Rape Victims in Texas Forced To Pay For Evidence

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/19400415/detail.html

Rape Victims Forced To Pay For Evidence
By Stephen Dean

POSTED: Thursday, May 7, 2009
UPDATED: 8:25 am CDT May 8, 2009

HOUSTON -- Victims of sexual assault are getting bills, rejection letters and pushy calls from bill collectors while a state crime victims' fund sits full of cash, Local 2 Investigates reported Thursday.

"I'm the victim, and yet here I am. I'm asked to pay this bill and my credit's going to get hurt," said a single mom from Houston.

She received bills marked, "delinquent," after she visited a hospital where police told her to have evidence gathered. Officers assured her she would not pay a dime for that rape kit to be handled.

"That was unreal," she said. "I never thought I'd be out anything for what I went through."

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[ananda]

1. Sue the motherfuckers. Make it very public!

nt

[crikkett]

2. I believe that's what she's doing...making it very public. n/t

[etherealtruth]

3. Do other victims of crime pay for "evidence" gathering ...

... or is this "special" if one is raped? I think I already know the answer :(

Tell me again why people are hesitant to report this violent crime:sarcasm:

[WhiteTara]

13. they pay in Wasilla Alaska as well

Sarah is soooo compassionate

[roguevalley]

24. state law took care of that

[WhiteTara]

30. well good for the state

I'm glad that there are humans in Alaska government!

[femrap]

20. Just another tactic in the

War against Women. Patriarchy fucking sucks.

[LynneSin]

4. Well it's their fault for being so pushy and insisting on saying "NO"

honestly, that's the message I get from these assholes in Texas.

:grr:

[Baby Snooks]

18. Not just in Texas...

The problem can be found all around the country. I read something about a year ago by a prosecutor who indicated some believe that since there is only an allegation at the time the test is performed that the person making the allegation should pay for the test. That is pretty scary but sums up the reality of our society. Rape and sexual assault is still pretty much a matter of "he said, she said" and usually favors the "he said" pretty much across the board across the country.

[LynneSin]

21. Sad isn't it

The state should pay for this UNLESS it was proven that the woman was wrong. From time to time there are falso accusations. Those women should pay.

[derby378]

5. Okay, I'm pissed off now...

Let me guess. You have to pay for the rape kit because it's "your fault?"

And a shady debt collector on the phone saying, "We need to discuss your outstanding delinquent balance on your rape kit..."

Marvelous. Remind me to add this to my list of resolutions for next year's state party convention.

[WolverineDG]

25. No because Crime Victim's Compensation drowns them in red tape

the cops are right: the victims SHOULDN'T get the bill. But CVC takes so damn long to process applications & kicks them back for sometimes really stupid stuff. OR the victim wasn't informed she should start a CVC application right away. LE is supposed to hook up the victims with CVC. Most of the time, that happens.

dg

[flyingfysh]

6. wasn't some town in Alaska doing the same thing?

I thought I remembered something about this in Alaska, I think Palin was responsible for it. But I'd have to look up the details.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Yah - paying for their own rape kits at the hospital, or something like that.

[Canuckistanian]

12. Here: Palin's town charged women for rape exams (CNN)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/21/palin.rape.exams/

[MagickMuffin]

7. They NEED to contact Ogletree Abbott Law Firm

The Ogletree Abbott Law Firm is a nationwide personal injury trial law firm with experienced car accident injury lawyers who have a proven track record of top legal representation for victims of personal injuries including auto accidents, products liability, refinery explosions, toxic chemical exposure, class actions, maritime claims and job injuries. When you are injured in any accident you should immediately talk to a lawyer who has experience representing people who have been injured by negligence of others. Our firm only represents individuals; not insurance companies, employers or corporations. Our loyalty is to our clients and to them alone. We are proud to be Trial Lawyers and the worst nightmare of irresponsible corporations who put profit ahead of safety. We look forward to suing more companies like Enron, BP, Big Tobacco, and the Toy Companies that distribute dangerous toys made in China. We beat Fortune 500 companies because we are on the right side, your side.

[Baby Snooks]

15. Is this an ad?

[Ilsa]

8. Under Rick Perry's and the GOP's governance, Texas is turning into HELL. nt

[ceile]

26. Amen. n/t

[get the red out]

10. Do they also require 2 male witnesses to prosecute?

[atreides1]

11. Another shining example

Of the Texas legislature high regard for the victims of crime. This only reinforces my total disgust with voters who have all the empathy of Josef Mengele, and the little tin plated power mad assholes they keep voting back into office.

Who wants to make a bet that somewhere down the line these same Texas politicians pass a law to remove the surplus in that fund, and use it for their pet projects?

[imdjh]

14. With Single Payer this goes away.

[Baby Snooks]

16. And the focus of the advocates?

The advocates have been busy with two bills, one of which is a revised bill after a lawsuit was filed, aimed at charging a "fee for admission" at "adult clubs" with the funds going to public education programs. Supposedly. In Texas, funding for one thing quickly becomes funding for another thing. Particularly with a Republican legislature. I believe one is being voted on today.

The focus should be on this. The Victims Assistance Fund. The vast majority of victims, myself included, get little form letters and that's about all they get. And it is not a secret that rape/sexual assault victims in Texas have to pay for evidence testing.

It is easy to blame the Republicans. In reality you can blame the advocates. Their emphasis is on the "titty bar tax" as most call it. Which helps no one but the advocates.

[OhioChick]

17. So, technically a "rape tax" for the victim?

:wtf:

[barbtries]

19. this is absolutely ridiculous

we all pay for the police. incredible, and WRONG.

[Echo In Light]

22. Man, that's grotesque

[imdjh]

23. I'm not defending this- but don't you get charged for the ER if you get shot?

Is there a distinction to be made here in the nature of the ER visit or services provided?

[LeftyMom]

28. Evidence collection versus care.

The ER charges you to fix up your bulletholes, not to take pictures of them and shove your clothes in a bag for the cops.

The point is that the victim should not be charged for the state's business of investigating a crime and collecting evidence, just as you wouldn't be charged for the cops to come out and fingerprint if your home was broken into.

[noamnety]

27. The same is true for women in the military who are raped.

Tricare won't pay for rape kits if they go to a civilian hospital to keep it out of military channels.

[WolverineDG]

29. Those of you bashing Texas for this should check the laws in your own states first

From a 2008 article: http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-health-and-money/2008/02/21/rape-victims-can-be-hurt-financially-too.html

Talk about adding insult to injury. In a story last week in the Raleigh News & Observer, reporter Mandy Locke described the situation in North Carolina, where "the vast majority of the 3,000 or so emergency room patients examined for sexual assaults each year shoulder some of the cost of a rape kit test." A state victims compensation fund intended to help cover the bills is woefully underfunded and had capped payouts for the $1,600 test at $1,000. Since Locke's story ran, "The cap has been lifted," says North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety spokesperson Patty McQuillan, though she noted that the legislature would still have to provide the additional funds.

...

Knecht says she's recently heard from caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.

Apparently, charging rape victims for rape kits is common all across the country, despite federal regulation requiring states to pay for the costs.

Good for NC for acting quickly. :thumbsup:

dg