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General discussion
Finally, victims not having to pay for being assaulted
"It retraumatizes them, revictimizes them and makes them think of the rape all over again," said Eric Scott Fogle, associate clinical director for the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center in Nashville.
That would change under a bill passed by the legislature. Under the bill, the state's criminal injuries compensation fund and a newly established sexual assault forensic examination fund would cover victims' out-of-pocket costs for rape exams.Davidson County is among only four Tennessee counties where rape victims are able to receive free forensic exams, regardless of whether they're insured or whether they intend to prosecute, said Kathy Walsh, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Until about four months ago, many legislators and Midstate sexual assault counselors were unaware that rape victims were being billed.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/NEWS03/706210375/1017/NEWS
Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator
Discussion is locked
17 Posts
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It seems horrible they'd be charged for such. I can see some reasons for it. Almost any other trauma done to a body is paid for by that person, not the state, although the state may use the information gained from such procedures to prosecute anyone who caused the harm to the person. If a person gets stabbed and they have a suspect, should the state pay for the medical cost of having the wound treated just because they will use the pictures, the doctor's observations, X-rays, and so forth in prosecuting the perpetrator? I guess if the decision of prosecuting the perpetrator was based on whether I paid for the evidence to be collected in a medical exam, I'd much prefer to pay for it than have the perpetrator not be prosecuted based on some government official's decision on whether he felt it was justified to do the test or not. When the emotional component is removed, having rape victims pay their own medical bills seems quite understandable, since every other victim of a physical assault also pays for their medical, even when evidence from such is used for purposes of prosecution. It would seem to be more of an emotional issue than any sort of discrimination or being placed at some deliberate disadvantage.
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Just.... wow
"I'd much prefer to pay for it than have the perpetrator not be prosecuted "
Do you also advocate pay-per-crime law enforcement? Should the police be paid by the victim before they begin investigating a crime or after? If it's a murder case, then I guess the family is responsible for payment... right?
CBy this logic could the first victims of a serial rapist be held criminally accountable by later victims if they refused to pay for forensics?
wow... this isn't funny...
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It talked about the rape kits that had never been tested for DNA because the city didn't have the $400+ dollars for the kit to be tested. There were hundreds that had never been tested. The victims were never told that their kits hadn't been tested. The program paid for some of the kits to be tested and most were solved because the perp's DNA was in the system.
Diana
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But over here in the UK recently a man was released from prison early after being convicted of rape. This happened after the woman who accused him was proven to be a liar & he wasn't the first one she had accused either.
So the man gets released,his life in tatters. The female accuser gets to keep her anonymity. How bad is that!
Bev
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i thought you meant should the woman be charged if the man is wrongly convicted.
Bev
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that she deliberately and intentionally filed a false police report, she should be charged with a felony. That would be my opinion.
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Each state here has laws pertaining to shielding the identity of POSSIBLE sexual assault victims. It's mostly a good thing.
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Yeh thats got to be a good thing. But when a person ruins anothers life by bare faced lying in the dock,i believe that kind of person should be shamed & punished. The poor bloke wasn't a rapist. Her previous accusations were not brought up in court either,something to do with our law..which i think is nonsense..
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i think it is absolutley disgraceful that assault victims in your country or any other have to pay for their examination! My word isn't that just another kick when your down!
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It was my first visit lastnight. If i hadn't of seen some interesting messages pop up in the new 'real time activity' i wouldn't have known about Speakeasy. I usually check into Cnet to check out reviews,download software or pick the brains of all the brilliant experts! It was nice to communicate with people about other matters,albeit brief..
Thanks Steven,
Bev
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....... another member from "across the pond".
Our community several who participate regularly, as well as quite a few from other countries.
We hope you enjoy your time here!
Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator
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Haha,is that across the pond from the computer forum or across the pond as in the Atlantic?
Believe me,it will make a nice change from my usual real life daily conversation!
Thanks Angeline,
Bev (going out for the best curry in England!)
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Wayne Hardy aka Coryphaeus has a page where you can better meet some of those in the forum.
http://www.wayne2.net/CNet_folks/page.html
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