"Jane Doe" rape kits go national
Starting next year, survivors of sexual assault will be able to undergo anonymous rape kits.
Starting next year across the country, rape victims too afraid or too ashamed to go to police can undergo an emergency-room forensic rape exam, and the evidence gathered will be kept on file in a sealed envelope in case they decide to press charges.The new federal requirement that states pay for "Jane Doe rape kits" is aimed at removing one of the biggest obstacles to prosecuting rape cases: Some women are so traumatized they don't come forward until it is too late to collect hair, semen or other samples.
Some hospitals already offer anonymous rape kits, but most states refuse to cover the cost of the exam (approximately $800) unless the survivor files a police report.
Beginning in 2009, states will have to pay for Jane Doe rape kits to continue receiving funding under the federal Violence Against Women Act, which provides tax dollars for women's shelters and law enforcement training. States will decide how many locations will offer anonymous rape exams and how long the evidence should be kept.
Awesome.
Thanks to Thomas for the link.
Posted by Jessica - May 14, 2008, at 12:00PM
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It sounds good, but I have to admit that this:
"States will decide how many locations will offer anonymous rape exams"
concerns me. I could totally see my state offering the exams at one or two hospitals or only at CPCs. I hope I'm wrong.
this seriously sounds FANTASTIC.
I agree with dragonfly88 though that there are things we are going to have to keep our eyes open for: states not offering these kits in accessible enough places, awareness of the availability of this option to get women to go in the first place...I also have a (hopefully irrational) fear that some states will allow "funding under the federal Violence Against Women Act, which provides tax dollars for women's shelters and law enforcement training" to lapse rather than follow through with this. Is that likely?
this is some great goddamn news.
hi5's all around
Woot! definitely awesome.
I just have to ask, though, will states be forced to offer enough to meet the needs of the (unfortunately) large population of victims? And, how will information about the new policy be disseminated (will people be made aware of it, or will it be on paper for people to search for if the need arises)?
The idea itself I'm psyched about. I'll be interested to see how the implementation of it plays out.
Let's all take a moment to savor this, cause it's great news idea...
now, on to the concerns we're all expressing. my biggest one is informing people--no one makes a plan about what they would do in case they were raped, so how do we get the info to them when they need it most?
personally, i think a good first step is getting to colleges. even though most college women won't prosecute for "date rape," i've been alarmed at how many don't even get a rape kit and any possible medical care. if this vulnerable population is located conveniently on campuses, i think that needs to be the first stop.
This is awesome. Another good step would be for these rape kits to move from the emergancy room, to OBGYN offices, so that women could contact doctors they trust after a rape, instead of strangers in an emergancy room hospital. Still great news.
I'm not totally in love with this idea. It feels an awful lot like addressing a symptom of the problem instead of the cause.
I wonder if this wold of helped my sister-in-law who was drugged and raped 2 years ago. The police decided that they didn't believe her after interviewing her at the hospital and refused to sign off on a rape-kit for her. She offered to pay for it herself and they still refused.
Another thing I'd like to see in all rape kits is emergency contraception. Women should be OFFERED, not have to ask for, EC to ensure they don't have to worry about getting pregnant by some asswipe.