Criminalizing the Victim: Rape and Police Brutality
by Suzanne Reisman

A few months ago, I wrote about how women who are raped are still not treated fairly by the criminal justice system in Western countries. Sadly, the latest egregious re-victimization of a rape victim recently took place at the hands of the Tampa, FL police department. Izzy Mom reports:

When the young woman contacted authorities, officers took her to a rape crisis center where she was given the first of two doses of the morning-after pill. The second dose is supposed to be taken within 24 hours…

Later the police asked her to show them where the rape occurred. While driving in the police cruiser, police were notified that the victim had an outstanding warrant involving failure to pay restitution for a crime she committed as a juvenile (the victim’s mother has stated that the warrant was due to a clerical error). Right then and there, the rape investigation was completely stopped and the victim was taken to jail.

As if being raped and then jailed were not bad enough, while in police custody, she was also denied a second necessary dose of emergency contraception by a nurse who allegedly stated it was against her religious beliefs. The police refused to release the victim and she remained jailed until her attorney contacted the media.

Horrifying and terrifying. Just as bad, in her comment on this story, Kristi points out another police violation of a woman:

I’m sure you heard about the pregnant woman who was recently pulled over by the police for having some sort of illegal tags on her car. She kept telling them that she was bleeding from a miscarriage and that she needed to get to the hospital. They kept ignoring her requests and blew them off as a line of excuses she was making up. She was jailed and miscarried the next day. She is now suing them.

Other comments on Izzy Mom’s post include personal stories from women who have also had their rights violated when pharmacists take a patient’s health into his/her own church, as well as other legal disregards for women.

As officials in Tampa scramble to repair the undoable damage they have done, let’s be honest about what this case represents. This lack of compassion and concern for the well-being and rights of women is police brutality. It happens every day.

Suzanne also blogs at Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman (view blog) on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 14:04

Comments

 

Right then and there, the

Right then and there, the rape investigation was completely stopped and the victim was taken to jail.

Unbelieveable.

I've been following the story about the pregnant woman who was pulled over, clearly -- and repeatedly -- stating that she was bleeding and needed to get to a hospital. It sickens me to see a woman treated that way, especially from the very people you'd expect to help, yet sadly, doesn't surprise me.

Five Dollar Camera

Submitted by kperfetto on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 18:29
 

Sadly...

The incident in Tampa is not an isolated one.

I can think of three stories off the top of my head where women I either personally know or women known by friends of mine, who were pulled over alone, at night, and subjected to humiliation or abuse by officers of our illustrious police force.

They weren't victims before they encountered the police but they were afterward.

Thank you for writing about these abuses of power.

Izzy

Submitted by Izzy76 on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 17:53
 

Unbelievable

I still can't go over that this happened. Both cases that you wrote about are shocking.
A Elliot

Submitted by A Elliot on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 06:33
 

It sickens me...

While I accept that police officers have a very difficult job, and I also accept that they are often lied to during traffic stops, I will even accept that the woman probably did put the plate up while the officer was watching. But she did try to explain she was trying to go to the hospital. She did ask to be taken there I counted three times at least.
Foolish me, I thought recognizing when it was time to switch from defender of justice to protector of the public was just part of the police officer's job. A woman headed for the hospital may not get everything right guys. How many times did she need to say it before the switch should have occured? In my book, once should have been enough. (I know a woman who was in labor, drove herself to the hospital emergency room, no small feat in itself, got out the car, locked the car and went into the hospital only then realizing she had locked her keys inside the car AND left the car running! On my own drive to the hospital with my wife in labor I drove too fast, left the bag, the pillow, and the bear at home for which I am still in the dog house.) Police officers have to know expectant parents don't get it exactly right all the time.

What were the police thinking? Where was their training? Where was their humanity?
Geesh!
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Submitted by Freddie Moorer on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 11:35
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