Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
California Has A New Guide For Campus Sexual Assault Investigators
There is now a new guide to help law enforcement and college campuses interact with efficiency when handling reports of sexual assault. College campuses across the U.S. have been under fire by critics accusing them of not responding appropriately to allegations of sexual assault. There's even a documentary about it called The Hunting Ground. Yesterday, California Attorney General Kamela D. Harris revealed a new model memorandum of understanding—or more simply put, an agreement and how-to guide—to help law enforcement and campuses better work together when responding to reports of sexual assault, City News Service reports.
"California has some of the best colleges and universities in the world. But for far too many hard-working students, the dream of an education from a top school is upended by sexual violence," Harris said.
Harris said this new guide will work to both help victims of sexual assault as well as "hold more perpetuators accountable." University of California President Janet Napolitano likened the guide to a "roadmap" that investigators and campus officials can follow, according to the L.A. Times.
Now, campuses must immediately tell police when an assault has been reported to campus authorities. As of July 1, every campus in California will have to report violence, hate crimes or sexual assaults to the police and have policies in place that ensure this will happen.
Support for LAist comes from
The guide also talks about how to ensure that victims have both privacy and access to rape kits and other services as quickly as possible. The guide also talks about who is responsible for gathering evidence, so as to make the investigation more efficient.
Savannah Badalich, a survivor advocate who did not report her own sexual assault as a sophomore at UCLA, said that she would have reported it if she knew she would receive the kind of approach that is outlined in the guide. She said that the common reasons a victim doesn't come forward including how other victims have previously been treated and because they are often asked to repeat what happened over and over again to different people.
Harris mentioned a case from 2013 in which a 19-year-old student at Mils College in the Bay Area reported being sexually assaulted, but had to get a lawyer involved just to track down the detective who took her report, but who never followed up with her. When the woman was questioned about the attack, investigators asked about her sexual history and said she had rape and "rough sex" mixed up.
Aryle Butler, a senior at UC Berkeley and a survivor advocate, said she disagreed with some of the guide, KPCC reports. She said that automatically reporting assault to the police may dissuade some victims who do not wish to file criminal charges from reporting assault at all. She also said that "people shouldn’t be forced to do rape kits if they don’t want to."
Just recently, eight percent of students at Occidental College who responded to an online survey said they had been the victims of sexual assault. A similar survey at UC had six percent of respondents saying they had been victims of unwanted sexual contact.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist