USA--New report says groping rarely prosecuted; Victims respond

By Barbara Dorris
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
October 19, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/usa_new_report_says_groping_rarely_prosecuted_victims_respond

Today's New York Times reports that unwanted sexual groping is rarely addressed through criminal cases or civil lawsuits. This must change.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/19/us/politics/donald-trump-has-been-accused-of-groping-but-what-does-the-law-say.html?mtrref=query.nytimes.com&gwh=11AE7D42E71CF1969A5598D094A0681A&gwt=payd

Heightened awareness to sexual assaults is welcome. But those of us who were molested as children you know that greater public visibility isn’t enough. Awareness does not automatically bring reform. Aggressive action must follow awareness.

So we strongly urge

--police and prosecutors to more vigorously pursue cases of sexual violence (involving adults or kids, penetration or no penetration), and

--legislators to strengthen laws against all types of sexual assaults (especially by ending or extending predator-friendly statues of limitations).

Most of all, we urge every victim of sexual assault – whether groped or raped – to

--report their experiences to law enforcement (even if you believe nothing will happen), and

--check out whether they have any civil options.

It’s our civic duty to at least share what we know or suspect about sex offenders with the independent professionals in law enforcement. And it’s our moral duty to at least consider whether we can stop predators through civil lawsuits.

No matter what lawmakers or other officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered sex crimes and cover ups – especially by the powerful or in institutions –– to protect others by calling police, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how the vulnerable will be safer, the victimized will recover, the criminals will be prosecuted, the “enablers” will be exposed, the cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.