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One in three women and one in six men are sexually assaulted in college. Many sexual assaults are never reported. Of those that are reported, an even smaller number are ever prosecuted.

It started with a look at the numbers. Since the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the University of North Alabama and Alabama A&M University have both had two reported rapes on campus.

There have been five reported rapes at the University of Alabama Huntsville. Our attention was drawn to what appears to be a shockingly high number at UAH.

We learned that not one of these reported cases has been brought before a grand jury to prosecute in Madison County.

We reached out to UAH officials to discuss the number of reported rapes on campus this year.

While they’re unable to comment on the reports directly, they did send us a statement assuring us that there was no elevated safety threat to campus and that there’s no place for sexual misconduct on campus, and they take these reports extremely seriously.

Full statement from UAH: “The University of Alabama in Huntsville takes reports of sexual violence seriously and responds with the utmost respect and urgency. The UAH Division of Student Affairs, Police Department and the Title IX office work collaboratively as needed to research and respond to reports of such conduct in an appropriate manner and to support those affected.

The recent report you referenced is under investigation and the University cannot disclose confidential information about any individual matter or facts and details. There are no elevated safety concerns for the campus community at large.

With that said, there is no place for sexual misconduct on our campus, and again, we take these reports extremely seriously. The University takes a proactive approach to ensure campus safety at all times. UAH provides mandatory annual sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training, and students are encouraged to report any and all allegations at and to law enforcement.�

So what happens when a victim reports that they’ve been raped on campus? That’s where it gets tricky. Most campuses are like UAH. The Title IX Office is alerted. From there, it’s an individualized approach that varies from case to case but is ultimately guided by the victim as to whether charges are pressed.

Keep in mind that per campus policy, all crimes and Title IX cases that occur on campus are reported and logged in the UAH campus crime log, no matter what.

Sadly, therapists say most victims aren’t empowered to take the next steps to prosecute.

In fact, the Madison County District Attorney’s Office has not received a single rape case from UAH this school year.

Madison County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann said, “It’s a very traumatic event for a victim. Most of the time, they don’t really want to relive it. They don’t want to go through the process of getting a sane exam. And then talking to prosecutors and police. It's a very daunting task for them to do. So getting right out of the gate is very difficult. And then, so often, there's no forensic evidence.�

According to the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN), out of 1,000 sexual assaults, 975 of those attackers will walk freely. Meaning most rape cases never make it to trial.

Gann said, “More often than not, the offender is a known offender; it's not some stranger. So it's somebody you know or have a relationship with. Which makes it more difficult.�

Therapist and owner of Tree of Life Behavioral Health, Jessica Penot, started her career working in rape crisis centers throughout Alabama.

Penot said, “One in three females will be somehow abused or sexually assaulted in their lifetime. That's been a statistic since I’ve been in the field. Of course, that covers a wide range of things, from child abuse to molestation to full sexual assault, and the mental health toll is hard to describe in words.�

In Penot’s experience, when predators are not held accountable in the judicial system, victims have to live with a lifetime of trauma and self-blame.

Penot said, “I think the biggest part of the damage is that these women can’t really trust. They have huge attachment issues, abandonment issues, and fear of getting close to people.�

As a community, we have to do better about supporting victims of sexual assault and encouraging them to take a stand against their predators.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, there are people ready to help you. You can call 800-656-Hope for 24/7 help, no matter where you are.