Rape: Guilty until proven innocent?

[Mermaid]

Yeah, it's fucked up. This is an ongoing issue. My crime happened in 1978, before DNA technology became commercially available so I can almost see it. (almost). But there's no excuse today.

[Aroura]

Wow guys, I am so sorry you went through that. "Justice" systems around the world a serious mess.

[Aroura]

Wow, I googled it and I'm shocked:

rape kit back-log

In the past, the federal government estimated that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in police and crime storage facilities across the country in what is known as the . Each kit represents a lost opportunity to bring healing and justice to a survivor of sexual violence.  
We cannot be sure of the total number of untested kits nationwide because most jurisdictions do not have systems for tracking or counting rape kits. Additionally, there is no federal law mandating a nationwide movement toward tracking and testing rape kits, despite efforts by some members of Congress to pass such legislation. However a growing number of states, all across the country, are making .
Jurisdictions often cite lack of resources and personnel as the largest barrier to processing more rape kits. Another, less frequently acknowledged, cause of the backlog is unwillingness among many law enforcement agencies to prioritize and dedicate sufficient resources to sexual assault cases. Members of law enforcement frequently disbelieve or even blame victims of sexual assault. Despite data proving otherwise, many agencies also maintain the philosophy that testing a rape kit is only useful when a stranger committed the assault. Some do not fully understand . 

Alarming.

Glad some states are starting to make changes, but it looks like a very slow process.

[The Valkyrie]

Have to wonder how many serial rapists haven't been caught because of this.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Wow, I googled it and I'm shocked:

rape kit back-log

In the past, the federal government estimated that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in police and crime storage facilities across the country in what is known as the . Each kit represents a lost opportunity to bring healing and justice to a survivor of sexual violence.  
We cannot be sure of the total number of untested kits nationwide because most jurisdictions do not have systems for tracking or counting rape kits. Additionally, there is no federal law mandating a nationwide movement toward tracking and testing rape kits, despite efforts by some members of Congress to pass such legislation. However a growing number of states, all across the country, are making .
Jurisdictions often cite lack of resources and personnel as the largest barrier to processing more rape kits. Another, less frequently acknowledged, cause of the backlog is unwillingness among many law enforcement agencies to prioritize and dedicate sufficient resources to sexual assault cases. Members of law enforcement frequently disbelieve or even blame victims of sexual assault. Despite data proving otherwise, many agencies also maintain the philosophy that testing a rape kit is only useful when a stranger committed the assault. Some do not fully understand . 

Alarming.

Glad some states are starting to make changes, but it looks like a very slow process.

They don't want to process the kits because of the large number of cops who are rapists.  There would be an outrage if honest labs identified hundreds of cops as rapists.

[dyresand]

Wow, I googled it and I'm shocked:

rape kit back-log

Alarming.

Glad some states are starting to make changes, but it looks like a very slow process.

They don't want to process the kits because of the large number of cops who are rapists.  There would be an outrage if honest labs identified hundreds of cops as rapists.

I wouldn't be surprised if a large number of cops are  rapists like the shit heads who kill unarmed people.

[Cecelia]

Rape is an incredibly delicate matter. I wouldn't say anyone should be presumed guilty until proven innocent, but at the same time all rape cases need to be taken seriously. No assumptions can be made about the victim. No matter what he or she was wearing, or how he or she looked, or his or her past sexual history.

I also cannot agree with the idea that people who make false accusations should be charged. In a perfect world, that would be the ideal solution, but in the perfect world you wouldn't have false rape allegations to begin with (and you wouldn't have rape). The real issue is that it would greatly discourage victims from reporting their rapes. You add risk to reporting a rape, especially if you aren't sure there's enough evidence. Rape convictions are notoriously hard to get. And far too many rapes as it is go unreported, and uninvestigated.

If you want to protect those who are falsely accused of rape, then their identities should not be revealed unless proven Guilty. By protecting their identities, guilty or not, you neither discourage people from reporting their rape, and take away much of the incentive of false accusations.

[Mermaid]

Rape is an incredibly delicate matter.  I wouldn't say anyone should be presumed guilty until proven innocent, but at the same time all rape cases need to be taken seriously.  No assumptions can be made about the victim.  No matter what he or she was wearing, or how he or she looked, or his or her past sexual history.

I also cannot agree with the idea that people who make false accusations should be charged.  In a perfect world, that would be the ideal solution, but in the perfect world you wouldn't have false rape allegations to begin with (and you wouldn't have rape).  The real issue is that it would greatly discourage victims from reporting their rapes.  You add risk to reporting a rape, especially if you aren't sure there's enough evidence.  Rape convictions are notoriously hard to get.  And far too many rapes as it is go unreported, and uninvestigated.

If you want to protect those who are falsely accused of rape, then their identities should not be revealed unless proven Guilty.  By protecting their identities, guilty or not, you neither discourage people from reporting their rape, and take away much of the incentive of false accusations.

Excellent point.

[robvalue]

I'm very sorry for what you've been through Mermaid and Boru

[Athene]

I am a survivor myself. I was raped by a random person when I was 15. I witnessed the doubt an shaming and blaming firsthand, and I think my experience was probably better than that of a lot of other rape survivors. I was questioned about my outfit, why I was where I was, whether I made it up for the attention, etc. Fortunately, I kind of expected it, so it didn't mess me up in the head too much.

The man was never found. My rape kit was never processed. As far as I know, it's either rotting away on a shelf somewhere or has been tossed out. Nobody ever told me anything about it.

Thank you for speaking openly about your experience, Mermaid. 
That's not always an easy thing for people to do. It shouldn't be that way.