"In the past, a victim reported to the hospital, then an advocate showed up eventually, then the police would show up eventually," he said. "Now we respond as a team ... It's more sensitive to the victim's needs, more efficient."

The SART program also simplifies things on the administrative end as well. Weaver said the new process allows the authorities involved to handle the legal, medical and victim factors of sexual assault case at the same time, something that one person in one of those departments cannot always do alone.

"It organizes what can be a very chaotic call to respond to," he said. "You have to deal with the crime aspect, a victim with needs ... Trying to do it by yourself is just impossible."

Penn State University Police have also started a SART program for students who wish to seek help on campus. Victim/Witness Advocate Pam Gerber said she has seen an increase in women reporting cases of sexual assault and utilizing the program as a result of community education.

"I think it's been very advantageous," Gerber said. "It really combines all the resources at one time, so the victims don't have to keep retelling their story and have everyone together at one time."

Gerber said she has seen more women coming forward at least to address their personal health in rape cases.

"Women are more willing to come in, at least for a medical examination, whether or not they eventually decide to press charges or not," Gerber said. "But the medical exam step is the most important first step."

Weaver said another positive new approach for victims of sexual assault has been that within the past year, the university has started providing rape examinations free of charge.

"In the past, they just didn't have the facilities for that kind of exam. Students had to be referred to another facility," Weaver said. "But how many would actually go? Many would just say, 'Give me a contraceptive, give me a morning after pill,' and that would be it."

Other measures the local police have taken include special forensic training for nurses, at least one day's worth of training in the area of sexual assault for every officer in town and a new, straightforward protocol for handling sexual assault cases.

"It's handled in a step-by-step way, so that even the newest officer in the lowest department can provide help," Weaver said.

While the SART program only began about three years ago, the Women's Resource Center has been providing assistance in sexual assault and domestic violence cases for decades. In spite of its name, the center offers aid for men and women alike, including support services, counseling, a 24-hour hotline and legal advocacy. McKee said the center is as hands-on as each individual wants it to be, ranging from phone assistance to actually going to the hospital with a victim.

"All of our services are based on the empowerment of the victim, where he or she gets to make decisions, and we support that choice," McKee said. "It's always been that way."

In addition, the center is the only resource in town that offers shelter for victims, although due to the building's setup this service is offered only to women. McKee said the center has space for 14 women, though just a few years ago it could only accommodate four to six.

"There's times when we're full all the time, and times when we're not full at all," she said. "But in the five years that I've been here, it's never been empty."

One of the center's main goals has also been reaching out to local schools. McKee said it is important to educate students on domestic violence issues at a young age.

"The key to protection is talking to kids," she said. "If there is violence in a relationship, they need to understand that they can talk about it. They don't need to stay in that situation."

District Justice Jonathan Grine agreed the center has reached out to the community. Since starting as a Centre County district justice in January, he hasn't been able to see trends over several years, but Grine works with the organization to file emergency Protection From Abuse orders (PFAs) when he is on call.

"I've found that the Women's Resource Center is very actively involved in helping petitioners file PFAs," he said. "They've been instrumental in helping women know what to do."

Providing victims of violence with this knowledge of how to protect themselves as well as a comfortable and secure resource has been the backbone of the center's success in recent years.

"We work really hard at training other individuals, such as law enforcement, district justices and attorneys, to respond to victims in a way that is compassionate and sympathetic," McKee said. "I think victims are seeing it as safer. The response is more educated."

Lunsford agreed that the center has constantly offered positive training and education for the community.

"This is something that has been building over the past decade," he said. "They have been educating the community and law enforcement for years and it has been very consistent. They have consistently offered these services, and it's starting to pay off."

McKee also said legal procedures have become stricter as a result of an increased awareness of domestic violence.

"Laws are tougher. What police can and can't do to enforce them is tougher," she said. "For example, they don't need a victim to prosecute anymore. If a woman does not want to prosecute someone herself we can still hold the defendant accountable."

Weaver also noted the legal distinction between domestic violence and sexual assault cases. He said that while a domestic violence case can be pursued without the victim, a sexual assault case must be treated differently, since it involves the two individuals on a closer level.

"With sexual assault, I can't imagine that happening," he said. "The case can't only be based upon the victim and what's best for that person."

Several groups are now working together to assist victims. On campus, students have resources available through the Center For Women Students, Judicial Affairs, and the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, while off campus they can seek aid from the District Attorney's office, police departments and hospitals.

In recent years, the center has also received new resources, including more funding and housing based on legislation that might not have been available in past decades.

Peggy Lorah, director of the Center for Women's Studies, said a grant from the Department of Justice provided assistance to both the on- and off-campus resource centers. The funds from that grant allowed the centers to work together to provide even more education for students. She agreed working together has been important for the awareness of domestic violence.

"I think we're all making a really concerted effort to get this information out there," she said. "It is very collaborative."

But while the spotlight shined on the issue by the center and these other resources has allowed more victims to come forward and seek help, it has not completely solved the problem of domestic violence.

"I don't see the number of domestic violations going down, but I do see the same amount of individuals seeking help," Lunsford said.

McKee agreed that the numbers don't tell the entire story.

"What we might be seeing versus what goes to police ... We're not all seeing the same numbers," she said. "An increase or decrease doesn't necessarily mean it's happening more or less."

Even though victims are utilizing their many options to seek help in these cases, issues of domestic violence continue to have a significant impact even more frequently than every weekend.

"It's still a serious problem, and I think it has reached epidemic proportions in our society," McKee said. "Every three days, someone dies as a result of domestic violence in Pennsylvania. To me, that's an indication that there's still a serious problem."