalition provided 10,040 rape crises services.

For more information from a law-enforcement perspective, call the Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association at (805) 987-9785.