Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show a woman is raped every 2 minutes, but police officer and speaker Skip Hall wants to help women avoid becoming victims.

“Our program is designed to minimize the chance of a woman being in a dangerous situation in the first place, and maximizing the chance to get away without harm,” Hall said.

Hall plans to present his Assault and Rape Minimization (ARM) Program this Saturday at Crossroads Baptist Church in Montevallo.

Two time slots are available for the program at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. It will last about two–and–a–half hours and focus on self–defense techniques that actually work, Hall said.

“This is completely different than the classes you see where the guy dresses up and women kick him in the groin,” Hall said. “That doesn’t work.”

Hall said he interviewed more than 1,000 offenders and victims to create the program.

He and his daughter, who was once a victim of date rape, have also taken numerous martial arts classes to determine what techniques work and what don’t.

“Many women who find themselves in that situation, don’t think to gouge the man in his eyes, which is one of the most effective methods of getting away,” he said. “If you can stand up or move your arms or legs, you can defend yourself.”

Crossroads Baptist Church is sponsoring a new program as a community service for no cost to anyone age 12 and below. Adults are asked to give a $20 donation.

“We have the resources and it seemed like a good thing to do for our community.” Said Pastor Ed Snow. “Our community is home to so many college students and other young people that are so often threatened.”

Hall said he hopes to create a mission out of the program and provide the class to women at programs such as SafeHouse. For more information, call Pastor Ed Snow at 218–1885 or Skip Hall at 902–7708.