Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC) provides survivors and their loved ones the resources they need to reclaim their lives.

DARCC staff and trained advocates are available to help those impacted by sexual violence navigate the journey of healing in a safe and confidential environment.

DARCC’s comprehensive program includes counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy for those whose lives have been affected by sexual violence. DARCC is also committed to social change through the implementation of prevention, education and outreach program to the community. DARCC acknowledges that different experiences can impact survivors and their loved ones in a variety of ways and works to provide the best level of care and support. The organization focuses on meeting the unique needs of all populations including LBGT, the disabled and the elderly.

Mission
The Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center provides a comprehensive and compassionate response to individuals impacted by sexual violence through advocacy, education, and prevention.

History
A group of women working with sexual assault programs recognized that although there are several agencies in Dallas county that do a good job of providing some of the services needed, there is no agency offering full-scale comprehensive services specifically designed for the victims of sexual violence. They also realized that there are not adequate prevention oriented educational outreach services that primarily focus on reducing sexual violence in the community.  Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) did a formal assessment of Dallas area services in February 2008.  The assessment confirmed that there was no dedicated sexual assault hotline; volunteers were not being utilized in a hospital-based program and there were limited services for adults who had recently been assaulted.

According to Sgt. Patrick Welsh of the Dallas Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Division, the city of Dallas deals with between 600 and 700 rapes cases each year where the victims are 17 or older and familial abuse is not suspected. These numbers are of course the tip of the iceberg and misleading, because national statistics show that as many as 80 percent of all rapes go unreported, meaning as many as 3500 rapes may be occurring annually for this population alone.  It is therefore reasonable to assume that many rape victims in this area do not feel safe or comfortable reporting this crime.  DARCC is committed to working hard to change that environment so rape victims will come forward and receive the help they need where they need it.

Until recently, Parkland was the only hospital equipped to provide admissible forensic evidence in sexual assault cases, which had occurred in Dallas County. Other hospitals could treat a rape victim, but only Parkland could perform the rape kit necessary to gather evidence that is admissible in a court trial. As of March 1, 2010, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas began providing rape kits using Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.  This provides victims a choice of where they can receive the forensic exam for the opportunity of collecting evidence.  This exam is also available to those that do not want to prosecute or report to law enforcement.  In many metropolitan cities and surrounding counties, victims of sexual assault are able to go to the nearest hospital to receive a forensic exam.  DARCC’s goal is to work with Dallas area hospitals and police departments to provide the same opportunity to Dallas area residents in the near future.

Since March of 2010, DARCC has provided hospital advocacy for 122 sexual assault victims, and 46 of their friends and family members.  Our staff and trained advocates answered 284 crisis hotline calls assisting those who had survived sexual abuse to navigate the difficult journey of healing from their trauma, along with 199 of their friends and family. To date, our professionally trained therapists counseled 60 traumatized clients.  And this was only the tip of the iceberg.  According to Sgt. Patrick Welsh of the Dallas Police Department,150 cases were reported to the DPD last year. Statistics show that only 20 percent of sexual assault cases are ever reported.