1982: Sitting in the Police Academy taking courses in Criminal Law and Penal Code. We listen intently as the Sexual Assault statutes are discussed and explained. Intercourse vs Contact, age of consent, intoxication/impairment, weapon vs threat. To this day, 30 years later I remember the definition of intercourse as if my instructor was standing right in front of me again: "Penetration, however slight is sufficient to complete intercourse".
Legitimate Rape. Did I really just hear a United States Congressman in 2012 say the words legitmate rape? Did he really say the female body has defenses in rape situations to keep from getting pregnant? Does he really believe there are cases of illegitmate rape? Three words come to mind, What The Fuck?
1982, still a time before Domestic Violence Law and a time when the cops I worked with remind me of today's GOP Congressmen and Senators. One word describes the men then and the GOP today, Neanderthals. A time then and a party now that believe in women as posessions, not persons. A time then and a party now that is absolutely clueless to the pathology and psychology of offenders and the absolute physical and emotional damage done by these monsters to their victims.
I listened to men I was supposed to respect tell me, the rookie, that the rape victim "was asking for it" because of the way she was dressed or what did she expect going in to "that place"? She was drunk. To her "no means yes". And the ultimate kick to any victim "She wanted it".
Domestic violence was treated no better. It's a private thing, none of our business. Without a formal complaint no one got arrested and if they did, there was no prosecution. I can recall going back to the same homes 2 or 3 times a night with no arrest being made.
Fast forward to 1996. As an instructor I receive my certification to teach two courses to both recruit and incumbent officers. Police Response to Crimes of Sexual Assault and Police Response to Crimes of Domestic Violence. You haven't lived until you try to tell a 60 year old, white conservative male who's "been doing this for 35 years" how he's supposed to handle a victim of either of these crimes. The commentary was mind boggling, the thought process of those officers was as disgusting then as the platform and beliefs of a national political party today.
My daughter was 8 yrs old. My son was 5. I was investigating sexual assault crimes that involved children that young by people put in positions of power over them. Parents, relatives, babysitters. Teachers, religious authorities, coaches. When I would hear a stupid comment from a colleague, I lost my mind. I taught students in my Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence classes that the most important thing they could take away from my classes was the compassion to treat every victim, the same way they would want their own wife, daughter, mother or girlfriend treated by an officer if they were the victim of such a crime.
I made the states first arrest for Sexual Assault in a Spousal Relationship. I investigated several sexual assaults where "prostitutes" were the victim. I investigated sexual assaults where Children were molested by parents and step parents, siblings and step siblings. I interviewed assailants who all had a common theme in their defense. The victim "wanted it". I was "teaching" him or her. The 8 year old "came on to me". It took every muscle in my body to restrain myself knowing that at the same time a team of social workers, doctors and psychologists were with the 8 yr old and an anatomically correct doll, hearing the child repeat the unthinkable.
According to the University of Minnesota at Duluth: "Rape is experienced by the victims as an act of violence. It is a life-threatening experience. One out of every eight adult women has been a victim of forcible rape. (National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992) While sexual attraction may be influential, power, control and anger are the primary motives. Most rapists have access to a sexual partner. Gratification comes from gaining power and control and discharging anger. This gratification is only temporary, so the rapist seeks another victim."
The following situations are considered Sexual Assault/Rape, and yes, regardless of the GOP line of crap, threat and power are force:
Intercourse or contact by use of force or threatened use of force.
Intercourse or contact by use of a weapon or threatened us of a weapon.
Intercourse or contact by threatened use of force against another person.
Intercourse or contact by anyone in a position of authority or power over another.
Intercourse or contact by an Education employee with a student.
Intercourse or contact with a person legally, mentally or physically unable to consent.
Using an object inserted into the Vagina, Anus or Mouth of the victim.
Touching the breasts, vagina or anus of the victim without intercourse.
Intercourse or contact with a victim under the age of consent (differs by state).
The GOP and its platform wishes to take this country back to a time that hurt the American Family. This GOP actually believes in corporal punishment of their children, bringing us back to a time where stopping the cycle of violence wasn't heard of yet but society has been dealing with for decades. This GOP actually believes in outlandish and extreme radical christian doctrine and wants to enforce their bible over our constitution. Today's GOP cares nothing for the needs of women and children, especially with the garbage they are pushing forward. Rep. Akin did something that truly upset his GOP counterparts, all of whom have either voted for his and Rep. Paul Ryans house bill to redefine rape, or have voted for the Ryan budget which destroys funding to an abundance of longstanding womens and victims rights issues. Rep. Akin said out loud what the GOP lead by Ryan and Cantor, believes and discusses behind closed doors.