- Excerpt from “Emily Doe’s” victim-impact statement in People v. Brock Turner
Illustration By Arunlal Soman
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Contents
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The realities of rape culture The fight for equal rights ‘Asking For It’ by Louise O’Neill How can universities combat a climate of sexual assault? Justice for sexual assault victims Human trafficking: The United States’ invisible slave trade The aftermath of sexual assault
Editor’s Note Every semester, The Journal publishes a specialized edition called Beyond. Each Beyond edition focuses on various aspects of a single topic pertinent to our society and to our student body. This semester, we focus on sexual assault. News broke in January 2017 of a former UIS employee assaulting a student under his authority. This followed the election of a president who was caught on tape discussing grabbing women by their genitals. This followed the Brock Turner case, in which a young man served three months of jail time after being unanimously found guilty of three different sexual assault charges. According to a 2014 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, women between the ages of 18 and 24 who are enrolled in college are three times as likely to be victims of sexual assault. Men of the same age range also enrolled in college are five times as likely to be victims of sexual assault. According to that same study, only 20 percent of 18-24-year-old, college-enrolled female victims report their assault to the police. No statistic was available for male victims. It is time to bring the reality of sexual assault out of the shadows and into the light. While the topic is far more in-depth than even Beyond could cover, we hope to at least begin a conversation and shed some light onto this dark issue. Megan Swett Editor-in-Chief Spring 2017
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The realities of rape culture By Megan Swett
Within every society exists multiple cultures that impact various aspects of people’s lives. Some cultures impact how people dress, while others focus on how people act. In American society, there is one specific culture, subtle but far-reaching, that impacts a vital aspect of how we interact with one another. Rape culture, at large, is described as a culture whose prevailing attitude perpetuates the acceptance or trivialization of sexual assault. However, every individual understands it differently. Lynn Otterson, director of the Women’s Center at UIS, said, “It’s a culture – whether it’s a small micro-culture, like a group of friends, or large culture, like a nation – that does anything from [encouraging to tolerating] sexual violence.” “It goes anywhere on a continuum from encouragement and promotion of sexual violence, to a culture on the other end that tolerates it,” she said. “But in between all of that, there’s a lot of people.” Andrea Duvendack, a 21-year-old communication major at UIS, described rape culture as oversexualizing, victim-blaming, and stereotyping women. “It is a lot of victim-blaming,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Well, what was she wearing,’ ‘Was she asking for it,’ ‘Was she drunk,’ stuff like that.” Molly Looby, a UIS sophomore and Women’s Center student worker, noted that strong gender roles also impact rape culture. “[There’s] this idea that women are submissive … that women can’t really say ‘no,’ or that men are sexual beings, so they have this entitlement to sex,” she said. “I’ve seen it [in Springfield] … even at this school, I see that kind of [rape culture] mentality.” Duvendack said that she often unfriends people on Facebook when she sees them perpetuating rape culture. “I had a Facebook friend who was in an argument, and he said in a comment that ‘gang rape is the best rape,’” Duvendack noted in one example.
Screenshot provided by Andrea Duvendack
In other cases, however, people don’t always feel comfortable speaking out. Looby said, “You see somebody go against the group by saying, ‘This person raped me,’ and then you see them get ostracized, you see them get bullied, they get cast out, and you don’t want that to happen to you, so you stay quiet.” “There’s a lot of things where it’s more of a ‘look the other way’ thing,” Otterson said. “If you’re the one that’s saying, ‘That magazine, that ad, that game, that comment [is] wrong,’ you risk losing your social credibility. “But I also think a lot of the time … is people really aren’t 100 percent sure,” Otterson continued. “They’re uncomfortable with what they heard or saw, but they’re not sure if they’re right.” Things that perpetuate rape culture can be subtle, like joking about sexual assault or the objectification of women in advertising, or they can be direct, like victim-blaming. One example of victim-blaming can be seen in
Illustration By Arunlal Soman
Editor-in-Chief
the comment thread of an article from the southern Illinois newspaper the Belleville News-Democrat. The article describes the case of a man who was arrested after engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. While a number of people expressed disgust with the man, another select set of people questioned and even blamed the girl. “It wasn’t rape,” one commenter said. “He got caught on some jailbait from the article.”
Screenshot provided by Megan Swett
Another commenter said, “Girls lie about their age all the time. Not fair to younger adults.”
Screenshot provided by Megan Swett
“What I see in the cultures here in Springfield is that people will be strongly against rape,” said Looby, who is a Springfield native, “… but when someone comes out in that community and says, ‘This man sexually assaulted me,’ they’re like, ‘Well, can you prove it? I know him, he’s not like that.’” While asking questions when faced with serious accusations seems like a benign and reasonable response, many scholars believe that showing immediate distrust of a victim’s claims could have a negative impact overall. “I think the most important thing to do if a victim discloses to you is to listen to them,” said Dr. Leanne Brecklin of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Mostly it’s just believing them, listening to them, not passing judgement in any way on their behavior or questioning them on what they did.” Brecklin described several “rape myths” that help perpetuate rape culture. The idea that someone deserved to be raped, that how they dressed
was “asking for it,” or that their lifestyle or scenario calls into question whether they’re a “real victim” are all rape myths. Other rape myths, as described by the Women’s Center’s “Blow the Whistle on Sexual Assault” packet, are that rape is only committed by strangers, that only women get raped, and that “women frequently ‘cry rape.’” “Research really has shown that false reporting is not common,” Brecklin said. “The fact is that women rarely report sexual assault as it is, and those that do report it tend to be factual.” Multiple sources, from the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report to independent studies, place the rate of false accusations of rape between 2 and 10 percent. “Victims who choose to report, they may be blamed, they may not be believed, they may face secondary victimization from law enforcement, or from court personnel, or the media, or even just friends and family that they tell about the assault,” Brecklin said. “It’s not likely that a woman would want to go through the experience of reporting for a fabricated story.” “It’s very hard to talk about perpetration, because the numbers are so dire. … I’ve been [at UIS] 22 years, and I always say that the climate has changed about speaking openly,” Otterson said. “The good news is there’s more discussion overall.” “As a society, we’re getting better,” Duvendack said. “We’re starting to take back our own rights and our own feelings.” “I think that education is the most important thing on this,” Looby said. “You can’t combat [rape culture] if you don’t know what it is.” As April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, various educational opportunities are coming up for the UIS community. The Women’s Center, specifically, is hosting several events through March and April promoting relationship and sexual health, beginning on March 3 with Safe Sex and Healthy Relationships BINGO. Other planned events include an “It’s On Us” luau on April 6 and Take Back The Night on April 28.
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Title IX promotes safer academic environments for all
The fight for
equal rights
How gender discrimination legislation protects sexual assault victims in higher Ed By Bryanna Shinall Staff Writer
Women have fought for centuries to achieve gender equality, and their efforts have produced massively successful pieces of legislation. One of these landmark pieces of legislation is Title IX, a federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Many associate Title IX with sports, but the legislation can be applied to several different areas. It applies broadly to education, specifically in educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. While gender discrimination and sexual violence is primarily experienced by women, Title IX applies to all genders. Faculty, staff, and students are protected from sex-based discrimination, harassment, or violence, regardless of their sex, gender identity, or gender expression. Schools must be proactive in ensuring that students and faculty can experience a campus free from gender discrimination. If a school knows about discrimination based on sex that creates a hostile environment for its community, it must immediately act to remedy the situation and prevent it from happening again. In order to carry out this proactive policy, schools must have what’s known as a Title IX coordinator. This person handles complaints and is responsible for making sure the school promptly investigates issues, even if the victim chooses not to contact police with the matter. Furthermore, the school’s investigation is not dependent on the criminal investigation, and generally is completed within a semester’s time. The school is responsible for determining whether discrimination occurred, and for notifying the concerned parties, who both have the right to appeal. To protect the victim from further sexual harassment or violence, schools must provide accommodations that don’t cause an undue burden on them. The school also cannot charge the victim
Protester at Women’s March holds a sign that reads “We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”
for costs incurred because of these necessary safeguards. Victims must be allowed to continue their education free from ongoing discrimination, and this includes removing the accused from potential contact with the victim by issuing a no-contact directive. Schools cannot advocate for mediation or advise against filing formal complaints. Doing so would go against the best interests of the victim, someone they have the legal and ethical responsibility to protect. Most institutions have made great strides in the aforementioned aspects of the law. But one area that continues to be an issue is when schools retaliate against someone filing a complaint. Schools have a responsibility to keep the victim safe from retaliatory harassment or behavior. Victims may face retaliation, particularly if the accused is someone well-known or respected within the campus community. A prime example is the harassment that Florida State University student Erica Kinsman faced after she accused star football player Jameis Winston of rape in 2012. Kinsman was continuously harassed, not only by fellow students, but by the media and the entire country as well. She was accused of being a liar, only out to get Winston because he was a top pick to win the Heisman and be first in the NFL draft. Despite the university and local law enforcements, Kinsman brought the case to the federal level, and ended up settling out of court. Several investigations showed that Florida State University failed in their response to Kinsman’s accusations, and thus did not adhere to their Title IX responsibilities. The Obama administration helped enumerate these legal and ethical responsibilities of schools by providing an updated interpretation of Title IX. This enabled sexual assault to become a key issue for the Department of Education. Despite criticism from the right, Obama paved the way for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to drastically increase investigation and enforcement efforts in regards to Title IX. But as is the case with much social progress, the country took one step forward only to take two steps back. In the first few weeks of his Photo courtesy of administration, Trump has wikimedia commons been less than forthcoming about his position on the is-
Graphic by Megan Swett
sue of sexual assault on college campuses. His pick to lead the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, has been equally aloof about her plans, and has previously donated to groups that opposed Obama-era Title IX reforms. Trump has also recently rolled back federal protections for transgender students, protections established under Obama’s reinterpretation of Title IX. The president’s stance on the issue is troubling, considering his past and current behavior. Trump continues to exhibit blatantly misogynistic behavior, was caught on tape describing ways in which he sexually assaulted women, and has faced several allegations of rape and sexual assault. But women have shown that they will not go back to the way things were before. The Women’s March pulled nearly half a million supporters in Washington alone. During Trump’s first address to Congress on Feb. 28, members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group showed up sporting all white, the color of the women’s suffrage movement. Congresswoman Lois Frankel described it in an official statement as a way to “unite against any attempts by the Trump administration to roll back the incredible progress women have made in the last century.” Within the last 100 years, women have achieved the right to vote, ensured the ability to work outside the home, and helped propel socially progressive legislation, like Title IX, that protects women’s civil rights. Legislation like Title IX protects from more than just gender discrimination in higher education. It protects women from factors that contribute to disparities and injustices in society, and helps to foster safer environments for everyone. There is still work to be done, and the importance of continuing to fight for equal treatment cannot be stressed enough. Women everywhere benefit from the fight for equal rights, and we simply cannot afford to go back.
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It happens here
The prevalence of sexual assault is all too common, but often unknown By Cole Moriarty
Columnist
It is an unfortunate truth that even if you aren’t aware of the numbers and statistics of sexual assault, its commonness stares us in the face every time we see the progress made toward helping its victims. Every office that deals with sexual assault, every policy written to deal with it, every awareness campaign represents how ubiquitous it is. Consider the following, quoted from the webpage of the UIS Police Department dedicated to sexual assault: “Individuals at UIS Police, UIS Counseling Center, the UIS Women’s Center, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office, the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault, and Sojourn Shelter and Services in Springfield are available to assist you with counseling, your decision to report the crime, help you find the resources you need, and respond to requests to change your academic or living situation because of the attack.” Consider how severe and awful a problem is if it requires such a broad and diverse array of offices and places dedicated to combating it. Consider how terrible it is that the procedure for victims to follow is so clear, refined, and well defined, as that clarity, that refining, that definition is the result of countless cases that until relatively recently in our history were not investigated, reported, or spoken of aloud. The webpage of the UIS Counseling Center lists five medical offices and facilities that are prepared for victims, waiting for what they
know will occur to someone. Consider the following from a paper dedicated to offering the results of multiple studies linked to from the UIS Counseling Center: “Although rape was assessed among men, fewer than 10 cases of rape per 100,000 males aged 12 or older were reported in the previous year. Among women, 2007 estimates indicate that 18 cases of forced unwanted sexual acts per 10,000 women were reported. A total of 248,000 cases of rape were projected to have occurred in the 2007 estimates.” (National Crime Victimization Survey) Consider the size of the population of America, nearly 320 million. Consider the size of Illinois, nearly thirteen million. Consider another survey: “Prevalence of lifetime experience of rape was 12.65 percent, meaning that 12.65 percent of women endorsed at least one of the four rape screening questions as having occurred at least once in their lifetime.” (National Women’s Study)The page dedicated to detailing the Title IX sexual misconduct policy has 13 sections and 14 appendices. Go to Google and type in “sexual as.” The top suggestion is “sexual assault on college campuses.” Search it. You’ll find one of those Google answer boxes that comes up in response to a common question. It reports thusly: “One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Only 12 percent of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities. The prevalence of false reporting is between 2
and 10 percent.” (National Sexual Violence Resource Center.) If it takes you more than five seconds to find any of these resources or data, you need to learn how to use a computer. There is a purpose in focusing on the UIS online presence of so many dedicated pages and resources, because it illustrates another terrible thing: going online is one of the most private and solitary things we tend to do, and the fact that all this material exists as published web pages, solely within our small campus is as clear a sign of prevalence as any number. It is so well understood that these pages will be frequently visited by victims that if you read them, it becomes quickly apparent that their purpose is to convince those visitors, a victim investigating in the most private and unobtrusive way, that they should reach out. We should be glad that these resources exist. We should be glad that there is so much literature and space devoted to detailing every aspect of this problem and how to seek help and take action in their aftermath. We should be horrified that there is too much information to be in a single page. We should be horrified that sexual assault requires such information be so easy to find at the click of a mouse because it was designed to be so accessible. We should be horrified that the need to understand and deal with sexual assault is so great. These pages are waiting to be found, constructed because we know that they will be. I cannot think of anything more disheartening.
Empathy and autonomy
Reducing sexual assault by educating our country’s youth By Erik Thulien Columnist
Opposition to sexual assault is one of those easyto-have opinions. It’s easy to go online and shred the most recent attacker for being horrible, selfish, heartless, etc. I’ve done it plenty of times, including in multiple columns. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with doing that. I think it’s important to stand in solidarity with victims in any way you can, and social media is a great avenue to reach out to them. What I am saying is that this is only the first step, the easy one, and we usually just leave it there. We’ll share an article or write a post, then go about our day secure in the fact that we are on the right side of this issue. But very seldom do we actually address sexual assault prevention. Because as important as it is to want the attackers to be held accountable, it is imperative we take measures to prevent these attacks from happening in the future. When it comes to sexual assault prevention, there are numerous avenues that advocates within this issue are exploring. One of the more promising ideas
comes in the form of early education. Early education programs around the country teach children about healthy relationships and proper treatment of others. The logic behind these programs is pretty clear. People sexually assault other people for a variety of complex reasons, but clearly a factor must be how they learned to treat other people. Teaching children early in the developmental process about the concepts of boundaries and respecting others’ privacy and autonomy can be a big step in preventing sexual assaults before kids even leave high school. One such program addressing this issue is Game Change: The Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership. This program, led by New England Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, seeks to reduce sexual violence by “reaching students at an early age and teaching them about healthy relationships, how to recognize warning signs and how to intervene.” These seminars, led by various experts as well as Kraft and even some Patriots players, teach kids in high school and below about how to treat others with respect and how to intervene if they see instances of sexual assault or abusive relationships. Another promising program is Green Dot, which
was created and implemented at the University of Kentucky, as well as numerous Kentucky high schools. The Green Dot program is a basic education course that teaches people to recognize situations that have the potential to lead to sexual assault and relationship violence, how to recognize established instances of sexual assault or relationship violence, and how to intervene. It also teaches about advocacy and ways to educate other people about this issue, to help spread awareness. When someone recognizes one of these situations and intervenes, or helps someone understand this issue, it is considered a “green dot.” The ultimate goal is to create enough green dots to get rid of all of the “red dots,” which represent instances of sexual assault or relationship violence. A study by the University of Kentucky regarding the effectiveness of the Green Dot campaign found it was effective in reducing instances of sexual violence. The study was done over five years and found a more than 50 percent decrease in self-reported sexual Continued on Page 9
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Art | Artist
The line between art and artist is ever-thinning. With Affleck winning his Oscar, how do we know when to cross it? By Sean Flamand
Copy Editor
When the time rolled around during the Academy Awards for the Best Actor prize to be handed out, most everyone watching was filled with uncertainty. It wasn’t just because this was one of the closest races of the night – essentially a coin-flip between Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington. No, the award was also lent massive political and social weight due to the resurfacing of a 2010 sexual harassment suit brought against Affleck. When the winner was announced and Affleck crossed the stage, social media accounts across the world exploded – some were happy, certainly, but many were outraged that the Academy awarded the prize to someone they deemed morally bankrupt. This sequence of events raises a question that has been asked over and over: Can – or should – we separate art from artist? And when? The allegations
The 2010 suit involved a pair of Affleck’s former coworkers from the set of “I’m Still Here,” Amanda White (the producer) and Magdalena Gorka (the cinematographer), suing Affleck and alleging that he made unwelcome sexual advances. Affleck and his lawyer denied the accusations, further alleging that White’s lawyer had attempted to extort Affleck by withholding production documents necessary to make and release the film. Eventually, the suit was settled “to the mutual satisfaction of both parties,” according to a joint statement by the parties involved. The details of the settlement are unknown; but considering the nature of the situation and comparable scenarios,
it likely involved some sort of monetary element, along with strict guarantees not to comment on the case. Affleck is the wrong example to use
The important things to note about the Affleck case are twofold. First, it was settled, meaning, legally speaking, it cannot be revisited. And second, because it was settled, no evidence was ever presented to confirm or refute the allegations. That is to say, the only people who know for sure what happened are White, Gorka, and Affleck. We shouldn’t inherently doubt victims in sexual assault cases. But the only concrete fact left is that all three have almost certainly agreed to never discuss the events again. Further, as is often true of such high-profile cases, the victims themselves may not want their case to be brought back into the media spotlight. Meanwhile, there are many more cogent examples of sexual misconduct in Hollywood, such as Woody Allen and, particularly, Roman Polanski. In 1977, the latter of these confessed to and received sentencing for “Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a minor,” that minor being then-13year-old Samantha Geimer. Allen, meanwhile, was accused in 1992 of molesting his 7-year-old adopted daughter, Dylan. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but there is also major controversy surrounding the fact that Allen married Soon-Yi Previn, whom he and his ex-wife Mia Farrow adopted when Previn was between five and seven years old. Both of these filmmakers have allegations and scandals that are confirmed and unconfirmed, and for Allen specifically, one that, while legal, is altogether disgusting. Yet both Polanski and Allen are still making films, with far less uproar.
A case-by-case basis
All of this isn’t to say that the outrage toward Affleck is misguided, necessarily – it’s just unproductive. Affleck’s is a case to which the facts will never be known for sure, and for which, at least legally speaking, the matter was closed to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Meanwhile, Allen is still married to Previn, and Polanski went to jail for a mere 42 days. While neither Previn nor Geimer have expressed dissatisfaction with the results they’ve gotten (Geimer famously said, “[Polanski] said he did it, he pled guilty, he went to jail. I don’t know what people want from him.”), if one wants to make a political statement about the culture of Hollywood, these are the cases to point to. People scoff at “social justice warriors,” and while I think plenty of that scoffing misses the point, choosing the right cases to champion takes a lot of credence away from those criticisms. In regards to awards, I think the best practice is what just happened at the Oscars: Give the prize to the most deserving – and if that individual turns out to have committed a severe wrongdoing, sexual misconduct or otherwise, strip them of their prize just like the Olympics. Because it’s always easier – and rings to me as a harsher punishment – to take an award away later in light of new information, rather than to punish someone for what they may have done. The court of public opinion will probably never be fundamentally altered. “Innocent until proven guilty” isn’t as motivating as piling on a cause. But when a cause wants to rally people who aren’t already on board, that cause needs to pick its battles and use the most convincing – and damning – examples.
‘Asking For It’ by Louise O’Neill
By Jessey Bruce Staff Writer
In a small Irish town, an 18-year-old named Emma O’Donovan is considered to be popular and among the most beautiful. She has attended many parties with her closest friends, Maggie, Jamie, and Ali in Ballinatoom. While Maggie is dating Eli, the others, including Emna, aim to grab the attention at the party being thrown by one of their classmates, Sean Casey. Emma begins to use another guy to make the one she truly wants jealous, but it begins to backfire and he offers her an unknown drug, on top of the drinks she already had. She remembers talking with four men she had known for years, then her parents’ faces as they began pulling her into her home the next day after finding her on their front porch, sunburnt to the point of blistering. Her memories began being filled in over the next couple days as she was tagged in detailed photos on a Facebook page called “Easy Emma.” O’Neill takes the sensitive topic of sexual assault and shows how it can play out with today’s technology and drugs. With the already public life of Emma, having what happened to her publicized was not a surprise.
However, her memory being wiped of these incidents was surprising. Her classmates and friends blamed her, believing it was just something she had done. Once it came to light what actually happened, her life begins to tumble. Many saying “she f---ing asked for it” and calling her names such as “whore, skank, and slut.” There were two parts to O’Neill’s story, set during the week of the assault and a year later. The missing pieces from that year are told throughout the second section. The backstory is worked out well, not only in the second part, but also in the first; since we are dropped into Emma’s life, this backstory is needed. However, when starting the reading, it was confusing. At first, the characters are just presented to readers and it is difficult to keep up with all of them. As the story continues, it is easier to keep up. The plot was refreshing. There are few popular novels that addressed sexual assault in today’s society and what social media can do to the already complicated situation. The second section covers the family’s attitude toward the shunning that is created by the smalltown view on the assault, causing it to slightly drag for the reader.
The characters, though, are not as relatable as hoped. They are truly what could be considered as the popular crowd in high school. The situation is almost believable, but exaggerated to the point that it is not. Still, overall, “Asking For It” is high on the recommendation list for any fiction readers.
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How can universities combat a climate of sexual assault?
How s ome c o l l e g e s h a v e f a lle n s h o r t , a n d h o w tha t ha s h e l p e d o t h e rs m o v e f o r wa r d By Michael Agbabiaka Staff Writer
In the past decade, the issue of sexual assault on college campuses has come to the forefront of American public discourse. Much of this attention has focused not only on the crimes themselves, but also on the way that the cases are treated by those who handle them. Because of this increased attention, universities are feeling mounting pressure from multiple sources to respectfully respond to sexual assaults in an ever more public climate. Increasingly, these claims of sexual assault become national news topics. Often, they reach this status as a result of the perceived mishandling of a sexual assault allegation brought forward by a student. In 2013, the University of Southern California investigated a case of sexual assault brought forth by a student. According to ABC News, the student was encouraged by the university not to pursue formal
charges with the LAPD, and was told that she had not been assaulted because her attacker never reached orgasm. The university’s response, along with other alleged mishandlings of sexual assault cases on campus, was included in a report to the Department of Education, which resulted in a Title IX investigation that began in 2013 and is still ongoing today. In another case, student Hope Brinn re-
ported that administrators at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania mishandled her accusations. She claimed an administrator questioned her about what she had done to provoke the attack, and told her that the attacker’s admission of guilt “was punishment enough.” Similar to the USC case, students at Continued on Page 14
Do You: • Want to be notiied in case of a campus emergency? • Wish you had a “panic button” on your mobile device to contact Campus Police? • ink a campus walking escort would be useful? • Want to help Campus Police to expedite a law-enforcement response, but remain anonymous?
If you answered Yes to any of these questions, the UIS-Alert Emergency Notiication System is here to help! It offers: • RaveAlert emergency notices through texts, emails, and social media. • Guardian, which offers a “panic button” downloadable on a smart phone. • EyeWitness, which allows anyone who witnesses a crime to text the information anonymously. . Signing up is easy. Visit www.uis.edu/police.
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Illustration By Arunlal Soman
Justice for sexual assault victims By Aeriel Storey Assistant Editor for Features
Sexual harassment and sexual assault on college campuses everywhere in the United States is, and always has been, a serious issue of great concern. The consequences and implications for sexual assault vary greatly and have had a great impact on how charges are handled on campuses and even in courtrooms. Many sexual assault cases that occur on college campuses are first reported to campus officials, although the victims may choose to also file a report with the police. Because of Title IX laws which have been in effect since 1972, schools must have procedures in place in which they handle sexual harassment and sexual assault complaints. This act has established schools as a safe space for survivors; some individuals feel as though schools are the only place they can turn to for help and believe that the judicial system does not always offer the best solutions, sometimes even leaving victims abandoned by the system from which they sought help. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), one-fourth of all reported rapes lead to an arrest, one-fifth lead to prosecution, and half of those prosecutions result in felony convictions. For most sexual assault survivors on campus, schools have been the only network, support system, and form of justice that the victims have. If sexual assault is such a serious issue across campuses everywhere, and even among courtrooms across the nation, why are there so often very little to no consequences for the perpetrators? This question is complicated, for many reasons; however, the issue comes down to the varying lo-
cal statutes, as well as varying Title IX procedures seen on college campuses. Most cases are handled at an individual or local level among both schools and court hearings. For this reason alone, the outcomes of many cases vary significantly. Title IX requires that every college and university must have a Title IX coordinator who manages complaints and even conducts investigations separate from the police. Only when the school has collected significant evidence in favor of the victim can action be taken. Unfortunately, it is difficult for schools to obtain significant evidence against perpetrators, as well as gaining solid evidence from the victim himself/herself. Further, each school has its own definition of sexual harassment and sexual assault, as well as varying outcomes. As stated on the UIS website, sexual harassment can take place in two forms: “submission to or rejection of unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors … affecting that individual’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in a UIS program or activity,” and “when pervasive or egregious conduct ... creates a hostile environment,” with the hostile environment being constituted as sufficiently serious and objectively offensive, with the purpose of interfering with the individual, and by the basis of sex, sexuality, gender identity, etc. However, according to the UIUC website, sister campus of UIS, “Sexual harassment is defined by law and includes requests for sexual favors, sexual advances or other sexual conduct when (a) submission is either explicitly or implicitly a condition affecting academic or employment decisions; or (b) the behavior is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to create an intimidating, hostile or repugnant environment; or (c) the behavior persists despite objection by the person to whom the conduct is directed.”
Even within university organizations, the definitions and procedures regarding sexual misconduct vary and the consequences for these cases are the direct result of how policies, procedures, laws, and definitions are set up. This ambiguity is what results in such a wide variety of outcomes for both the victim and complainant. The ambiguity does not just stop at the university level; however; it can be seen most prominently in local courtrooms. In Illinois, criminal sexual assault is considered a Class 1 felony. A Class 1 felony, in Illinois, is often associated with a 15-year sentence with a two-year parole or a probation term of up to four years. A maximum fine of $25,000 may also apply. Of course, these terms and conditions vary, and are all at the judge’s discretion. Compared to California, Illinois has strict guidelines concerning sexual assault. According to FindLaw, California’s sexual assault conviction carries with it a possible sentence ranging from six months in county jail up to 48 months in prison, as well as a possible $10,000 fine – all at the judge’s discretion. In the infamous case of Brock Turner, who was convicted of three counts of felony sexual assault in the state of California, his sentencing was the former. His indictments of two felony sexual assault charges and one for attempted rape carried a conviction sentence of up to 14 years in prison; however, he was sentenced to just six years in jail and was released after only three months. This ambiguity results in many cases going unreported each year – almost 52 percent, according to RAINN. These varying cases and consequences, along with loose conviction guidelines set by the state, have created difficult standards on which judges must base their sentences.
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Empathy and autonomy Continued from page 5
violence perpetration at the high schools that received green dot training, whereas schools that didn’t receive the training saw a slight increase. Sexual assault is an issue that seems like an insurmountable battle. On college campuses, the issue seems so pervasive that it is difficult to blame universities when they mishandle a case due to the sheer volume they have to address each year. Of course universities need to have clear, strict
guidelines and procedures on how they deal with these issues, to ensure justice is served. And of course our judicial system needs to value women as much as men, so attackers receive punishments that fit the crime they committed. But our focus needs to shift slightly. Don’t lose your passion for holding attackers accountable for their actions, just shift some of that passion toward stopping these attacks before they start. As it stands, there is legislation being proposed to make early education and sexual assault prevention programs mandatory for kids in elementary, middle, and high school. And that seems like a step in the right direction. If we can teach our young men and women at an early age to value individuals’ autonomy, we can raise much more empathetic and respectful people, drastically reducing the number of attacks that anger us so severely.
UIS Counseling Center—A Great Place to Talk in a Conndential, Safe and Private Environment Helping students build conndence, gain insights and make changes to assist them in being successful as students and in their personal lives. li Concerns run a wide gamut, but among the issues the center helps students address: Stress and time management. Depression. Substance abuse. Connict resolution. Communication skills. Com Relationship concerns. .e Counseling Center is located in Room 64, Human Resources Building. For more information call (217) 206-7122 or visit our website ww www.uis.edu/counselingcenter
Safe Zone Workshop - Safe Dating, Sex, & Relationships Advanced Session ursday, March 23, 3 PM to 5 PM in PAC Conference Room G. .is workshop covers sensitive and mature issues such as hooking up online and keeping it safe, dating scripts, sex and sexuality, HIV and STD disclosure, and an overview of intimate partner violence. Care is given to provide a safe zone of conndentiality to all participants. Recommended for those who interact with students, particularly students entering the dating pool or potentially engaging in sex. Register at GO.UIS.edu/safezoneconnection
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Crisis Hotline #: 217-753-8081
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Athletes vs. sexual assault By Zach Lebovitz Senior Sports Reporter
Around the country, college campuses are being examined as potential sites for high rates of sexual assault cases. According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, reporting in 2010, “11.2 percent of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.” The NCAA states that there are just under 500,000 college student-athletes in the United States, which means 11.2 percent accounts for just under 50,000 student-athlete victims of rape or sexual assault, assuming the rates are similar within that subgroup. The RAINN website also states, “Among graduate and professional students, 8.8 percent of females and 2.2 percent of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation,” and that among undergraduate students, those rates are 23.1 and 5.4 percent for females and males, respectively. “Student or not,” reports RAINN, “college-age adults are at high risk for sexual violence. Male college-aged students (18-24) are 78 percent more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault. Female collegeaged students (18-24) are 20 percent less likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.” Unfortunately, rape and sexual assault isn’t an uncommon event when it comes to athletes. There are many cases of professional athletes facing charges or having been successfully prosecuted of crimes like sexual assault, or sexual abuse. Some of those professional athletes include Ben Roethlisberger, Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson, and Lawrence Taylor. Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was accused for two different counts in 2009 and 2010 of sexual assault and/or rape. One was settled out of court, and the other never had charges filed, the vitim’s attorney explaining that a trial would be intrusive due to media attention. Roethlisberger was suspended without pay by the NFL for the first four games of the 2010 season. Bryant is a recently retired five-time NBA champion who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He was accused of the sexual assault of a 19-year-old girl in which the charges were dropped. Tyson, the renowned former boxer, was prosecuted and found guilty in 1991 for the rape of a 19-year-old, serving three years of a six-year sentence. Taylor is a former linebacker for the New York Giants. He was accused of statutory rape and patronization in 2010, charges to which Taylor pleaded guilty. He was later acquitted. While seeing ones heroes accused or convicted of such crimes can be disheartening, actions such as these should not be forgotten. According to the UIS Campus Crime Statistics webpage from the UIS police, in 2015 there was one reported rape, three reported instances of aggravated assault, six reported occurrences of domestic violence, and two reported instances of stalking, all on campus. To help educate the student body, the Women’s Center is working with UIS Athletics for the “It’s On Us Campaign.”
Images courtesy of wikimedia commons and the It’s On Us website
“It’s On Us Campaign” was originated by the administration of former-president Barack Obama as a way to combat the effects of rape culture. The Women’s Center event is a luau on April 6, which will consist of “learning games, food, [and] prizes,” according to Director of the Women’s Center, Lynn Otterson. UIS athletes will produce a video in connection with the campaign, aided with a script provided by the Women’s Center. “It’s really great that we have athletes as our partner for ‘It’s On Us’,” Otterson said. “When you look at the commercials and the ads around the big sports, I think you see a lot of things that are not healthy if you’re feeling exploited or vulnerable.” PACT5, a national movement to prevent sexual assaults and rapes in colleges through documentary films, also deals with the topic of college athletics and sexual violence. On the PACT5 website, they have a section called “As A College Athlete, What Can I do To End Sexual Violence?” which explains how and what student-athletes can do as role models in their college’s community. “You’re already a role model,” PACT5 writes. “You’re admired for your strength and you enjoy a certain amount of status and privilege. You can
use your strength and status to make a lasting difference on campus by taking a stand against sexual assault.” They explain that athletes should demonstrate and value strength of character just as much as they do physical fitness. PACT5 instructs athletes to do this by “modeling respectful behavior towards women, by speaking out when your teammates are acting disrespectfully, by intervening when necessary to prevent a situation from escalating, and by getting educated on sexual assault and how it affects everyone involved.” The organization overall asserts that “Students are the ones who can make a difference in the minds of other students,” and this certainly isn’t limited to student-athletes. According to resources available from the Women’s Center, if someone discloses that they’ve been sexually assaulted or raped, the confidant should not pressure them to do anything, just inform them that there are services that the campus provides to help those who want it and to not be afraid to go get the help they need. Resources for UIS include, but are not limited to, the Counseling Center, Health Services, the Women’s Center, and the campus police department.
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Human trafficking: The United States’ invisible slave trade By Nick Zambito Staff Writer
Sept. 11, 2001 changed everything for the citizens of America. The country watched in horror as the Twin Towers fell that morning, and the fear of outside threats raced through the country. But along with the tightened borders and heightened airport security came a result that few expected: With international sex trafficking now made much more difficult, traffickers turned domestic. Soon the United States went to war on two fronts. The first would be fought abroad, in and around the Middle East – the other would span across all 50 states. Human trafficking is defined as the act of recruiting, harboring, moving, or obtaining a person, by force, fraud, or coercion, for the purposes of involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or often sexual exploitation. Sadly, the average ages of children brought into trafficking range from 11 to 14, but cases of younger children have been reported. The U.S. Department of State estimates between 100,000 and 300,000 children below the age of 17 are at risk of being lured into the commercial sex trade in a given year. Additionally, the average lifespan of a victim is only seven years due to drug abuse and overdoses, suicide, HIV and other STI’s, and physical abuse. The problem is severe – and growing. Human trafficking is currently the-second largest illegal market, already surpassing the weapons trade and soon to surpass drugs. The $32 billion industry is growing, and because it has become harder to kidnap women from other countries, traffickers turned to the young women of the United States to feed the ever-expanding market. The highest-risk areas for trafficking include New York City and the states of Florida, North Carolina, California, and Hawaii, but reports of trafficking have come from all 50 states. The state of Illinois is currently facing a huge trafficking problem as the densely populated area of Chicago draws business from within. Due to the strategic location and importance of the city, it is easy for the number of women trafficked for sexual exploitation to go up during major events when the city is filled with large numbers of tourists. Illinois officials estimate between 16,000 and
25,000 women and girls are subjected to sexual exploitation in Chicago alone. Since 2005, the FBI has declared Chicago one of 13 locations of “High-Intensity Child Prostitution.” The problem is not new, but frequently overlooked. State officials warn Springfield residents of the problem as well. Interstate 55, also known as a “beltway” for trafficking, runs from Chicago down through the rest of the state; the highway is approximately four minutes from campus. It is vital to report suspicious behavior and be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. Human Trafficking can be stopped; it’s a matter
Image courtesy of Google
of recognizing the signs and speaking up. Possible indications that a person is being trafficked include physical signs of abuse, behavior that is fearful or submissive, and both the lack of identification and basic knowledge of the community in which a person lives. Additionally, one can always call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hot line at 888-373-7888 or contact Grounds of Grace here in Springfield and become the difference that they want to see.
Image courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security
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Safety steps on campus
A look at some of the different ways to stay safe on the UIS campus By Megan Swett
Editor-in-Chief
All photos by Megan Swett
Safety on college campuses concerns many people, from students to administrators. This January, Dr. Clarice Ford, the interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs, hosted a “Real Talk” panel that discussed the topics of sexual assault and campus safety. Last semester, the Student Government Association held a “Protect the Prairie” event and also secured a $10,000 funding allocation from
the Chancellor’s office to improve lighting around campus. TRAC regularly offers martial arts and selfdefense fitness sessions, the Women’s Center provides free personal safety whistles, and the campus police department offers personal escorts to anyone who asks. These measures are taken to ensure that individuals on this campus, be they students returning to their on-campus apartments after a night class or faculty walking to their car after working late, feel as safe as possible.
The UIS campus police station, located behind Brookens library and the Shakespeare Garden, is open to students 24/7, including weekends and holidays. They can also be contacted by phone, with (217) 2067777 for the emergency line and (217) 206-6690 for non-emergencies.
The Women’s Center at UIS provides a variety of informational handouts that include information on how to prevent sexual assault and what to do if it happens. Brochures, pamphlets, and information cards are available on the wall outside of their office.
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Code Blue panels, which are found on the Code Blue towers and in the secondary stairwells in the resident halls, connect directly to the UIS police station. Pressing the button will immediately dispatch an officer to the panel’s location. UIS police utilize the Rave Guardian application, which allows them to stay in contact with students. The application is available for download in app stores. One feature includes a safety timer, which will alert chosen guardians if the user doesn’t respond or disable the timer ends. The application also provides a direct line to the UIS police and he RaveAlert system, which informs people of campus emergencies.
The “Blow the Whistle on Sexual Assault” initiative began almost 20 years ago. Originated by Lynn Otterson, the director of the Women’s Center, the initiative provides free whistles and informational packets, available in SLB 15.
The Code Blue columns are located throughout campus. UIS Police Sergeant Mike Stewart explained at the Real Talk panel that the Code Blue alarms are tested by the station every weekend. “Even if they look bad,” Stewart said, “every weekend they’re tested, and if they don’t work, a work order’s put in and they’re fixed.”
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Page 14 Universities combat sexual assault Continued from page 7
Swarthmore with similar stories banded together and filed a complaint with the Department of Education that resulted in another Title IX investigation. That scrutiny has made itself felt here at UIS, where in February The Journal reported that several UIS community members were critical of how an alleged sexual assault by a former UIS employee against a student was handled by administration. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Title IX Tracker, the Department of Education has launched 369 Title IX investigations since 2011 into colleges across the country for potentially mishandling reports of sexual violence. While the vast majority of these cases remain open today, some universities have reached agreements with the Department of Education on how to move forward. These resolutions provide a lesson for all universities that deal with sexual assault. For one, the agreements often stress the importance of specific guidelines for student organizations. For example, after concluding its investigation into the University of Virginia, the Department of Education mandated that the university require all agreements with student organizations – including fraternities and sororities – to comply fully with Title IX. According to Breakthrough, an organization that combats sexual assault in education, working with fraternities and sororities in this way is a great step in achieving cultural change on campus. “We must make change, and we believe that the most powerful change comes from within.” Another common recommendation from a Title IX investigation is increasing levels of training at all points of an educational institution. This includes sexual assault training for students, faculty, and staff. This was present in the agreement reached after Notre Dame underwent a Title IX investigation In the case of Ohio State University, one of the conditions given to them was increased transparency surrounding the Title IX office, which all federally funded institutions are required to have. This included clarification about the role of a Title IX officer
on campus, a new Office of University Compliance and Integrity, creation of a Title IX webpage, the appointment of deputy Title IX officers, and more. These agreements have sent shockwaves across higher education in the United States, and have inspired preemptive changes at many universities around the country. Here at UIS, many of all the suggested changes cited here are already in place. However, despite this change, some feel that the newly inaugurated Trump administration may signal a return to how these cases were tried in decades past. According to a recent article from New York Magazine, much of the changes that universities have implemented were a result of actions taken by the Obama-era Department of Education. Their interpretation of
Title IX led to the current boom in federal sexual assault investigations, and spurred many of the changes at colleges and universities. However, if the Trump administration were to interpret the legislation less broadly, it could result in universities taking a perceived step backward. Those who fear this outcome were likely paying close attention when newly selected Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos when DeVos stated that it would be “premature” to adhere to the Obama administration’s interpretation of Title IX. Either way, the Department of Education will likely continue to set the tone for how colleges and universities deal with cases of sexual violence.
Democracy & Donuts III: A UIS Student Panel Discussion on The First 90 Days of a New President, Administration and Congress. 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23.
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The aftermath of sexual assault By Jessey Bruce Staff Writer
There are many ways that sexual assault is addressed in our world. News media covers the trials. Shows such as Law and Order: Special Victims Unit attempt to depict stories from the reporting of an assault to the end of the trial. But what about the full aftermath of sexual assault? There are at least two people involved in a sexual assault: an assailant and a victim. The lack of coverage once the courtroom closes its doors leaves part of the story untold. Questions can arise about what will happen to not only the assailant, but to the victim, as well, once the trail reaches its end. Not all sexual assaults are fully investigated or brought to the courts, as each case’s circumstances is different. In some cases, victims report the crime immediately, but decide not to pursue further investigation. There are many times that an assault is not reported for months or even years after it occurs, which can cause an issue if the victim chooses to further an investigation, as physical evidence degenerates and eyewitness testimony becomes less reliable. Often, though, when an assault is reported so long after the investigation, the victim usually wants to report it for statistical purposes. “We just had one,” UIS Police Sergeant Michael Stuart said. “The victim was leaving campus, going onto other things, and before the victim left, they reported they had been a victim of sexual assault during their freshmen year. It was four years prior, but they just wanted to report it … so people can see that stuff does happen on campus.” However, if there is an assault reported on campus with a victim willing to pursue investigation, campus police begin the investigation, possibly using the “other agencies for crime scene services,” according to Stuart. Once there is probable cause for an arrest, an arrest warrant will be issued and an arrest made. This is not the end of police involvement, though. Evidence will continually be gathered until the trial. Under Illinois law, there are four possible charges involving sexual assault or abuse. Criminal sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor, can carry close to a year in prison, a possible fine up to $2,500, and the offender must register on the sex offender registry. This covers touching, “fondling, which can be inside or outside of the clothes,” according to Stuart. Aggravated criminal sexual abuse is the same as criminal sexual abuse, except with a dangerous weapon or in the process of another felony. This is a Class 4 felony, which includes a one- to threeyear prison sentence. Criminal sexual assault is the same as criminal sexual abuse, except there is penetration with any body part and/or object into any part of the victim. A Class 3 felony such as this leads to a threeto five-year sentence. Finally, aggravated criminal sexual assault is defined the same as criminal sexual assault, but includes the use of a weapon and/or in the process of another felony. This is considered to be a Class X felony, which leads to a six to 30 year prison sentence. Dr. Judy Shipp, executive director at the UIS
Illustration By Arunlal Soman
Counseling Center and Student Support Services, discussed how once a decision to report is made, counselors from the center can accompany the victim to the police department or even have an officer come to the center. Stuart said, “From the time it is reported, the first thing we want to do, of course, is look for the welfare of the victim.” Professional counselors, like those at the Counseling Center, are exempt from the Cleary Act mandate that requires other campus officials to report when a student discloses to them. “That’s an important part of the Cleary Act, because it acknowledges the importance of people having a confidential place to come,” Shipp said. “We have release forms if this person – for whatever reason – wants us to release some information, they can sign and request that. But we are not required to report under the Cleary Act.” Victims may continue to use the services of the Counseling Center. “We will walk them through the
steps of decision making,” said Shipp. “When we work with people who bring those issues to us … we want them to feel more in control.” While the Counseling Center supports victims as best as they can, they must make a referral to legal advocacies to go through the court process with a victim. Being a victim of sexual assault can lead to a high emotional toll. Some of the emotional difficulties, as told by Shipp, include post-traumatic stress, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, depression, anxiety, and “feeling out of control.” Among all of these, however, the most commonly experienced emotion is fear. Shipp noted that victims often fear for their safety. In response to this, the Counseling Center will help develop a “safety plan,” hopefully aiding the victim to feel safe once again, and gain more control over their life. “The healing process takes time,” Shipp said, confirming that the Counseling Center is available to work with students through that process.
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Civil commitment solves the conundrum: ‘How do we prevent sex offenders from reoff ending?’ By Sean Blackwell Staff Writer
Those tasked with protecting the vulnerable from sexual predators have a conundrum: How does one protect the community from a sexual predator who has completed their prison sentence but is viewed as likely to reoffend? So far, the solution to that conundrum has been civil commitment, which entails confining a person deemed to be mentally ill in a treatment center for an indefinite period of time. In the state of Illinois and other jurisdictions across the country, civil commitment statutes enable law enforcement officials and mental health professionals to confine “Sexually Violent Persons” in treatment centers for indefinite periods of time, after they have completed their prison sentences. According to the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act of Illinois, a “‘Sexually violent person’ means a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has been adjudicated delinquent for a sexually violent offense, or has been found not guilty of a sexually violent offense by reason of insanity and who is dangerous because he or she suffers from a mental disorder that makes it substantially probable that the person will engage in acts of sexual violence.” While some regard the civil commitment of sexual offenders as an effective way to protect the vulnerable from sexual predators viewed as likely to reoffend, others view it as a slippery slope, with the potential to lead to the indefinite confinement of other offenders who have completed their sentence but who may be viewed as likely to reoffend due to a mental disorder. Sexual assault and rape are extremely violent offenses, which are typically perpetrated by a sadistic person who derives pleasure from dominating and degrading another person. Moreover, the psychological, emotional, and physical effects of sexual assault and/or rape can be devastating, as the victims of such crimes often experience flashbacks, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to RAINN.org. Given the viciousness of sexual violence and its negative impact, it is imperative that serious measures be taken to prevent its occurrence and reoccurrence. Nonetheless, many have asked if diagnosing a sexual offender as mentally-ill and indefinitely committing them to a treatment center is an ethical way of preventing such an offender from reoffending. The civil commitment approach also begs the question: If an offender does not openly admit that they intend on committing another sexual offense, how do mental health professionals diagnose offenders with a mental disorder and assess the probability that the offender will recidivate?
The main assessment tools that mental health professionals use to gauge the probability that a sexual offender will reoffend are the Static-99, the Static-2002, and the Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offender Recidivism, which may not require the evaluator to interview the person being assessed. In the State of Illinois there is a legal process whereby individuals are found to be “sexually violent persons,” and then civilly committed to a Treatment and Detention Facility. According to Liberty Healthcare Corporation, which provides the diagnostic and treatment services for “sexually violent persons” in the State of Illinois, to be civilly committed as such, individuals must fit the following criteria: • The person must be within 90 days of release or discharge from an adult criminal sentence, or a forensic commitment for a qualifying sexual offense. • The person must have a mental disorder that predisposes them to engage in acts of sexual violence. • The person must have a substantial probability of committing future acts of sexual violence because of this mental disorder. • It must be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the person’s risk of future sexual violence is the result of this mental disorder. In other words, a convicted sex offender near the completion of their prison sentence can be charged as a “sexually violent person” and brought to trial, where they have to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that they do not have a mental disorder that will lead them to commit another sexual offense. In Illinois, individuals who lose their trial or who admit to being a “sexually violent person” are sent to a treatment facility where they receive treatment for their illness for an indefinite period of time. In order to be released, a “sexually violent person” has to demonstrate through objective measures that they have made progress towards rehabilitation. “The evaluation and determination of treatment effect on sexually aggressive and deviant behavior and thoughts for any
given individual are exceedingly complex and subject to the vicissitudes of self-deception, fraudulence and relapse. Consequently, to the greatest degree possible, measures of treatment effectiveness should be objective, based on observable behavior, and supported by cross-validating data and observations from multiple sources,” wrote Liberty Healthcare Corporation in “Forensic Psychology Training Program Post-Doctoral Fellowship Brochure.” The debate over whether the civil commitment of sex offenders is ethical will continue in the legal and medical communities. In the meantime, convicted sex offenders will remain in treatment centers for indefinite periods of time and the risk of them recidivating while in confinement will be incontrovertibly low.
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