Rape Survivor's Advocacy Strengthens Victim Protections in Virginia
When he was 13 years old in 1973, Martin Andrews was abducted and sexually assaulted by a violent predator who left him to die.
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January 12, 2010
When he was 13 years old in 1973, Martin Andrews was abducted and sexually assaulted by a violent predator who left him to die. Fortunately, the boy was rescued after eight days and grew up to become a victims' advocate.
CNN has profiled his story in conjunction with a case that opens before the Supreme Court today that reviews a law allowing the federal government to detain offenders it considers "sexually dangerous," even after completion of their sentences.
Andrews, who has managed to put his childhood tragedy behind and thrives working as a program manager for a defense contractor in Virginia, is a strong advocate of "civil confinement" of offenders who would otherwise be released from prison. In 2002, he orchestrated a campaign and raised funds to keep the man who had raped him off the streets after 29 years behind bars.
As a result of Andrews' efforts, Virginia has become a national model, using a tool called "Static 99" that assesses which offenders qualify for civil commitment, according to the news provider
The Amber Alert Registry (AAR) estimates some 800,000 children go missing in the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), which also accepts donations, says there were 248,300 victims of sexual assault in 2007.
AAR recommends contacting local law enforcement without delay if a child is noticed as missing. It says it is important to make sure the person responding to the call receives the child's personal information (name, age and the caller's contact information) as well as an accurate physical description, including all articles of clothing present at time of disappearance.
When he was 13 years old in 1973, Martin Andrews was abducted and sexually assaulted by a violent predator who left him to die. Fortunately, the boy was rescued after eight days and grew up to become a victims' advocate.
CNN has profiled his story in conjunction with a case that opens before the Supreme Court today that reviews a law allowing the federal government to detain offenders it considers "sexually dangerous," even after completion of their sentences.
Andrews, who has managed to put his childhood tragedy behind and thrives working as a program manager for a defense contractor in Virginia, is a strong advocate of "civil confinement" of offenders who would otherwise be released from prison. In 2002, he orchestrated a campaign and raised funds to keep the man who had raped him off the streets after 29 years behind bars.
As a result of Andrews' efforts, Virginia has become a national model, using a tool called "Static 99" that assesses which offenders qualify for civil commitment, according to the news provider
The Amber Alert Registry (AAR) estimates some 800,000 children go missing in the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), which also accepts donations, says there were 248,300 victims of sexual assault in 2007.
AAR recommends contacting local law enforcement without delay if a child is noticed as missing. It says it is important to make sure the person responding to the call receives the child's personal information (name, age and the caller's contact information) as well as an accurate physical description, including all articles of clothing present at time of disappearance.
