April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. has signed the declaration proclaiming April 2005 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

"Break the Silence, Break the Cycle, Join the Movement"

Please join us for the annual SAAM awards on April 12th with keynote speaker Shirley Brown-Miller. This year's recipients include:

Jennifer Boone, Community at Large
Dianne Fuller, Director, Salt Lake SANE
Diane Hendrickson, Rape/Sexual Assault Program Manager, New Horizons Crisis Center
Holly Johnson, Victim/Witness Coordinator, Tooele County Attorney's Office
Lieutenant Arnold Lemmon, BYU Police Department

Babs De Lay is this year's recipient of the national award for outstanding advocacy and community work in ending sexual violence.

This event is free and open to service providers throughout the state. Please rsvp. For details see calendar of events.

"Sexual Violence in Utah" Report - Published by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and created by Mike Haddon and Julie Christenson, this study examines data collected by Utah law enforcement agencies that describe sexual offenses, victims and perpetrators. The research is an endeavor to learn more about the circumstances that surround sex offending in Utah. :report

"Annual Report to Congress: National Institute of Corrections: Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)" - In support of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, NIC submits an annual report to Congress and to Health and Human Services summarizing the activities of the Justice Department regarding prison rape abatement for the preceding year. :report

"The Status of Women in Utah" Report - Published by The Institute for Women's Policy Research in collaboration with UCASA, Upnet, the Mormon Feminist Network, and the Utah National Organization for Women. :report

2005 Legislative Session Update

S.B. 177 Increase Statute of Limitations on Rape
This bill increases the statute of limitations for rape, object rape, forcible sodomy, forcible sexual abuse, and aggravated sexual assault from 4 years to 8 years if the offense is reported to law enforcement within 4 years after the offense is committed.

S.B. 177 does not change the current provision that if reported and no suspect DNA evidence is collected that would identify the person at a later date, no limitations apply until the perpetrator has been identified. :S.B. 177

H.B. 95 Sex Offender Registration Amendments
This bill modifies the responsibilities of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services to require that the Division register a sex offender with the Department of Corrections prior to the offender's release from custody. :H.B. 95

H. B. 132 Internet Crimes Against Children
Provides that the attorney general is participating in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is a statewide multi-agency task force that investigates, prevents, and prosecutes internet sexual exploitation offenses against children. [fiscal note: the Attorney General will require an appropriation of $59,900 in ongoing general funds beginning fy06 to implement provisions of this bill.] :H.B. 132

special thanks to representative david litvack

VAWA Re-Authorization
VAWA expires on September 30th and no re-authorization bills have been introduced yet. With April being SAAM, it is a perfect time to talk to your members of congress and draw attention to VAWA and urge action around the re-authorization of VAWA with some key improvements as a top priority. :house :senate :sample script

Utah Sexual Violence Council 2005 Conference - The Utah Sexual Violence Council (USVC) community collaboration sub-committee is currently seeking innovative workshop suggestions and abstracts for the 2005 conference. Priority will be given to sessions that demonstrate relevance, clarity, need and originality.:email submissions

State Crime Prevention Grants - The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) is requesting proposals from state agencies, units of local government and non-profit organizations in Utah. The State Crime Prevention Grant identifies "programs to prevent teen dating violence and promote awareness among youth and parents" as a funding priority area.

The funding period is July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. Awards will be made based on a competitive grant process. Projects are awarded funding for one year and are required to reapply each year. deadline april 13th. :more information

The Governor's Domestic Violence Cabinet Council, directed by Ned Searle, has been renamed the Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council. Additionally, Dr. Kim Openshaw, the Chair of the Utah Sexual Violence Council now sits on the cabinet council.

Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council 2005 Annual Report :report

april is sexual assault awareness month and child abuse prevention month

"combating sexual harassment and sexual assault"
attorney general, mark shurtleff
weber state university
shepherd union ballroom
weber, utah
april 6, noon
:more information

walk a mile in her shoes
utah state university
tsc patio
logan, utah
april 6, 11am-2:30
:more information

annual SAAM awards
city library
salt lake city, utah
april 12, 12pm-2pm
:more information and :rsvp

take back the night rally and march
university of utah
women's resource center
salt lake city, utah
april 14, 7pm
:more information

self defense workshop
your community in unity (ycu)
435 east 700 south
brigham city, utah
april 21, 6pm-9pm
435.723.5600

"the relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult heath and well-being" web seminar
vincent felitti, md
april 29, 2pm-3pm
:more information and :register

"domestic violence forensic wound identification and documentation"
dan sheridan, iafn president
provo, utah
may 20th, 9am-5pm
:more information

utah sexual violence council
department of health
288 north 1460 west, rm 125
salt lake city, utah
may 25, 12pm-2pm
:more information

safe harbor shelter
kaysville, utah
april 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th & 27th, 5pm-9pm
april 15th & 23rd, 8am-5pm
:more information

rape recovery center
salt lake city, utah
may 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th & 26th, 5:30pm-9:30pm
may 14th, & 21st, 9am-6pm
:more information

your community connection (ycc)
2261 adams avenue
ogden, utah
may 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th, & 26th, 5pm-9pm
may 14th & 21st, 8am-5pm
:more information

3rd national sart/sane conference
san francisco, ca
june 1-3, 2005
:more information