Interview with Author of No More! The Complete Guide to Preventing, Ending, and Responding to Sexual Violence; C.Edward Brost.

A Topic Indeed, Needs More of Our Attention: Interview with Author of No More! The Complete Guide to Preventing, Ending, and Responding to Sexual Violence; C.Edward Brost.

Rape is one of the underreported crimes in America. Significant changes to improve the treatment of sexual assault victims have occurred in the last two decades. The first crisis center was created in the 1970s, but only 6% will be jailed for their crime. In today's society rape and sexual assault crimes will be the least talked about, fear of being judged, family member, friend or acquaintance, or unknown. We still have to be aware that the possibility is high and talking about it needs to start to create a real change.

Q. In your own words what inspired you to write a book on the subject of sexual violence and assault? Did Anything transpire in your own or someone's close to you life that inspired to turn to write this book or have you worked with people involved in these situations? Because it's a real issue that is treated as such a taboo subject.

A. Working as a legal aid in one of America's maximum security prisons, I dealt directly with rapists, pedophiles and sexual killers incarcerated there. As a result, I became privy to quite a bit of undisclosed information about their crimes. What I found was that most of what I'd ever heard about sex offenders and sexual violence, was wide of the mark. I felt that I had an unusual opportunity and wanted to share this information.

Q. What do you hope that people will take away from No More! The Complete Guide to Preventing, Ending and Responding to Sexual Violence.

A. That the threat of rape is real. That no one is immune, and that denial can be a disastrous illusion. That it is paramount to educate your children about sexual violence, NOW. And, that you are more likely to be sexually assaulted by a known and trusted person, than by the slovenly character the media has portrayed as the sexual predator.

Q. How often does a recurrence of sexual assault to full on rape re-occur after the first initial incident if it occurs in a domestic situation to a stranger situation? How likely in a domestic to the person being a complete stranger will:

a. Because of being a similar to same situation once before will the victim face it again without proper help? Not knowing what to look for, etc.

b. How likely will the predator or assailant being convicted in a case where the victim knows the person, acquaintance, domestic, to and if "it's a stranger rape"?

A. a. Domestic partner rape is a problem that 1.5 million American women face every year. It is estimated that domestic partner rape survivors are the least likely to report these crimes or seek assistance for extended periods of time. The reasons for not reaching out vary. What must be understood, is that domestic partner rape IS domestic violence. And, as in most cases of domestic violence, it does not go away with the passage of time; it almost always gets worse. Even if the victim is not beaten, but coerced, she may likely be assaulted innumerable times over the course of the relationship. Learning to recognize behaviors that indicate instability and potential danger, is paramount for the prevention of domestic partner rape.

b. Contrary to popular belief, convictions for rape have increased over recent years. As with any crime, with proper police work, the collection of evidence and credible witness testimony rape will be successfully prosecuted, whether it be acquaintance, domestic partner or rape by a stranger.

Q. In your book No More! The complete Guide to Preventing, Ending and Responding To Sexual Violence, you talk about prevention, what to be aware of in a sexual predator. What do you feel is the appropriate age for a parent to discuss a topic as such? How should it be approached and or explained? Because I believe in being aware but for many this a widely debated topic.

A. First of all, no matter how old your child, you cannot make the "It-can't-happen-to-my-family" mistake. This mistake will manifest itself into silence regarding these issues. It is understandable that you may not know how to explain this type of violence to your child, or where to begin. The fear of frightening your child is understandable as well. Neveretheless, you must overcome these aversions, and learn to speak openly about these issues. It is important that you cultivate a climate in which your child will always feel comfortable speaking with you about difficult issues. By creating this type of atmosphere, your child will always feel safe and unafraid to speak with you about painful or embarrassing topics. Take the time, every day, to speak with your child to learn about his activities, as well as his feelings. Be certain to really listen, observing and encouraging the child to share his concerns with you. Sharing feelings and concerns of your own with your child (not just about the big issues, but about all issues) can be a good segue into this kind of communication. Good communication and the introduction to safety skills should begin as soon as your child can articulate a sentence.

Q. Has there been enough studies to say why one would become a sexual predator? If so is it environment, or like some studies show in different murders a change or something different about the brain in comparison to what is considered normal could it be part, or both?

A. The propensity to commit violent acts exists in all of us. While many convicted sex offenders suffer from one form of mental illness or another; as many prisoners convicted of other crimes do, what one must understand is that most incidents of sexual violence are about power, not sexual deviance. That before there is a sex offense, there is a deeply troubled human being. Many people in our society, who will never commit a sexual offense, suffer from the same disorders and dysfunctions as do those who have or will commit a sexual offense. The difference between those who sexually offend and those who do not, is more of degree than kind. Portrayals of the monster/predator stereotype have long been sensationalized. The belief that most rapes are committed by a psychotic individual is possibly the largest misconception that exists regarding sex crimes.

Q. How do you think in a society so dependent on social media can the awareness of sexual predators especially repeat offenders be taken more serious? How can people see before it takes place, when it seems that someone so dangerous to society with no proof of rehabilitation is more protected than its victims and its potential.

A. Contrary to the ever increasing belief that once a sex offender, always a sex offender, the rate of recidivism for convicted and released sex offenders is actually the lowest when compared to other offenders. The results of a study, conducted by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that the recidivism rate for "treatment compliant patients" was extremely low, at 1.2%. To put it another way, 98.8% of these offenders never committed another sex offense. The supposition that sex offenders, as a matter of certainty, will re-offend sooner or later, is flatly incorrect. The statistics and the research show that sex offenders, especially those who engage in specialized treatment and supervision, are NOT likely to re-offend sexually.

Q. By putting living restrictions on a sexual offender, repeat offenders, does not stop them from traveling outside of where there allowed to be. In retrospect how can individual states tailor there laws to better protect not the offender but it's own citizens? The same goes for colleges how can schools better protect their students and help the student to feel safer without blaming the victim for the crime? Which is more common practice than not.

A. Sex offender registration and residency restriction laws are deceptive in nature. Because of the heinous nature of the crimes for which these laws are triggered, the perpetrators of these offenses are not likely to ever be released. That is, these laws will never affect the offenders that triggered them. So while these laws seem to be preventive, they address none of the ways the system failed the victim, and focus only on re-punishing former offenders who are already in the community and in compliance with existing law. Not because of any threat they may currently pose, but because of threats society is unable to solve. The reality is that data collected shows that there is absolutely no correlation between where a sex offender lives, and the reduction of sex crimes. There is nothing to support the notion that children are more likely to be victimized by strangers in areas offenders are restricted from, than areas they are not. Placing restrictions on the residency options of released offenders was initially intended to keep strangers away from children at specific locations such as schools, libraries and public pools. But the reality is that victimization by a stranger, although tragic, is rare. Approximately 90% of all sex crimes committed against children are committed not by strangers, but by those the victims are acquainted with.

Q. Do you feel that a line can be blurred within the law when it comes to drinking, drugs, and sex crime does occur and either are involved the crime? It seems to be pushed to one side if brought to light, just because either is involved does not or should be condoned. How do you think this should be handled especially with teens the Young adults?

A. The law is the law. No gray line exists. Sexual contact is considered unwanted if you have not given legal consent to such contact. For instance, "NO!" clearly establishes a lack of legal consent. However, saying "no" or physically resisting sexual contact are not essential elements necessary to demonstrate a lack of legal consent. For example, while state laws vary, if you are suffering from certain disabilities or are intoxicated, you are considered by law to be incapable of giving legal consent. That does not mean you have to be intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness, only intoxicated. It should also be understood that the means by which one becomes intoxicated, alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal), or one's willingness to become intoxicated have absolutely no bearing on whether or not a crime has been committed. If ANY nonconsensual sexual contact occurs, no matter what your mental state, the circumstances involved, or your relationship with the perpetrator, you have become the victim of a crime. Education of the facts is the only way students will understand sexual violence.

Q. How do you feel awareness to this topic can be brought to people?

A. The only real way to bring awareness to the forefront, is by changing the way we deal with sexuality in our society. Too often sexuality is treated as a taboo topic. But the reality is that without sexuality we cease to exist. Issues concerning sexuality and sexual violence need to be discussed and not hidden away with hopes one never has to deal with this violence. Because denial is a terrible safety strategy. Community forum is the only way.

Q. Please share any thoughts or feelings you have to this subject. What people should know, how can we start seeing change, etc. Please discuss your feelings on the subject and how as a society we can help to bring about awareness, change, etc.

A. Sexual violence has always been shrouded in myth, misconception, and just flat out untruth. Many people subscribe to absurd principles regarding both victim and perpetrator alike. And until we as Americans look at this social problem for what it is, a social problem, and stop hunting for the boogyman and start educating our citizens with facts instead of misguiding them with fear, we will continue to fail. We will continue to hear tragic news stories, see more arbitrary laws passed, and more families torn apart. And then it will happen again, and again, and again. The only way to see change is to change the way we have consistently done things. Learning that our personal safety is up to each of us and learning to recognize behaviors that indicate instability and danger is important for the prevention of sexual violence. Being raped can be a terrifying and traumatic experience. An experience that can leave you feeling alone, afraid and wondering where to turn. It is important to remember that there are people, in or near your community, who are ready and willing to help you. You are not alone. And remember, too, no matter what others think or may suggest to you, rape is never your fault. Only a rapist, not you, is responsible for the attack. You will know whether or not a sexual act has been committed against you without your consent. Whether you were coerced, forced or drugged unwanted sexual contact is sexual assault and it is a crime. What others think or suggest regarding the validity of your assault is not important, and these suggestions should not confuse you. Remembering that everyone finds her own way to respond to a sexual attack, and whatever you are feeling is a normal response to this crisis, is important.