Wasilla Police Billed Sexual Assault Victims for Their Own Rape Kits

[Turn CO Blue]

My apologies if this has already been posted, but this is the first I've read this:

Here's a snip from a blog entry on Op-Edna posted today

<http://opedna.com/2008/09/08/wasilla-police-billed-sexual-assault-victims-for-rape-kits/>

Of all of the things I’ve learned about Sarah Palin in the last week and a half, this has got to be the most disturbing. While Sarah Palin was serving as the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, the city charged victims of sexual assault between $300 and $1200 for their own rape kits. A rape kit is a sexual assault forensic evidence kit, used to collect DNA that can be used in criminal proceedings to assist in the conviction of those who commit sex crimes. The kit is performed as soon as possible after a sexual assault or attack has been committed. It is usually humiliating and uncomfortable for the victim–imagine enduring that and then paying $1200 just so that the criminal who assaulted you might be caught.

Taken from the Frontiersman… Please note that the Governor who signed the new law preventing sexual assault victims from paying for their own rape kits was a Democrat, Tony Knowles. And please share with any woman you know who might be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

From the Frontiersman story:

Published on Monday, May 22, 2000 9:00 PM AKDT

JO C. GOODE / The Frontiersman / May 23, 2000

ANCHORAGE - Gov. Tony Knowles recently signed legislation protecting victims of sexual assault from being billed for tests to collect evidence of the crime, but one local police chief said the new law will further burden taxpayers.

The governor signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, outside the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam room at Alaska Regional Hospital. In attendance at the signing were members of victims advocate groups, law enforcement agencies and legislators.

~snip~
While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies have covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 apiece, the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests.

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.
In the past weve charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer, Fannon said.

According to Fannon, the new law will cost the Wasilla Police Department approximately $5,000 to $14,000 a year to collect evidence for sexual assault cases.

Ultimately it is the criminal who should bear the burden of the added costs, Fannon said.

The forensic exam is just one part of the equation. Id like to see the courts make these people pay restitution for these things, Fannon said. Fannon said he intends to include the cost of exams required to collect evidence in a restitution request as a part of a criminals sentencing.

Palmer police chief Laren Zager said that to his knowledge, no sexual assault victim has ever been billed by the city of Palmer for an exam to collect evidence of a crime. Zager, who has been police chief since January, said he would never expect a victim to be burdened with the cost of a police investigation.

Im prepared to pay every dime in an investigation. As long as I am chief, I would never bill a victim, Zager said.

The new bill would also make law enforcement agencies that are investigating a sexual assault responsible for the costs of testing victims for sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception.

The bolding is mine.

So to clarify, one Sarah Palin was the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska for the years 1996 - 2002. I'm sure the Repubs will frame this as "fiscal responsibility".

[iamjoy]

1. Palin Vs. Biden

Who is better on women's issues?

[Turn CO Blue]

2. The ways it's looking, even Pat Buchanan would be better on women's issues

than Sarah Snowbilly Palin.

[ContinentalOp]

3. Actually, that is Fiscal Responsibility.

We should frame it that way too. This is exactly the kind of insanity the Republicans are advocating when they talk about "Fiscal Responsibility." They're not talking about a balanced budget -- we know they're incapable of that. They're talking about bleeding every function of the government dry and sending you the cleaning bill to get out the blood stains.

[spooky3]

4. it also further discourages victims from reporting

if you make minimum wages, how are you going to come up with an extra thou?

[Critters2]

5. This really does need to get out there. Surely no sane human being could agree with this!! nt

[ContinentalOp]

7. Uh... I don't think sane human beings are the issue here.

We're talking about "undecided" voters or "independents."

[KittyWampus]

6. Primal Scream -insert here-

[achtung_circus]

8. Two things,

your link says

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.
In the past weve charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer, Fannon said.

According to Fannon, the new law will cost the Wasilla Police Department approximately $5,000 to $14,000 a year to collect evidence for sexual assault cases.

1. No indication that Palin had any input into this statement.

2. It is a statement. I didn't see anything, other than the headline, to indicate that victims were charged.

So focus on what you can demonstrate.

[writes3000]

9. The fact that this was city policy is HORRIFYING. And the Chief's quote suggests victims

were charged - through their insurance company.

As you know many victims do not want info like this in their permanent medical record.

[achtung_circus]

11. oops

I missed this part "the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests.".

:banghead:

[Nine]

12. If it's costing them money, doesn't that show victims were charged?

Where else would that $5000 to $14000 increase come from? And if Palin was mayor, she must accept responsibility, whether or not she commented on it in the press.

[achtung_circus]

13. See my post #11.

[Barack_America]

10. Um, wow.

This is so horrible that it just brought tears to my eyes.

Imagine being in one of these women's shoes...

[Barack_America]

14. Please send this to Rachel.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/

[GimmeDANEger]

15. it would me amazing if...

Hillary attacked Palin with the double-edged sword of this ridiculous policy and her zero tolerance stance for abortion:


"Sarah Palin is the wrong choice for women. In the unfortunate incident of a rape, Palin would charge the victim. Under Palen's control, the Wasilla police department charged rape victims for their own rape kits. We're talking expensive tests (between $300 and $1,200). Every other city in Alaska covered the costs. But not Sarah's city. And it doesn't stop there. If the rape victim had been impregnated, Sarah believes that the United States government should see it fit that a child is born, even when the health of the mother is at risk.

Simply being a woman does not make one a champion for women's rights. It is a record of voting for women's rights, as possessed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden, that does."

If only...