Newsletter: October 2003: Policy News

New York City:
John Doe Indictment Project Announced for NYC
In early August Mayor Bloomberg announced the John Doe Indictment Project, with Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt and the city’s District Attorneys.  The citywide initiative will prevent sex offenders from using the statute of limitations to circumvent justice.  In cases where the perpetrator’s identity is unknown and forensic evidence is available, District Attorneys will identify and indict perpetrators based on their DNA profiles before the statute of limitations has expired.  Once indicted, prosecutors will be able to bring charges against the offenders whenever they are captured.  According to Mr. Feinblatt, “for the first time, prosecutors, police and scientists will work together in a systematic, coordinated way to prevent rapists from escaping justice… It’s smart, it’s proactive, and it takes full advantage of the latest science and technology.”  The Alliance agrees, and Harriet Lessel, Executive Director, shared this view on NBC’s 6:00 News broadcast on August 4th.  A taping of the broadcast is available at the Alliance library.

HHC Central Office Loses Full-Time Sexual Violence Position
The position of Senior Management Consultant for Clinical Affairs, Rape/Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Programs at the central office of the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) was eliminated this summer when HHC did not receive funding from the NYS Department of Health for the current funding cycle.  Suyapa Villalobos, RN, who filled the position until 6/30/03, provided critical promotion and coordination of the development of sexual assault treatment programs in the public hospital system.  Ms. Villalobos is widely recognized by the Alliance and programs throughout the city for her ability to work in partnership with key stakeholders in the community, and for bringing HHC into the network of innovators in this area.  It is speculated that the loss of this position will affect HHC’s ability to standardize care, train personnel, publicize services and ensure that the central office’s resources are available to these programs.  Harriet Lessel, Executive Director of the Alliance, gave an example highlighting the importance of having one contact to coordinate services throughout the corporation:  “In a public forum this April, a concerned individual asked if HHC hospitals providing emergency contraception to rape victims gave the medication to the survivor on site, or if the survivor had to wait at an HHC pharmacy.  One phone call to Suyapa Villalobos provided the correct answer – the medication is given directly.   Who will be able and available to answer this kind of question?”   Dr. Benjamin Mojica, Senior Assistant Vice President of HHC assures the Alliance that HHC remains committed to developing sexual assault treatment programs and improving care in their hospitals.  He also acknowledges that the loss of the position takes away the only full-time position dedicated to sexual violence issues in HHC’s central office.  Suzanne Towns, Director of the Alliance’s Forensic Healthcare Program, supports HHC’s commitment: “Excellent progress has been made in many HHC facilities.  I look forward to continuing my work with them to improve the response to rape victims in public hospitals.”

National:
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month Becomes Law
On June 26, President Bush signed National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) into law. This marks the first time the month has been officially recognized by the president or Congress.  Passed unanimously by both houses of Congress earlier this year, SAAPM is now Public Law No. 108-38.  Unlike a proclamation, the law does not have to be re-issued each year.  The Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) led the effort to draft and pass this legislation, and worked closely with the chief Congressional sponsors, Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Mike DeWine (R-OH), and Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Reps. Mark Green (R-WI) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).  RAAIN credits these members and their staffs for their leadership and work in support of the bill, and also recognizes the strong support from Judiciary Chairmen James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and President Bush.  The SAAPM resolution can be read on RAINN’s website at http://www.rainn.org/saapm.html.

Prison Rape Elimination Act Becomes Federal Law
President George W. Bush signed the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 into law on September 4th, marking the first time the U.S. government has ever passed a law specifically addressing sexual assault in its prisons.  The Act legislates the gathering of national statistics, development of state-level guidelines to address the issue, creation of a review panel, and provision of grants to states.  Stop Prisoner Rape (SPR), a national human rights organization, has worked on the issue for more than two decades.  SPR states that one in five men in prison has been sexually abused, often by other inmates.  Rates for women reach as high as one in four.  In a press statement for this legislative victory, Lara Stemple, Executive Director of SPR, noted that “progress will also require improved mental health services for survivors, lawsuits aimed at reform, and greater sympathy on the part of the public.”  The passage of the bill is a great achievement, and the Alliance looks forward to hearing more about how the city will respond to this devastating problem.

(Read other articles in this series.)

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