Join us at 11:00 am on December 12th, 2013, at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, Room 412, for the hearing about the Sexual Assault Victims' Advocate Bill, also known as the B20-417 Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights Act.
Over the past several years, research has shown that the Metropolitan Police Department mishandled scores of sexual abuse cases and frequently treated victims in a way that caused them further trauma. The DC Council is now considering legislation that (in theory) would give sexual assault survivors the right to an advocate during police interviews and broaden the Office of Police Complaints jurisdiction to include monitoring whether police are handling sexual assault cases properly. The legislation as written does not go far enough to ensure that sexual assault victims are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and that cases are investigated properly, but the public hearing on December 12 creates an opportunity to press for stronger measures to ensure there is meaningful reform and external oversight of police practices.