Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 Source: Advocate, The (LA) Copyright: 2002 The Advocate, Capital City Press Contact: http://www.theadvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2 Author: Ryan Goudelocke, Advocate staff writer Cited: Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers http://www.crimestoppersbr.com/ CRIME STOPPERS PLANS ANTI-DATE RAPE DRUG ADS Crime Stoppers in Baton Rouge wants to raise money for an advertising campaign this fall to fight an increase in the use of date rape and so-called "club drugs," such as Ecstasy and GHB. Crime Stoppers Executive Director Sid Newman said a radio, newspaper and television campaign targeted at college students and their parents would cost about $190,000 and would be timed to coincide with the start of fall classes. Fund-raising efforts are not yet off the ground. "The ad company is still digging around with" the campaign's message, Newman said. "I'm sure it'll be something catchy." Rape Crisis Center volunteers have seen date- and drug-related rapes increase over the past four or five years, said Jane Wood, director of the center. She did not have exact numbers, but said spotty reporting makes it impossible to say how many rapes actually occur or how many are drug-related. Police spokesman Cpl. Don Kelly also said there had been some increase in the number of reported rapes related to drugs. Rape statistics from the FBI indicate a large drop in rapes reported in the past few years. In 2001, 62 rapes were reported in Baton Rouge, less than half the total in 1997, when 144 were reported. Rapes have fallen significantly every year since then, except for a slight rise in 2000. Kelly said rape victims who have been drugged commonly remember little about what happened to them, making those rapes difficult to investigate. "We see more and more of it, no doubt," Kelly said. "It's no secret; we've tried to be out front saying this is a growing problem." In an address to the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Newman said the recent arrest of a Hammond man in connection with a kidnapping and rape Thursday should not induce Baton Rougeans to let down their guard. Police arrested Christopher Wilson, 27, of Hammond, last week on counts of kidnapping, rape and attempted murder in the abduction of a Baton Rouge woman. Newman alluded to the recent deaths of LSU graduate students Charlotte Murray Pace and Christine Moore. "What I'm scared to death of right now ... is that with this most recent arrest people are going to let their guard down," Newman said. No evidence has connected Wilson to the Pace or Moore killings. Crime Stoppers organizations statewide got a boost when the Legislature voted to add a $2 tax to routine traffic ticket costs in many jurisdictions. Proceeds, which Newman said might be more than $800,000, will go to groups like Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake