Police 'sceptical of rape victims from poor areas'

Here is an article from the BBC that discusses a report done in the UK by Sara Payne.  Ms. Payne uncovers evidence that  not all rape victims are treated equally.  I think this happens everywhere and its unfair and wrong.  There should not be a double standard for victims of any type of crime.

It found victims were often made to feel "ashamed and responsible" when they came into contact with official agencies and called for a campaign to change attitudes and educate the public about rape.

Victims of any crime need to feel that they are taken seriously and that they are supported to overcome the impact a crime has had on them Sara Payne

It also said women who do not appear visibly upset by their ordeal may also have their rape allegations questioned.
Some serving police officers said some of their colleagues did not deal with allegations in the way they should.
The report stated: "Officers... can be skeptical of victims for numerous reasons, such as when the victim had been drinking, had made previous allegations, were from a certain area, had an offending history themselves, or simply because they did not behave in the way they would expect a victim to behave."

Murder Charges Filed in Shaniya Davis Murder

I have lost track of how many little girls have been murdered in the last few months, I can think of four off the top of my head.  This precious angel was also raped.  Raped.  Then strangled to death.  I have nothing more to say, no words to express the horrors this innocent child endured.

Woman charged with lying about kidnapping, rape

I've written on this topic several times.  Each time I hear about a case in which the woman has lied about being raped, I feel its a step backwards for all women (and men, and children) who have endured this horrifying crime.

Whatever her reasons were, she was wrong.  I am glad she's been charged, the question is:  will they give her a strong enough sentence?  My guess is community service or parole.  I hope its much more than that.  I hope they make an example of her to remind others that it is NOT okay to make up stories or falsely accuse someone of a serious crime.

Rape is the hardest of crimes to report.  We all know why.  The victim becomes a victim twice - once when the attack occurs then again when she has to go through "the process".  She will file a report then be driven to a hospital (there is only one in Orange County that is set up with rape kits, St. Joseph's in Orange).  At that time she will be examined in every way imaginable, questioned by a police officer*, and have to relive the incident in detail.

If the rapist is caught and she has to go to trial, the defense will attack her character.  As I've also said before - it doesn't matter if you are a nun or a prostitute, rape is when a woman is forced to have sex against her will and it a CRIME.  The victim's background should have NOTHING to do with it, but it does.

Not only is her character attacked, but she is forced again to relive the humiliation and trauma of the event, this time in a room full of people that may include family and friends.  It takes a very brave woman to do that.

But there are brave and determined women out there that are motivated by catching the rapist before he strikes again AND making him pay for his crime.  I applaud them, they are my heroes.

Here is a book, true story, that has the perfect example of this:

Full article here in the OCR

**above when I said a police officer will question the victim, it is most often a male.  Surprisingly, from what I've learned through my training, the majority of male officers are more sympathetic toward rape victims than female officers.  I don't know what to make of that but its what I've heard.

Victim vs Survivor

Definitions:

Victim: a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action

Survivor:  a person who continues to function or prosper in spite of opposition, hardship, or setbacks.

We don't have a choice in being victims....its something that happens to us.

But we do have a choice about becoming a survivor.  Its not easy.  It took me years to get to the point where I was ready to face the fact that I had been a victim and was no longer going to allow it to be a determining factor in my life.

I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to Carrie, a survivor.

62 Year Martial Arts Instructor Molests Four Year Old Girl

John Patrick Harison, 62, of Anaheim pleaded guilty to one felony count of lewd acts on a child with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct on a child.

John Harison

All I can say is that I am glad I am not raising a young child because I would not let her out of my site.  If you read national news you will see children being abducted, raped, and murdered on a weekly basis...and those are just the big stories....not the "little ones" like this.  And this scumbag sicko is only getting three years?  So he'll get out and molest more.  Great.

The crime occurred Jan. 19, when the victim was alone with Harison at his studio, prosecutors said.
Harison forced the victim to touch him, they said.
A week later, the victim told her mother, who alerted police.
At the time of the crime, Harison was a co-owner and instructor at United Studios of Self Defense in Costa Mesa, prosecutors said. He also has a pending child pornography federal case.

Here is the full story on OCR.

Pedophile from Mission Viejo Sentenced to 17 Years

This makes me ill.  Why on earth was this guy given such a light sentence the FIRST TIME?

Unfortunately there is not cure for pedophilia.  There isn't even a full agreement between the medical and law enforcement community if its a psychological problem or deviant sexual behavior.  I think its both, but the fact that its AGAINST THE LAW makes it pretty obvious to me where pedophiles belong.

Once again a man who has been abusing children (three of his own daughters included) for many years, has had an opportunity to lure yet another victim into his demented world.  He was coming through customs at LAX when they discovered photos of his naked 7 year old niece on his phone.  Nice job, customs officers!

"Shoot was convicted in 1963 of assaulting a girl he met at church. He was also convicted of molesting two of his daughters, but received sentences of only one year and 18 months for assaulting them – one for more than a decade – according to the Department of Justice.

A third daughter told investigators during the latest investigation that Shoot assaulted her for years, but no criminal charges were ever filed, prosecutors said."  Full story in the OCR.

 As long as we let pedophiles run free they will keep sexually abusing children and perpetuating the growing population of people who suffer from this kind of abuse.  Sadly some of them turn into pedophiles themselves.

I don't have the answers but its only common sense that you don't allow someone like this Mr. Arthur Leroy Shoot character to have the freedom to continue on his merry way.  Who knows how many victims he's left in his trail?

Of course I think castration is one way to stop this - medically induced or surgically....it may even get a few pedophiles and sexual offenders to think twice before acting on their "uncontrollable impulses".

I hope this guy never sees the light of day again....

Investigation Reveals that Rape is "Easy to Get Away With" and "Not Taken Seriously by Authorities"

Here is an eyeopening report.  I wish I could say it surprises me but it only confirms what I have been saying here all along.  The entire article is good and there some excellent links/videos also.  I feel like that voice crying out in the wilderness - no one hears me, and if they do they don't seem to care.  I am gearing up to do SOMETHING more than sit here and write about it.  Not sure what but I feel called to make a difference.  RAPE is not OKAY.

CBS NewsNearly 90,000 women reported they were raped in the United States last year. It's estimated another 75,000 rapes went unreported. But while rape convictions are up - a five month CBS News investigation raises questions about just how many rapists are actually being brought to justice.

Rape in this country is surprisingly easy to get away with. The arrest rate last year was just 25 percent - a fraction of the rate for murder - 79 percent, and aggravated assault - 51 percent.

"When we have talked to victims, they very much so doubt that it was worth it for them to go to the police," said Sarah Tofte, US Program Researcher for Human Rights Watch. "They're incredibly disillusioned with the criminal justice system, and that sends a terrible message."