'Defund the police' movement could offer sexual assault survivors a different path for justice...

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/defund-police-movement-could-offer-sexual-assault-survivors-different-path-n1235478

If calls to “defund the police” and divert funds to nonpolicing efforts are successful, what happens to rapists and sex offenders?

It’s a decades-old question that Aishah Shahidah Simmons has fielded for more than 25 years during her work as an activist against sexual violence and a documentary filmmaker on sexual assault against Black women.

“The assumption is that policing will stop or prevent sexual violence,” said Simmons, who is also the editor of this year’s Lambda award-winning anthology, “love WITH accountability.” “There is documented evidence that it does not.”

“So why do we rely on the police as the only solution to sexual assault?”

Amid the national protests about racial injustice and policing, the once-extreme demand to “defund the police” has gained traction, with Minneapolis taking steps to remake its police department and other cities, like New York City, pledging to shift some funding away from the police and instead use that money for social services.

*snip*

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Most of the survivors I know were belittled, disbelieved, re-traumatized or actively re-assaulted

by the cops when they tried to reports their assaults, so taking cops out of the whole thing could definitely be an improvement.

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. I guess it depends on the state where you live

In WA state there is significant funding for sexual assault clinics that include physical and mental medical assistance at no charge. There are victim advocates who assist them through the court process; the medical sexual assault exam that includes a sexual assault kit is paid for by the state. The law enforcement officers are an elite specialized group and well trained.

Having said that, of course nothing is perfect. The big picture: Sexism is so prevalent in every aspect of our society. "Women Matter" should be the next national discussion.