Trigger Warning: This series of blogs will take you through the experience of a sexual assault survivor seeking justice through the judicial system. It will contain graphic violence, language, and details as that is the cold, hard reality.
“We all know she’s sucking his dick!”
My ears perked up with that. I had been doing my best to focus on my word game and ignore the conversation between two sheriff’s deputies.
I was in the lobby of the courthouse waiting for a client who had a meeting with her probation officer. The same client who is also awaiting prosecution against her perpetrator for repeatedly sexual assaulting her. As far as the two deputies knew, I was a friend who provided transportation, and both were unaware of my professional capacity as a victim advocate.
“Oh yeah?” the younger of the two deputies responded.
“Of course she is, you can tell by the way she talks to him over the radio.”
As he continued, it became apparent the deputy was referring to a 911 Dispatch Officer and a fellow deputy. He went on to share that when he was scheduled in dispatch, he requested a tour of the office. However, he indicated he wasn’t allowed to be in the dispatch office when he first started because of all the people having sex in it.
As an advocate, I had heard rumors of this and now it’s being confirmed by a deputy who is completely ignorant that this type of conversation is considered sexual harassment, which is an organizational and leadership issue.
This is a case of sexual misconduct, which I chalked up to another of the many atrocities I have heard regarding inappropriate conduct by law enforcement throughout the years and spanning over generations
Upon overhearing this intimate conversation in such a public location, how can my client, a sexual assault victim, possibly expect to have justice served? How do we improve responses to all forms of sexual harassment and assault, including within the criminal justice setting?
I believe the only reason charges resulted in my clients’ case is because she had PeaceWorks providing support and legal advocacy in her defense; and, the eyewitness in her sexual assault case refused to revoke his statement even after his friend, the perpetrator, threatened his life.
My client had been repeatedly victimized and assaulted by her perpetrator, which never resulted in charges. Yes, my client is far from perfect. She struggles with addiction, which is very common for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Trauma is the gateway to addiction. It is common for perpetrators to get their victims addicted to drugs/alcohol and to get charges filed against them to control and manipulate their victim. In this case, her perpetrator provided alcohol to her on numerous occasions as a way of overpowering and assaulting her: “He would force it down my throat.” He was successful in getting charges filed against her. He provided her with alcohol, got her drunk, then threatened to kill her. As she fled in his truck to get away from him, she was stopped by deputies and charged with a DUI. In this case, the perpetrator also used the threat of additionally filing a vehicular theft charge against her in this DUI case. My client had no idea that the perpetrator couldn’t legally do that, but the threat alone from him was enough for him to continue to exert control and continued abuse over her. Unlike her perpetrator, she spent time in jail and is now on probation. That was why we were at the courthouse the morning I overheard the detailed conversation between the deputies regarding the Dispatch Officer.
Originally, the trial for felony sexual assault against her perpetrator was scheduled for this day, however the perp’s attorney filed a motion the day before for an extension. Yes, it was the same day her probation officer requested to see her; at least she had to be at the same building, albeit at different times.
The local DA assured me it is common practice to file a motion the day before trial for an extension, and even though she argued against the extension citing the eyewitness’ personal travel expenses, the Judge granted the extension. Apparently, this is typical as the judge would not want grounds for an appeal by denying the request.
The DA stated that the perpetrator would be forfeiting his rights to a speedy trial. But what about the victim’s rights? What about the VICTIM’ S RIGHTS!? Why would he want to be convicted earlier? Prolonging the trial only causes additional stress, anxiety, and re-traumatization for victims. Ultimately, my client would have to wait another FOUR MONTHS before facing her perpetrator in court.
Meanwhile, he is still living his life without consequences or any pretrial services, such as random uranalysis, while she continues to live in fear of him. Because of the re-traumatization that she has experienced because of the challenges in our judicial system and law enforcement system, it is fair to say the local judicial system and law enforcement can now be added to her list of perpetrators.
PeaceWorks asks, where are the policy and procedures for providing trauma-informed services to victims? Or more commonly, is this discrimination based on explicit stereotypes about women, acting on stereotypes about why women are sexually assaulted, or about how a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault should look or behave? Along with the United States Department of Justice, PeaceWorks encourages law enforcement agencies to consider clear, unequivocal policies about the proper handling of sexual assault and domestic violence crimes; training for officers about these policies and about effective responses to sexual assault and domestic violence crimes more generally; and supervision protocols and systems of accountability to ensure that officers responding to sexual assault and domestic violence crimes act in accordance with these policies and trainings.
If you or a friend need confidential services, please contact PeaceWorks Inc 24/7 (call/text) 303-838-8181. For more information visit https://peaceworksinc.co/