Bill Would Allow Rape Victims To Keep Their Names Out Of Police Reports
DENVER (CBS4) - A proposed bill in Colorado would make it easier for sexual assault victims to report a rape to police.
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would give victims anonymity. Currently, when a rape survivor goes to an emergency room and evidence is collected, doctors are required by law to report the suspected assault and victim's name to police.
Colorado is one of nine states with a mandatory reporting law, and victim advocates say some rape survivors don't report because of that.
Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the country.
The idea behind this bill is to remove maybe the biggest barrier to reporting by allowing the victim to remain anonymous when a rape kit is done.
The kit would instead have a unique identifying number on it so that if a victim decided at a later time to file a police report the evidence would be preserved. In Colorado its kept for a minimum of two years.
"What we hear time and time again from survivors is that can be really intimidating. If going to talk to your doctor, you want health care, you want medical care. They may not necessarily be ready or able to have a conversation with law enforcement in that time when their needs are really focused on the medical treatment and the medical care," Karen Moldovan with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault said.
Under the legislation only if a victim decides to make an official police report would they need to give their name.
The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault says it surveyed nearly 240 police, prosecutors and medical providers; and more than half of them said they knew of a victim who wanted to report an assault but didn't because they couldn't be anonymous.
The bill is scheduled for committee on Wednesday. Police and sheriffs are behind it and it has a good chance of passing.
