CAPCOG offering self-defense classes

AUSTIN — The Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Regional Law Enforcement Academy will administer several courses in February and March that strengthen a woman’s ability to protect herself against violent crimes such as sexual assault, rape and stalking.

“We are very pleased to present these classes as a public service to our citizens,” said Randy Holmes, CAPCOG Regional Law Enforcement Academy director. “The courses can further help women be safer from crimes by raising their awareness, teaching prevention and avoidance methods, and practicing self-defense counterstrikes.”

On Feb. 14, the academy will offer a cyberstalking awareness and prevention course to provide residents with information and techniques on protecting themselves in the ever growing digital world. While this course’s enrollment is not limited to women, the U.S. Office of Women’s Health and U.S. Office of Justice Programs state, one in six women experience stalking, and one in four stalking victims report the crime as a form of cyberstalking. Forms of cyberstalking can include receiving unwanted, frightening, or obscene messages; being harassed or threatened on social media; or someone using technology to track a person’s location.

CAPCOG also will conduct two Sexual Harassment, Assault and Rape Prevention courses on Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21. These eight-hour, women-only courses will teach women principles and strategies for effectively reducing their likelihood of assault by increasing their security awareness. Attendees also will learn confrontation avoidance and counterattacks through this lecture and hands-on training course. In the U.S., one in three women has experienced some type of sexual violence according to the U.S. Office of Women’s Health.