Privacy Laws Prevent Sex Assault Investigations
Officials at the University of Colorado know about a pattern of alleged date-rape drug use at a fraternity in Boulder, but say the law prevents them from naming the fraternity to police.
An investigation of sexual assault on college campuses found CU and others colleges across Colorado are withholding information about sexual assaults against students.
But the issue is more nuanced than first glance might suggest: Advocates say the secrecy is necessary to protect rape victims who wouldn’t come forward otherwise. Law enforcement officials say the secrecy may be allowing more people to fall victim.
Other stories in this series:
Rape Prevention Fails when it’s Focused on the Wrong Rapist
Video: Privacy vs Prosecution
Rape Prevention Fails when it’s Focused on the Wrong Rapist
If your image of a rapist is a hooded stranger in a dark alley, think again. The face of most rapists is one their victims recognize. In almost all sexual assaults – 90 percent, according to the U.S. Justice Department – the attacker is someone the victim knows. Read the stories: Privacy Laws Prevent [...]
Video: Privacy vs prosecution in campus assualt cases
Read the stories: Privacy Laws Prevent Sex Assault Investigations Rape Prevention Fails when it’s Focused on the Wrong Rapist Video: Privacy vs Prosecution Mary Friedrichs, who directs the Office of Victim Assistance at the University of Colorado, the District Attorney for Boulder County Stan Garnett and Joanne Belknap, who survived a sexual assault as a [...]