Rape victim jailed after reporting attack (denied emergency contraception)

[Jokerman]

(Thanks Madfloridian for posting this in GD. I think this need wider attention.)

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2212387&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

"They were more interested in prosecuting her for something that's a paperwork snafu from four years ago, that was juvenile. They were more interested in working on that than finding an experienced rapist," stated the victim's mother.

"She was not allowed bond, and the medical staff at the jail refused to give her the Morning After Pill even though it had been prescribed at the hospital."

"The medical supervisor would not allow her to take the pill because she said it was against her, the supervisor's, religion. So, here we have a medical supervisor imposing her beliefs on a rape victim," claimed the victim's attorney Virlyn Moore. "As a human being, how someone could be so violated by this monster and then the system comes along and rapes her again psychologically and emotionally - it's outrageous and unconscionable."

[JacksonWest]

1. Well, theres no excuse for that.

[Thor_MN]

2. Someone needs to lose their job over this.

The medical supervisor should not be working in a job that causes her to violate her beliefs. I would suggest employment in a senior center where contraception is a non-issue. But in any case, the medical supervisor needs to be canned for non-performance of duties.

[nuxvomica]

4. The rapist could claim that rape is a sacrament in his religion

That would make just as much sense as what the medical supervisor said. She should be fired along with anyone else involved in this.

[Morgana LaFey]

63. You know, you're right --

that's the very same kind of imposition of one's "religion" that happened with the ACTUAL situation.

[rocktivity]

3. The hospital should be sued for violating her civil rights.

If it's wrong to force someone to act against their religious beliefs, it's even more wrong to have your beliefs trumped by someone else's!

:headbang:
rocknation

[OhioChick]

5. The supervisor

should lose their job over this. One shouldn't be in a field where they feel that there may be a conflict of interest.

[Zenlitened]

14. The suervisor should be charged as an accessory to the crime.

:grr:

[SayWhatYo]

28. I wouldn't go that far...

However, she/he should be fired and not allowed to hold such a position anywhere else...

[Megahurtz]

47. I Would.

That's exactly what it is.

[mrbassman03]

58. Accessory to rape?

I don't really follow that line of thinking. What she did was completely wrong, but it doesn't put her in line with a rapist.

[Megahurtz]

61. Well Since an Unwanted Pregnancy is Very Often a Product of Rape

I would say that the Pharmacist is assisting in inflicting this abuse onto the Victim, and therefore
is as accountable as the Rapist. Here the Victim is at least trying to forgo that heinous result,
and this Pharmacist is refusing the Victim her own rights, on the selfish grounds of their own Religious beliefs. The person needs to be fired and charged.
That'll teach 'em! If you can't do your job then get out!:argh:

[Dean Martin]

79. I would, if the victim becomes pregnant as a result

I sure would charge her as an accessory. Refusing treatment over religious beliefs? She should be charged, and fired.

[JacksonWest]

6. I read the whole article-and the situation is unacceptable.

The way they treated her was shocking. An outstanding warrant related to restitution in a juvenile proceeding-shocking.

The funny thing-not really funny-is that event coupled with the religious beliefs of the jailer are going to result in a settlement for the victim. It's one thing to put her in jail for an outstanding warrant. You can get away with that. But for someone to deny you medical treatment-in jail- that has been authorized and ordered by the hospital-because of their religious beliefs is every kind of wrong.

[Nevernose]

18. In many states you can't even out her in jail

If she was an adult in my state, for instance, she couldn't even be arrested for an outstanding warrant (unless it was murder) after she turned 18.

When I worked for Juvenile Justice Services, the policy for 17 year olds was that, if it was really something serious (like rape or serious assault, not joyriding), it would get passed on to the Adult DA's office downtown. Otherwise, they got probation and probably treatment, and you just hoped they completed it. If they were very close to being 18, like 17 and 9 months, the case was usually just dropped.

Arresting a rape victim for not paying a fine when she was a kid? It's so totally insane I almost hope it's some kind of hoax. I mean, this required DOZENS of people all saying, "Well, according to the regulations..."

[JacksonWest]

Good point. However, in Michigan you can still be arrested on the warrant-

and placed in custody(I'm from Mi). Ultimately, if they want to pursue charges against you(that are juvenile charges and you're an adult) they have to bound the case over to circuit court-agree to try the case as an adult- and do so.

It's an odd situation. Restitution not being paid in juvenile cases happens all the time. I'm surprised that it took four years for the system to catch up with her. Either way-this was the wrond way to handle the situation.

[Kagemusha]

7. As I said on an earlier thread, this woman's employed by the state.

Therefore, her making a stand on religion is tantamount to the state making a stand on religion. That is way, way, way beyond a private sector pharmaceutical employee making a stand on religion in denying treatment, particularly when we're talking about a prisoner who can't just take the car over to the next city because SHE'S IN JAIL.

[kikiek]

23. Very good point. I want to know that the person who refused her medical

treatment won't be able to do that again. I want to see her sue that police dept who decided to arrest her and let a rapist continue to commit rapes. The message I am getting is if you are a woman with a warrant it is ok for you to be raped and assaulted. You deserve it and we will arrest you if you report it. It is beyond belief that a victim can be made into a criminal like this. What a message they are sending to women and rapists!

[MacGregor]

40. Not so sure about that.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/01/30/Tampabay/Rape_report_starts_tw.shtml">Jail medical services were contracted out:

...
Debbie Carter, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail, said she couldn't comment on the situation because medical information is private. But she said medical service policies are set by Armor Correctional Health Services, which contracts with the jail.
...

If the medical supervisor was a contracted employee, I don't know if this will make it easier or harder for the victim to Capital-O-Own the city of Tampa. If all the accusations and accounts are true (naturally), I know which I will be rooting for.

[LiberalFighter]

41. The city contracted with the Correctional Service provider

and agreed to the terms.

IMO they are just as liable even though they don't provide the services directly.

The Correctional Service provider should not be the one determining when, where, why, or how an inmate will be treated.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. I hope she can sue the crap out of all of them.

She can contact Amnesty International if she wants an organization which has been monitoring the abuses in Florida jails.

[Hav]

.

I hope someone gets sued good and fired.
Crazy lunatics like this medical supervisor shouldn't be in a position to make decisions like this. If it's against her beliefs, then she has the wrong job. Her job is to help other people, not to make decisions according to her religious beliefs.

[LiberalFighter]

42. All three need to be sued and the defendents need to lose big time

The city
The service provider
and absolutely the medical supervisor

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

9. This is so outrageous. The supervisor is saying, "My religion trumps your civil rights."

BTW, what about the hypocrisy involved in this situation? I'm 95% sure that supervisor is a repuke and against "big government" except where "big government" allows them to impose their religious beliefs on others.

This topic begs a question: would it be appropriate for DU to have an archive devoted specifically to civil rights violations?

It would come in handy.

[noonwitch]

10. She should have never been in jail to begin with

The police were complete idiots on this one. She was raped, they should have realized it was a mistake and kept her at the hospital or something until they could clear the matter up.

The medical supervisor is wrong, too. If the pill was prescribed, she should not have gotten in the way. If she had a problem with it, she should have gotten another employee to distribute the medication. But really, the woman never should have been in jail to begin with.

[kikiek]

11. This one has my blood boiling. It is beyond comprehension how a victim of a violent rape

attack ends up arrested in the first place. Then to throw in some ignorant pig who thinks they have a right to decide what medical treatment she is to receive based on their "religious" beliefs. Anyone involved in her arrest and refusal of medical treatment should be thrown out the door. Also the medical supervisor should lose their license to practice. I would file a formal complaint with the board and sue to back it up and make sure they never have opportunity to do this to another woman. I also do not believe they should be running arrest warrants on victims of rape. I have to believe they judged the victim by her looks someway whether it be race or social class. I don't think this would have happened to any "socialite" even if they were wanted for murder. It is absolutely outrageous.

[nodehopper]

12. hopefully she managed to take the pill

it says the rape occurred saturday night and she got out of jail on monday.

not that ANYTHING about this situation and the behavior of the polic and the jail staff is okay. But I just hope she got to take the pill despite those monsters.

[Lorien]

21. That would have been enough time

I can't remember if it's within 48 hours or 72... still, even if she did (and I also really hope that she did) emotionally she was still victimized twice. Horrible situation. I hope the supervisor is canned ASAP.

[Sivafae]

53. My doc told me you can take it up to 5 days afterword. n/t

[Lars39]

60. But the more time that passes, the likelihood of implantation rises.

[Lerkfish]

13. women, your uterus is state property (apparently)

this goes into the stratosphere for fascist behavior.

I hope this woman sues, and sues big.

[Tyo]

76. Actually, it's more like it belongs to the Church

The state is only the enforcement arm in this case.

[theaudacity]

15. I am a pro-life democrat, and this is APPALLING

P.S. - please don't flame me, I am not out campaigning or anything. I just said it to point out that EVERYONE should be appalled by this.

[LostinVA]

16. I betcha every Dem is a pro-life Dem

You're an Anti-Choice Dem. Hey, that's your belief, and you're totally free to believe it. Just please, call it what it is without the RW framing.

Welcome to DU.

[Megahurtz]

48. It's called No Choice. n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Welcome to DU.

Now, just admit you're an anti-choice man, who doesn't think a woman should be allowed to have control over her body.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. pro life? I'm a pro life Dem too. I'm also pro -choice, where I think

you meant to say anti-choice. I've got no right to dictate my beliefs upon another's body.

[area51]

29. "I am a pro-life democrat"

Ah, so you're in favor of the U.S. instituting single-payer, universal healthcare so that babies won't have to die due to their parents not being able to afford medical treatment for their child? :eyes:

[theaudacity]

33. yes, universal health care sounds good to me.

as i stated in another post, please don't let this thread about a rape victim degenerate into an abortion debate. That wasn't my intent.

[bliss_eternal]

50. self delete...

...

[progressivebydesign]

31. No flames... just a clarification.

but I think the other posters are trying to point out that what you mean is that you're against choice for everyone else's body. UNLESS you mean you're pro-life for yourself. Because, honestly, that's the only choice you need to worry about. You're own. I think the idea of pro-life is great, if you're only talking about yourself. It becomes anti-choice when you try to apply your own beliefs on my body.

As the bumper sticker says, "against abortion? Then don't have one".

ANd yes, everyone should be appalled at how this woman was treated. Frankly, I think it's total bullshit that they run a criminal background check on ALL sexual assault victims.

[theaudacity]

32. THANK YOU

as I posted, I knew that it was a mistake, and that it would take away from the discussion. I don't know how all these people who came after me call themselves "pro-choice." I made a choice, and i get attacked. I would never do it. I would advise anyone I knew to not do it. If I was responsible for conceiving that baby, then I would be responsible for its well being. I understand that this is a women's rights issue, and I am not supposed to say anything because I am a man. If I could take half the responsibility for carrying the child for 9 months, believe me I would.

Please, do not respond to this post. I only included that information in the first place to illustrate the wide variety of people that should be outraged. This post is about someone who got raped. Lets not have it degenerate into something else.

[LostinVA]

59. I didn't come after you, I just took away the RW framing

No one attacked you, we just clarified.

[bliss_eternal]

62. One has nothing to do with the other...

Quote:
as I posted, I knew that it was a mistake, and that it would take away from the discussion. I don't know how all these people who came after me call themselves "pro-choice." I made a choice, and i get attacked.

The belief of pro-choice relates to a woman's right to reproductive health care. This has nothing to do with your choice to state your opinion, or your personal beliefs on a progressive board. Two entirely different choices.

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. I am having difficulty seeing where it was you were attacked.

I am having trouble finding any degeneration into something else. I merely stated my stance, which does not mesh with yours. Luckily we're both allowed to do that.

[SemperEadem]

77. one more clarification for you

you write: "If I was responsible for conceiving that baby, then I would be responsible for its well being."

Are you now saying a rape victim is responsible for the conception of a baby which was the result of a crime? Is she responsible for being raped, too?

You forget the subject of this post--it wasn't about being pro life, pro choice or anything else: it was about a woman who was raped by a perpetrator and then raped by the criminal justice system which is supposed to be in place to serve and protect her. Don't get offended by having your holier-than-thou "I'm better than you because I'm pro-life" rhetoric flung back in your teeth. You came here with an agenda. We're just calling you on it because it's so transparent.

[qwlauren35]

34. PLEASE Label yourself as you choose.

Please do not think that all of us disagree with the expression you use to categorize your beliefs about abortion. If you wish to call yourself "Pro-Life", I hope you continue to do so whenever you wish. It's not as though ANYONE here is unaware of what you mean by it.

It saddens me to no end to see Democrats challenge another Democrat on this issue.

Even though I don't agree with your position, I will defend your right to it, and your right to adopt an expression for it, i.e. "Pro-Life".

Sometimes freedom of speech seriously goes out the window around here.

Welcome to DU.

[yardwork]

43. Welcome to DU!

Thank you for stating that this is appalling.

[Az_lefty]

19. I wonder if the medical supervisor would agree with

an executioner who refuses to carry out the death penalty because the executioner is Catholic? Does he have a right to refuse to do his job but still keep his job? I just have a feeling this particular supervisor is just fine with the death penalty.

[tblue37]

20. Someone needs to attach this outrage to

Rape-Gurney Joe's smug statement that a rape victim can always call a cab and go to another hospital if one place denies her the morning-after pill.

[sakabatou]

24. .

[redqueen]

25. well done

there really are no words...

[liberalhistorian]

68. Yep, that about

says it all!

[SayWhatYo]

26. What the hell...

I hope some people get fired for this...

[Omaha Steve]

27. Perhaps raping the supervisor and forcing her to carry a child....

would change this supervisor's thoughts about this kind of thing. Choice is still the law of the land. I take great joy in harassing protesters at the local reproductive rights clinics on Saturday mornings.

[tandot]

30. That supervisor should be on KO's worst

and the whole story needs to get national media attention.

I am so fed-up with those ignorant religious extremists...they are nothing more than the Christian Taliban. I bet that asshole is pro war and pro death penalty.

[Megahurtz]

49. I'm Totally Fed Up With Them.

I wonder when they're going to get over their Fad-Faux-Christianity.

[mongo]

35. There just isn't enough punishment or restitution to make up for this

Firing the medical supervisor and sueing the police just isn't enough to make up for what this woman had to go through.

I'd like to see someone tarred and feathered.

[knight_of_the_star]

36. The super needs to lose their job for such reckless behavior

To put ones own religious beliefs ahead of your job should make you disqualified to hold the job, period, end of discussion.

[E-Z-B]

37. This story needs more media attention.

[alfredo]

38. this is so sad. Why is there so much cruelty toward women

in Christian fundy states?

[yardwork]

44. Sadly, there is cruelty toward women and minorities everywhere

The history of the United States is one of imperialism, colonization, genocide, and slavery. Is it any wonder, then, that cruelty toward those with less power continues to be a problem?

[alfredo]

57. It seems belief systems like organized religion

gives sanction to such things. It is hard to fight the edicts of an invisible authority figure.

Reminds me of what was said of Reagan. It was something like "he made us comfortable with our bigotry."

[kikiek]

70. I often see and hear things that suggests that also. I love the Reagan quote. It is

so dead on. And what a great way to control people.

[alfredo]

74. He was also the master of code words and symbolism

He kicked off his presidential campaign in Philadelphia Mississippi. The message was loud and clear that he was on the side of the segregationist. His visit to Bitburg was another nod to the extreme right. Before the trip he said he would not visit a concentration camp, but he did agree to lay a wreath on a Nazi memorial. His PR machine said that American and German soldiers were buried there, but that was a lie. It was an Nazi burial site.

[kikiek]

75. My hope is that someday this country will be proud enough of its history that it will be the

truth. Not the made up propaganda crap designed to inspire blind patriotism.

[alfredo]

80. bush will not fare well. His incompetence is too

enormous to hide.

[1gobluedem]

39. This is appalling

I am stunned. What is WITH people?

[CrispyQ]

45. Everyday more & more outrages.

:mad:

[Megahurtz]

46. Sue the Fucking Cops and the Hospital!

Assholes!:mad: And throw "Failure to Protect" in the works!



They didn't have to arrest her! They could let her go. She's not a fucking Flight Risk!

She's a fucking Rape Victim for Christ sakes!!!:mad:

[harpboy_ak]

51. Yet another reason why Florida and Texas stay on my do-noti-visit list

There are lots of other places I can take a vacation where they don't arrest rape victims, sentence mentally retarded juveniles to life in jail when they didn't understand their actions could kill someone, and steal elections.

Did you ever notice all these states with corrupted police and court systems have elected judges and district attorneys?

I hope her family sues the shit out of the Tampa police & jail system.

[sfwriter]

52. This strains the limits of an indifferent atheist.

Crap like this has me moving from indifferent atheist to activist atheist. I mean that woman had no right to withhold medical care, but tacit acceptance of her beliefs as somehow more important than those of others gave her the perceived right to do as she pleased. She was emboldened by the encouragement of her congregation and the indifference of those in society around her.

Sue them, sue them all...

Hell, let's have the name of the person who withheld care. Let's go visit her church. She's made the attitude of her pastor and congregation a matter of public policy!

[yardwork]

72. That's a very good point, actually.

I'm neither atheist nor Christian. I'm a devout pagan. Incidents like this remind me of the brainwashing that goes on in too many institutions in the U.S. However, I do not hold Christianity or any organized religion at fault. Rather, it is the people themselves who create these sick institutions that encourage their members to cruelty and indifference.

[Sivafae]

54. The AP has picked up the story. n/t

[Khaotic]

55. Someone needs their ass kicked

This is really over the top.

As I'm looking over this I can only hear O'Reilly shrilling that the cops get a much bigger percentage than reported of women who say they're raped, but aren't.

I can just imagine him going on to say how women could lie and say they're raped to get sanctioned use of the drug and city employees should have religious rights, blah, blah.

I mean, O'Reilly is the guy who said the kidnapped kid was having fun being kidnapped. The dude is sick.

He has said on more than one occasion that ALL liberals hate America. I'm prior service and he's at the top of my list to have his ass kicked.

This story sickens me and the people who threw her in jail and kept her from the prescribed meds should all lose their jobs.

... and they should have their asses kicked.

[AX10]

56. This should be criminal!

Who the HELL was the supervisor?

[KamaAina]

64. Can't that supervisor get a job at a Walgreens pharmacy or something?

http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/4454234/detail.html

Walgreens policy allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense drugs they object to.

"If a pharmacist does refuse, we require the pharmacist to pass the prescription on to another pharmacist at that location, or to another pharmacy," a Walgreens spokesman told 12 News.

Or maybe as the medical expert* for Faux News...

[Crunchy Frog]

65. Why are they doing background criminal checks on rape victims?

Is this just a Florida thing, or should any woman who might have some sort of legal skeleton in her past avoid reporting a rape?

That medical supervisor needs to be prosecuted, and probably jailed, herself. That's just way, way, way over the line.

Unbelievable.:grr:

[JerseygirlCT]

66. That's a really scary idea. Why in the world would they have

any cause to do that?

Anyone with legal experience in FL have a clue? This makes no sense whatsoever, and seems a complete violation of her rights. It seems almost designed to prevent the reporting of rapes.

[yardwork]

73. I believe it IS probably designed to prevent the reporting of rapes.

[BlueIris]

78. Sure; cut down on paperwork for all of those "stressed" Florida DAs.

Sick bastards.

[agincourt]

69. The fundamentalist conservative police state,

courtesy of the Jeb Bushfuehrer

[Evergreen Emerald]

71. The police said they did not have discretion in the arrest

And some agencies do not allow their officers discretion--a warrant equals arrest. However, the officers could have called their commander to allow them to avoid arrest on the warrant.

I am always amazed at the treatment of victims of sexual assault. They are ridiculed and blamed and treated as if the assault was their fault--sometimes even by their relatives. Police are no different, and I wonder if there is an element of blame-the-victim going on here, and that is why she was treated as she was. After all this warrant was not for a new crime, or for something that would cause them to believe she was a threat to the community.

I work with victims of sexual assault and you would not believe the treatment they receive at the hands of the people who are supposed to protect and support them.