Indiana's only sexual assault advocacy group closes

The only organization dedicated solely to fighting sexual violence in Indiana has suspended operations indefinitely.

The Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA) suspended all operations June 27 after staff members were informed by the board of directors that a "substantial amount" of taxes, including payroll taxes, had not been paid dating back to 2012.

On its website, an announcement reads: "As a result, state and federal contracts and grant awards, and even reimbursement for work completed, cannot be distributed until the arrears are paid."

People close to the issue of sexual violence say the loss of the coalition is stunning in the wake of a Centers for Disease Control study that found Indiana has the second highest rate of teenage sexual assault in the U.S. While around 10 percent of girls nationally reported being sexually assaulted by age 18, in Indiana that rate is more than 17 percent.

"With INCASA no longer being in operation, there's not an organization in Indiana that has sexual assault as its only focus and mission," said Michael Hurst, executive director of Legacy House, a domestic violence shelter in Indianapolis. "That is crazy."

Indianapolis-based INCASA is nearly 30 years old, operated by 7 full-time staffers and overseen by a board of directors and CEO. The board of directors was not aware of INCASA's problems until shortly before operations ceased.

In early April, former CEO Anita Carpenter's tenure with the coalition was terminated. After her departure, the unpaid taxes were discovered by the board. Carpenter did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The coalition is largely funded by federal government money and grants from foundations that support sexual assault prevention and victims' services. It also receives some money from the Department of Corrections, through donations and federal funds, and from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

The coalition does not directly provide services, but sexual assault victims use it to chat online with staff, get guidance following an assault and connect with counseling or group therapy services.

INCASA provides counseling and medical training for domestic violence shelters. Training includes everything from how to discuss sensitive issues with sexual assault victims, Hurst said, to what forensic evidence goes in a rape kit.

State Rep. Christina Hale, D-Indianapolis, said INCASA's shutdown is devastating. Although domestic violence shelters are attempting to reach victims, Hale said sexual assault and domestic violence cannot be treated the same.

"We have to have a statewide group focused on this, because domestic violence is not sexual violence," she said. "It can be, but it's got its own set of problems."

On top of being an information hub for victims, the coalition served as an advocate in state government, Hale said. Coalition representatives would testify on behalf of legislation or proposed studies regarding sexual assault prevention or victims' services.

The coalition had been testifying for more state funding for sexual assault victim services, as well as other legislative initiatives, such as extending the statute of limitations in cases of sexual assault. But since operations have ceased, those initiatives may be idled.

Hale said these initiatives have faced resistance because of funding and because people assume domestic violence covers all sexual violence.

Nowhere in the Indiana state budget is there a line item specifically for sexual assault prevention or services, although there is for domestic violence, Hale said.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute allocates a baseline of $25,000 for "sexual assault victims' assistance" from independently dedicated funds, as declared in the state budget. That money comes from court fees assessed to those who commit sex crimes.

For the sake of comparison, the budget shows the institute provides more than $1 million for domestic violence victims, and the state budget allocates $2.5 million to that issue.

Gary Abell, communications director for the institute, said last year the institute gave nearly $300,000 to the coalition in total, with all but $23,000 coming from federal funds. The $23,000 came from the domestic violence funding and is allocated to various domestic violence centers that help victims of sexual assault.

Hurst stressed the need for a group like Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault that is independent from state government because it can "advocate and stake out stronger positions than a state agency might be able to."

Kristen Pulice, former director of primary prevention and education for the coalition, is fighting to raise donations so the organization can re-open under new leadership.

"My biggest fear is if it falls under domestic violence in some way, it will lose its voice," she said.

She said one of the problems with lumping the two together is that many victims of sexual assault would not think to go to a domestic violence shelter — unless the violence came at the hands of an intimate partner. A college-aged woman who gets raped after a party would likely not consider herself a "battered woman."

"What happens with a DV victim, they look battered," Pulice said. "Sexual assault survivors might not have any scrapes, bruises anything."

She also pointed out that on many domestic violence shelters' websites, sexual assault services aren't listed.

Malea Crosby, a survivor of sexual assault and an advocate for victims, went to the coalition after being sexually assaulted in high school.

"It really honestly brings tears to my eyes to think that the organization could be done," she said. "INCASA was my saving grace. ... People can just call and get hooked up to resources."

Hurst said the coalition, if it does reopen, will have to work hard to regain the trust of its donors and grantors.

"All of those folks who previously gave INCASA money, they're all going to be taking a harder look at INCASA's governance," he said.

Brent Myers, director of registration and victims services for the Indiana Department of Corrections, said he hopes INCASA reopens, and that the department would fund the coalition again if it's proven the problems have been fixed.

"I think everyone would have to do their due diligence that, if they do reopen, that they're financially sound and that any issues that would cause these concerns will be addressed," he said.

The board for INCASA declined comment, other than to say they are still "sorting through options."

Call Star reporter Hannah Smith at 444-6755. Follower her on Twitter: @hannsmit.