Sexual Assaults

Commissioner of Higher Education to examine UM email messages.

As we've heard from a victim and victim's advocates, the pursuit of sexual assault cases most often stops short of a conviction.  Prosecutors across the country agree that sexual assault is one of the most difficult cases they handle. In today's program, Missoula County District Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg shares his perspectives on why these cases are so difficult...

As we wrap-up our look behind the headlines at sexual assault in Missoula, we're going to hear perspectives of some of the things that make this issue so difficult...for victims, for advocates, for law enforcement, for the criminal justice system, for all of us...

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Emails obtained by a Montana newspaper show that the vice president of the University of Montana sought to punish a student who spoke publicly about how the school was handling her report of being raped. The Missoulian reports in a story published Sunday that Jim Foley contacted Dean of Students Charles Couture to find out if the woman violated the student code of conduct in

University of Montana Vice President Jim Foley looks to the future.

As I've put this series together, I've been bothered by how surprised most of us are at the reality of sexual assault.  While it happens to about one-fourth of women, it isn't talked about so much, it is reported less, and it is prosecuted even less...

Today is the last part of our interview with sexual assault victim Kerry Barrett.  Kerry graduated last Saturday and is headed home to New Jersey, looking for work in her chosen field, psychology. In today's program, we find out who helped Kerry through her ordeal and what she would like to share with other victims of sexual assault...

A University of Montana student has the option of reporting a sexual assault through the criminal justice system or the university's student conduct code.  While Kerry reported her assault to the Missoula police, a friend had a similar experience and followed the campus route...

We've heard quite a bit about sexual assault, but what is it?  Simply said, sexual assault is any kind of sexual activity that you do not agree to or want.  Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention...

Last week we examined some of the perspectives of sexual assault through the eyes of elected officials, advocates, and counselors.  This week, we focus on the perspective of a sexual assault victim.  We'll hear in the victim's own words what happened, how law enforcement responded, and what the future holds...