Justice
For Sexual Assault Survivors in the U.S., Justice Depends on Geography
A new federal bill aims to reform the haphazard justice system for rape victims with a unified “bill of rights.”
For many survivors of rape and sexual assault in the U.S., the odds against getting justice can often be stacked so high that only about a third report the crime. It’s not hard to understand why more don’t come forward or file charges. Those who do face the possibility of being silenced, dismissed as liars, or blamed for the crime.
The way sexual assault survivors are so often treated stems partly from systemic failures in the U.S. criminal justice system. All victims of sexual assault bear the burden of proof. And yet procedures around the country, which can vary a great deal depending on location, can make it difficult for them to secure and preserve the most crucial piece of evidence: a rape kit.