The article hilights the “No Means No” law, which states at a victim does not have to physically resist for a sexual assault to be prosecuted. Several other laws – including the expansion of the statute of limitations on civil child sexual abuse cases, emergency HIV-testing of rape suspects, and the requirement to hold sexual assault evidence kits for 20 years – are mentioned in the article.

To read the full article click here. For more information on MCASA-supported laws helping sexual assault victims which go into effect on October 1, click here.

To help end sexual violence in Maryland, join our efforts here.

Healthy sexuality plays an important role in sexual violence prevention. By promoting healthy sexuality early on, we can help mitigate problematic sexual behaviors that contribute to the perpetration of sexual violence. In this quarter’s Prevention Corner article, we will examine how healthy sexuality and sexual violence prevention go hand in hand and how we can incorporate these discussions into prevention work.

What is healthy sexuality? Why is it important for prevention efforts?

 The National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s (NSVRC) guide Healthy Sexuality: A Guide for Advocates, Counselors, and Prevention Educators, defines healthy sexuality as “having the individual knowledge and sense of empowerment to express sexuality in ways that contribute positively to self-esteem and relationships with other people. Healthy sexuality includes approaching sexual interactions and relationships from a perspective that is consensual, respectful, and informed, and it is free from coercion and violence.”  Key characteristics of healthy sexuality include having respectful and consensual sexual interactions and promoting open communication with others. Many parallels can be drawn between healthy sexuality and sexual violence prevention. For example, emphasizing the importance of consent is an essential part of both promoting healthy sexuality and preventing sexual assault. Providing education on consent communication strategies and healthy relationships is an example of healthy sexuality as primary prevention.

The interconnectedness between sexuality and sexual violence prevention is an important consideration when we are planning prevention efforts. Below are some tips on addressing healthy sexuality in prevention programming and educational efforts:

Educate others on the differences between healthy and unhealthy sexual relationships: In primary prevention efforts, it is important to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy sexual relationships. Many individuals may not be able to recognize unhealthy sexual behaviors. Part of this problem is that we constantly receive messages from the media portraying unhealthy sexuality, which becomes normalized in our culture. To combat these messages, it’s important to teach others what healthy sexuality looks like.  As they learn what healthy sexuality is, individuals will be better equipped to recognize behaviors that might lead to sexual violence.

Talk about consent early and often: Consent and healthy sexuality go hand in hand. In order to have a healthy sexual encounter, consent must be present.  It is important to start conversations about consent early in order for individuals to have a firm grasp of what constitutes consent and the communication skills needed to ask for consent before they are involved in a sexual encounter. Incorporating consent into prevention programming provides individuals with the knowledge and skill set to engage in healthy, positive sexual experiences.

Address the problem of strict gender norms: Strict gender norms play a big role in sexual violence perpetration in our society.  We are constantly confronted with these norms; men and boys are taught from an early age to be dominant and aggressive, while women are taught to be submissive. Society’s acceptance of these strict gender stereotypes allows sexual violence to occur; men are expected to always want sex and act as aggressors in sexual activity. These norms also play into myths surrounding sexual violence, such as the misconception that men cannot be victims of sexual violence. Prevention efforts need to include discussions about how gender norms influence sexual violence and prevent healthy relationships from taking place.

Promoting healthy sexuality in our prevention work is a key part of increasing positive, consensual, and respectful sexual behaviors and eliminating coercive and unhealthy attitudes and behaviors that normalize sexual violence. As advocates and prevention practitioners, it is critical that we commit to including healthy sexuality in our prevention efforts, and continue to work towards a society where healthy sexuality is the norm.

Resources

 NSVRC SAAM 2012 Campaign Materials and Resource Guides on Healthy Sexuality: As a part of the SAAM 2012 Campaign, the NSVRC provided several guides and resources on how healthy sexuality is an essential aspect of preventing sexual violence. Resources include information on healthy sexuality for advocates and prevention educators, as well as fact sheets and materials promoting discussions on healthy sexuality. To learn more, click here.

 PreventConnect Web Conference: “Preventing the Harm, Promoting the Helpful: Healthy Sexuality”:  This 2015 web conference focuses on how healthy sexuality can be utilized as a prevention method for addressing child sexual abuse. To access the recording and slides from this web conference, click here.

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

Prevention strategies to help protect students come in many different forms. In this quarter’s Prevention Corner feature, we examine the many parallels between healthy sexuality and sexual violence prevention at the college level, and how healthy sexuality can inform our prevention work. As we consider sexual violence prevention at the college level, it is critical to ensure we include the needs of community colleges.  In our College Consortium feature, we unpack some of the challenges that community colleges face and highlight areas in which they can incorporate sexual assault prevention strategies on their campuses.

Media and television play a huge role in influencing youth attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, many popular television shows contribute to our society’s pervasive rape culture. In this quarter’s Safety Sync article, we take a closer look at how sexual violence is portrayed in popular television and how these depictions influence rape culture.

It is essential to include underserved youth populations in our conversations about sexual violence. LGBTQ youth in juvenile detention facilities face an increased risk for sexual violence while in these facilities. In this issue, we discuss the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) protections for LGBTQ youth and the importance of including this population in our prevention and response efforts.

Human sex trafficking is one form of sexual violence that needs to be addressed in our state. In this quarter’s Program Spotlight, we highlight MCASA’s Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST) Project and their efforts to build statewide capacity to provide services to sex trafficking survivors.

We encourage you to join us in our efforts to end sexual violence in Maryland and urge you to consider becoming a member of MCASA or making a donation to support our work. If you in higher education and are passionate about ending sexual violence, we encourage you to join MCASA’s College Consortium. There is a lot more work to be done to ensure the safety of our students and community members. Please join us in the fight to end sexual violence.

Best Wishes,

Lisae

Lisae C. Jordan, Esq.

Executive Director & Counsel

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

• Program Spotlight: MCASA’s Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST) 
• Prevention Corner: Healthy Sexuality: Why It’s Important for Sexual Violence Prevention Efforts
• PREA and the Criminalization of LGBTQ Youth
• College Consortium: Community Colleges: Identifying and Addressing Challenges for Sexual Violence Prevention
• Trauma and the Brain: Understanding Tonic Immobility
• Healing Through Art Therapy
• Safety Sync: Portrayals of Sexual Violence in Popular Television Shows

In her article, “The Careless Language of Sexual Violence,” Roxane Gay asks her readers to think of a dramatic television series that has not incorporated some sort of rape plotline into their show.[1] While some certainly exist, this is not an especially easy task. Modern television writers constantly compete to out-shock each other to ensure the popularity of their show. This often leads to the incorporation of sexual violence plotlines, many of which include graphic depictions of this violence, to create intrigue and drama. Some believe that these depictions help to increase conversations about sexual violence. These depictions do have the potential to shed light on a serious issue, but often fail to do so. Instead, they contribute to our already pervasive rape culture that normalizes sexual assault and downplays survivor trauma.

Depictions of sexual violence on prime time television tend to include graphic scenes of violence that are then neatly wrapped up in a few short episodes. On “Law & Order: SVU,” a popular crime show focusing on sexual violence, audience members watch as each episode the team solves rape cases and tracks down sex offenders to obtain justice for survivors. While there are some continuous plot lines, most of the cases are resolved within a 42-minute window, and never arise again. This common approach not only desensitizes the American public to the atrocities of sexual violence, but also erases the enduring trauma that survivors face. The aftermath of sexual violence is long lasting and cannot be quickly resolved as these depictions imply.

In addition, these sexual violence plot lines often take attention off the survivor and their experiences, focusing instead on how this violence affects the main (usually male) characters. As Lisa Cuklanz, author of “Rape on Prime Time” writes, “television has a long history of turning rape into a story about men, either as detectives, rescuers, lovers, and partners who suffer, or good men learning to help a wife, daughter, sister, or fiancée deal with trauma…Depictions that place the survivor at the center of the story are still quite rare.” [2] Take for example the wildly popular Game of Thrones, where in Season 5, Episode 6, when Sansa Stark is sexually assaulted on her wedding night. While Sansa is a central series character, the scene focuses more on a male character who is forced to watch and how the assault affects him.

Because it reaches so many people, the television industry has the potential to change rape culture. Youth audiences are a big consumer of these popular television shows, so it is essential that these shows focus on the deeper issues regarding sexual violence and stay survivor-centered.

Sexual violence is not an experience that can be easily wrapped up in a single television episode. The experiences that survivors face stay with them for years and are unique to every individual. When a TV show does not acknowledge these struggles, or only focuses on the brutality of the assault and how it motivates other characters, it strengthens a rape culture that normalize sexual violence. Only when TV producers and writers center survivors and their recovery can they portray accurate depictions of sexual assault to which survivors can relate and from which audience members can learn.

 [1] Gay, Roxane. “The Careless Language of Sexual Violence.” The Rumpus. March 10, 2011. http://therumpus.net/2011/03/the-careless-language-of-sexual-violence/

[2] Le Vine, Lauren. “Game of Thrones Failed, But Many TV Shows Succeed in Portraying Sexual Assault–Here’s How.” Refinery 29. June 15, 2015. http://www.refinery29.com/2015/06/89148/tv-rape-scenes-game-of-thrones

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

When a person encounters a threat, their body responds quickly and automatically to protect them from danger. While many people have been repeatedly taught that the body always responds with “fight” or “flight” when it detects danger, this is misleading. In reality, when a person encounters a threat, they will first freeze, even if only for a split second, to rapidly assess the situation. Then, while we might expect them to go into either a fight or flight response, this is often not the case. Many sexual violence victims will instead enter a state called “tonic immobility.”

”Tonic immobility” is a rigid, unmoving state in response to intense fear. Scientists theorize that the body enters tonic immobility when the body assesses that running or resistance would increase the risk of pain or suffering.[1] This is a subconscious response that has long been studied in the animal kingdom: think of a possum going limp and “playing dead” to protect itself from threats.

Tonic immobility in humans is a newer field of study, but it is becoming clear that this response is extremely common in sexual assault victims.  When someone is assaulted, they may feel themselves becoming stiff, rigid, and unable to move, either for a portion of an assault or throughout the full traumatic event.  If you have ever heard a survivor describe that they just “froze up,” during an assault, it is likely they are describing tonic immobility.

In a recent study of sexual assault survivors, a full 70% reported that they experienced tonic immobility for at least a portion of their assault.[2] While tonic immobility is a completely normal, natural response, this does have a number of repercussions for service providers to consider. First, previous studies have found that survivors who experienced tonic immobility often feel more shame and self-blame after an assault[3]–a consequence of cultural belief in the myth that survivors should always run or fight back. In the newer study, researchers also found that survivors who experienced tonic immobility were more likely to experience depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after an assault. [4]

As Dr. Jim Hopper states in a Washington Post op-ed, “None of these responses – in women or men – entails consent or cowardice. None is evidence of resistance too insufficient to warrant our respect and compassion. They are responses we should expect from brains dominated by the circuitry of fear.”[5]

It is critical for service providers to understand normal, protective responses to sexual violence such as tonic immobility. Survivors who experience tonic immobility are at greater risk for multiple negative mental health outcomes, and any bias or blame survivors perceive from service providers may be a major barrier these survivors receiving much-needed services.

To request more information or training on the brain’s responses to trauma, contact MCASA at info@mcasa.org or 301-728-7023.

[1] Volchan, et al. (2011). Is there tonic immobility in humans? Biological evidence from victims of traumatic stress. Biological Psychology, 88(1), 13-19.

[2] Möller, A., Söndergaard, H. P., & Helström, L. (2017). Tonic immobility during sexual assault–a common reaction predicting posttraumatic stress disorder and severe depression. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica.

[3] Marx BP, Forsyth JP, Gallup GG, Fusé T, Lexington JM. Tonic immobility as an evolved predator defense: Implications for sexual assault survivors. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2008;15:74–90.

[4] Möller, A., Söndergaard, H. P., & Helström, L. (2017).

[5] Hopper, J. W., PhD. (2015, June 23). Why many rape victims don’t fight or yell. Washington Post.

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

Community colleges engage with a diverse spectrum of individuals living in their community. Many students turn to their local community colleges because they offer a variety of short-term programs, certificates, and continuing education options at a pace and schedule that meet a range of needs. Community colleges are typically 2-year, nonresidential schools that act as an affordable and flexible option for students and can pave the way to students transitioning to 4-year institutions. But many community colleges face obstacles when it comes to providing effective sexual violence prevention education. It is important that sexual violence policies and practices at community colleges are tailored to suit the community and needs of their students.

Title IX mandates that all schools receiving federal aid have clear policies on how to handle sexual discrimination, which includes sexual violence. Because community colleges are differently structured than 4-year institutions and often serve different demographics, meeting the requirements of Title IX can sometimes pose a challenge. Below are a few ways community colleges can overcome these obstacles and provide effective sexual violence education to their staff and students.

Best Practices

Mandatory Trainings: Community colleges that successfully create a zero tolerance sexual violence climate recognize the necessity of prevention education. However, because they don’t always live on campus or attend 4 straight years, reaching students at community colleges can be a challenge. To combat this, some community colleges have required that students and faculty attend mandatory sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and/or bystander intervention programming each semester. This requirement gives students who are part-time, transferring mid-year, or enrolled in a shorter certificate program a chance to receive sexual violence education. In addition, colleges have found that providing prevention training materials on their website (in written and short video form) enabled them to reach online students. Online resources allow students, faculty, and community members to reference materials any time, not just during a given workshop or training.

Know Your Audience: Applying college sexual violence prevention programs with a “one size fits all” mentality can be a significant barrier to connecting with community college students. Students often vary widely in age, from recent high school graduates to retired adults. Both ends of the age spectrum are vulnerable to sexual violence in different ways. It is also important to remember that a higher percentage of students attending community colleges may have been exposed to previous traumas prior to enrolling. The diverse nature of community college populations is important to consider when tailoring prevention programming. For example, many bystander intervention scenarios focus on how to intervene in a college party environment or focus on situations that can arise in a dorm room setting. These scenarios are less likely to always be relevant to the audience engaging in the program. When giving a bystander intervention training or other prevention programming, make sure that any examples and discussions used are relevant to your student audience. Taking into account the audiences’ unique needs and experiences will help increase the comprehensiveness of prevention programming.

Use Your Strengths: Community Colleges should form strong ties with local community resources. For each community college in Maryland there is a local rape crisis center (RCC) that offers services for students who are sexual assault survivors. As of 2015, Maryland law requires colleges and universities to pursue agreements with their local rape crisis center. For model Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and roadmaps for creating an MOU, check out MCASA’s College Sexual Assault Policy Project.  MCASA’s College Policy Attorney is also available to provide assistance and support as schools draft these agreements.

Many local mental health organizations offer complimentary therapy sessions to students who do not have access to a counseling center at their local community college. Holding regular wellness fairs during hours when students are on campus is also an excellent way to bring together community resources and expose students to a variety of anti-violence strategies and healthy coping skills. Additionally, it is important that all staff members including adjunct faculty are trained in trauma informed care and sexual violence prevention.

For more information on how to best provide sexual violence prevention education to nontraditional students you can listen to PreventConnect’s web conference titled “Community Colleges: Opportunities for Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention.”

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

In this quarter’s issue of Frontline, we highlight the issue of human sex trafficking and the efforts of MCASA’s Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST) program.

1. What is your name, title, and how long have you been working at MCASA?

Sara Kominers, Esq., Human Trafficking Policy Attorney at the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA). I have been with MCASA since the inception of the Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST) program in March 2017.

2. What efforts have been made in Maryland to respond to the problem of sex trafficking?

Maryland enacted major reforms to laws regarding human trafficking in 2007 and has made slow but steady legislative progress since then. MCASA was a leader in efforts to pass this bill in Annapolis and continues to work to improve the state’s response to victims of sex trafficking, including by establishing the CAAST program.

3. Can you tell us about MCASA’s Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST) program?

MCASA coordinates a statewide initiative with rape crisis centers across Maryland, referred to as the Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking (CAAST), to build statewide capacity to provide services to sex trafficking survivors. In collaboration with this initiative, the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), a program of MCASA, provides legal services to survivors of sex trafficking.

Six rape crisis centers are part of the inaugural CAAST initiative. These programs have in-house human trafficking coordinators who assist survivors in accessing the services they need to help rebuild their lives. Coordinators ensure that their organizations’ protocols are appropriate for trafficking victims and that staff are trained in how to identify sex trafficking victims and the unique resources they may need.

Members of the CAAST network build collaborative relationships with health care facilities, law enforcement, policy-makers and other victim service organizations in their local communities to provide high quality trauma-informed victim-centered services to sex trafficking survivors. They participate in local human trafficking task forces as well as the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, connecting them with essential resources, trainings and colleagues statewide. CAAST members learn from and support each other as they share challenges and solutions to best serve the survivors with whom they work.

The following rape crisis centers are members of the CAAST regional network:

• Allegany County

Family Crisis Resource Center, Inc.

• Baltimore City and Baltimore County

TurnAround, Inc.

• Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties

Four All Seasons, Inc.

• Frederick County

Heartly House, Inc.

• Howard County

HopeWorks

• Prince George’s County

Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center

Rape crisis centers across the state refer to members of the CAAST regional network, which is helping build statewide capacity to provide quality services to sex trafficking survivors.

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. 7-9% of youth in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ, but 20% of residents in juvenile detention facilities are LGBTQ. Of that 20%, 85% are youth of color.[i]  The numbers are alarming and worthy of investigation. LGBTQ youth may end up overinvolved in the criminal justice system because:

• LGBTQ youth are twice as likely to experience family conflict, child abuse, and homelessness as other youth.[ii] The emotional and physical abuse LGBTQ youth face from unaccepting families can cause them to flee their homes. Often, public programs are not intersectional and do not provide for the specific needs of LGBTQ youth. As a result, many become homeless and for survival sometimes resort to criminal behavior such as petty theft, selling drugs, and survival sex.[iii] This behavior, while done out of necessity to survive, carries a risk of engagement with the criminal justice system.
• Biased school discipline and the school-to-prison pipeline. According to the ACLU, “the ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ is a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools into juvenile and criminal justice systems.” As schools increasingly rely on law enforcement to manage issues that were in the past handled in-house, they become increasingly linked to the juvenile justice system.[iv] This trend disproportionately affects LGBTQ youth, turning a place intended for education and growth into a funnel to the juvenile justice system and a catalyst for sexual victimization.[v]

Facing a High Risk of Sexual Abuse in Detention

Not only are LGBTQ youth criminalized and funneled into the juvenile justice system, but they are also more likely to be victims of sexual violence once inside. The ­­Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 14.3% of non-heterosexual youth (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other sexual orientations) were victims of sexual abuse in detention in the 12 months prior to the study, versus 8.9% of heterosexual youth.[vi] Statistics compiled in “Unjust: LGBTQ Youth Incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice System” illustrate the horrifying rates at which LGBTQ youth are targeted for sexual victimization compared to their heterosexual peers in detention:[vii]

• Sexual contact with staff is experienced by
  • 15% of gay and bisexual boys vs. 8.9% of heterosexual boys
  • 6% of lesbian and bisexual girls vs. 2.2% of heterosexual girls
• Peer sexual assault is experienced by
  • 6% of gay and bisexual boys vs. 1.9% of heterosexual boys
  • 7% of lesbian and bisexual girls vs. 4.1% of heterosexual girls

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was put in place to combat the human rights crisis that is prison rape in the United States, and includes provisions specifically aimed at protecting LGBTQ populations.

The PREA Standards and Protections for LGBTQ Youth [viii]

Five PREA standards for juvenile facilities are in place to combat sexual abuse against LGBTQ residents:

• 115.315: Limits to cross-gender viewing and searches. Transgender and intersex youth should NOT be searched or examined just to find out the resident’s genital status, and all staff members should be trained on how to conduct searches of transgender and intersex residents.
• 115.331: Employee training. Staff, volunteers, and contractors must be trained on how to communicate effectively and professionally with residents, including LGBT, intersex, and gender nonconforming youth.
• 115.341: Obtaining information from residents. Within the first 72 hours of a resident’s arrival, the facility should collect information about that resident’s history and behavior to reduce the risk of sexual abuse by or upon the resident. Agency staff must screen for “any gender nonconforming appearance or manner or identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex, and whether the resident may therefore be vulnerable to sexual abuse.”
• 115.342: Placement of residents in housing, bed, program, education, and work assignments. Housing, bed, program, education, and work assignments are made based on the information gathered from the screening process. LGBT and intersex residents are not to be housed, etc. based solely on their gender identity or sexual orientation or considered at risk of being sexually abusive just based on this identification. This placement should be done on a case-by-case basis and the resident’s own views with respect to safety should be “given serious consideration.” Finally, transgender and intersex residents should be given the opportunity to shower separately from other residents.
• 115.386: Sexual abuse incident reviews. Facilities are required to conduct sexual abuse incident reviews after every sexual abuse investigation, unless the allegation has been determined to be unfounded. The review team must consider whether the incident was motivated by an inmate’s “gender identity; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex identification, status or perceived status…”

As the PREA standards were passed in 2012, there has been very little research done and published on their effectiveness.

Next Steps and Resources

When working to end the problem of prison rape, we must take a comprehensive, intersectional approach. Holding juvenile detention facilities accountable for implementing these standards to the fullest is of extreme importance, but we also must tackle the issues that allow so many LGBTQ youth to become involved with the juvenile justice system in the first place.  Our prevention efforts and our response to the issue of prison rape must be LGBTQ­-inclusive. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Rape is not part of the punishment. Below are links to various resources and organizations to help in your fight to end the criminalization of LGBT youth and prison rape.

Just Detention International

PREA Resource Center

Standing with LGBT Prisoners: An Advocate’s Guide to Ending Abuse and Combating Imprisonment

ACLU: School-to-Prison Pipeline

LGBT People and the Prison Rape Elimination Act

End the Abuse: Protecting LGBTI Prisoners from Sexual Assault

[i] Center for American Progress, Movement Advancement Project, “Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People,” Movement Advancement Project, February 2016, (http://www.lgbtmap.org/file/lgbt-criminal-justice.pdf); Center for American Progress, Movement Advancement Project, “Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People of Color,” Movement Advancement Project, August 2016, http://www.lgbtmap.org/policy-and-issue-analysis/criminal-justice-poc.

[ii] Irvine, Angela, “We’ve Had Three of Them’” Addressing the Invisibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Gender Non-Conforming Youths in the Juvenile Justice System,” Status Offense Reform Center, 2010, http://www.statusoffensereform.org/resource/weve-three-addressing-invisibility-lesbian-gay-bisexual-gender-non-conforming-youths-juvenile-justice-system.

[iii] Quintana, Nico Sifra, et al., “On the Streets: The Federal Response to Gay and Transgender Homeless Youth,” Center for American Progress, June 2010, https://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2010/06/pdf/lgbtyouthhomelessness.pdf.

[iv] “School-To-Prison Pipeline,” ACLU, accessed July 20, 2017, https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/race-and-inequality-education/school-prison-pipeline.

[v] Brückner, Hannah; Himmelstein, Kathryn E. W., “Criminal Justice and School Sanctions Against Nonheterosexual Youth: A National Longitudinal Study,” Pediatrics 127, no. 1 (2010): 49-57, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2010/12/06/peds.2009-2306.full.pdf.

[vi] Beck, Allen J. et al., “Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities Reported by Youth, 2012,” Bureau of Justice Statistics, June 2013, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svjfry12.pdf.

[vii] Wilson et al., “Disproportionality and Disparities among Sexual Minority Youth in Custody,” Journal of Youth & Adolescence 46, no. 7 (2017): 1547-1561, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/articles/28093665/, quoted in Center for American Progress, Movement Advancement Project, “Unjust: LGBTQ Youth Incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice System,” Movement Advancement Project, June 2017, https://lgbtmap.org/file/lgbtq-incarcerated-youth.pdf.  

[viii] National Standards To Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape, 28 CFR 115.315, Department of Justice, 2012, available at www.federalregister.gov/a/2012-12427.

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

Art therapy as a form of healing has been proven beneficial for survivors of sexual violence. Art therapy can come in many forms, such as photography, dance, writing, and music, and has the ability to humanize the individuals behind the facts and statistics. It can bring survivors together and inspire people to come forward, seek assistance, and report crimes involving sexual violence. For this reason, many organizations around the nation use art therapy in various forms to support sexual assault survivors.

A Long Walk Home

A Long Walk Home is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that utilizes the power of art therapy through the use of visual and performing arts to educate communities about sexual violence. Founders Scheherazade Tillet and Dr. Salamishah Tillet together have created multiple works of art using visual and performing arts. Their visual performance piece, “Story of A Rape Survivor (SOAR)” was inspired by Dr. Salamishah Tillet’s own sexual assault experience. SOAR uses music, dance, photography, and poetry to illustrate the emotional layers of recovery and show how one can attain healing by reclaiming power and strength. A Long Walk Home offers a variety of programs, lectures, and workshops, addressing topics ranging from sexual violence prevention to empowering survivors through the arts. For more information on A Long Walk Home click here.

Reveal to Heal

This past January, Stanford University launched a “Reveal to Heal” campaign after receiving an increase in calls regarding sexual violence and harassment on campus. One highly publicized case involving Brock Turner sparked national outrage after he was expelled and banned from campus and was sentenced to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious fellow student. This spring, the school’s Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education launched a pilot program, “Healing Through Art.” The program offered five art sessions where students could confidentially create art that reflected the various stages of recovery. During this process, counseling staff members were available to students as means of support and encouragement.

Corazón Lastimado: Healing the Wounded Heart Exhibit

Corazón Lastimado: Healing the Wounded Heart is an exhibit displaying artwork created by survivors of sexual violence. Each piece of artwork is created on wooden hearts, representing how sexual violence has a significant impact on people’s lives from the perspective of both survivors and advocates. These visual representations serve as a means of healing for those affected by sexual violence, and strive to raise awareness of the far-reaching impact sexual violence has, particularly among underserved communities. This initiative first began in 2001 and has since grown to include artwork from over 165 survivors.  This past June an exhibit at the National Sexual Assault Conference in Dallas, Texas displayed several of these wooden hearts for conference-goers. For more information about the Corazon Lastimado: Healing the Wounded Heart Exhibit, click here.

It is important to remember there is no “correct” way to heal from sexual violence. Often it may take multiple forms of self-care and expression to cope with the aftermath of an assault. Art therapy can play a significant role in the healing process for many survivors, giving them the opportunity to work through their trauma in a self-expressive way. For more information on the effects of sexual violence and self-care techniques to aid in recovery click here and/or contact your local rape crisis and recovery center.

This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Frontline.

If we hope to put an end to sexual harassment and violence in our communities, we must create an environment in which victims feel safe coming forward, knowing they will be believed and taken seriously.  To help end sexual violence in Maryland, join our efforts here.

To read the original article, please click here.

DATE, TIME, LOCATION:

The training is scheduled at University of Maryland, College Park on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. 

It will be held in the Colony Ballroom in the Stamp Student Union.  A campus map can be found here. The address for the University of Maryland, College Park is 3972 Campus Dr. College Park, MD 20742.

DIRECTIONS:

Driving directions to the University of Maryland, College Park can be found here.

PARKING:

There is parking available at the Stamp Student Union for $15. If parking at Stamp Student Union is unavailable, please park at Regent’s Garage located directly behind Stamp.

LUNCH:

Lunch will not be provided.

There is a food court on the ground level of the Stamp Student Union with the following options: Subway, SBarro’s, Moby Dick, Saladworks, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Panda Express, Taco Bell.

Please contact MCASA at info@mcasa.org or call our office at 301-328-7023 with any questions regarding this special training.

Monday, October 2, 2017
9:00am – 5:00pm

St. John’s College

60 College Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401
MCASA’s regional trainings for colleges and universities focus on sexual violence prevention and response on campus, particularly, survivor-centered responses to reports of sexual violence. Registration will be open to campus investigators, police, administration and staff, counselors, students, and advocates in each region.

The training will address the following topics:

Neurobiology of Trauma
Interviewing Tips and Techniques
Federal and State Laws Governing Sexual Assault Response
Legal Options for Survivors
Supporting Trans Survivors
Bystander Intervention
Cultural Humility & Allyship
Supporting Students of Various Immigration Statuses
To register for this training, please click here to access the registration page. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mcasa.org or at 301-328-7023.

Friday, September 15, 2017
9:00am – 5:00pm

Loyola University

4501 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21210
MCASA’s regional trainings for colleges and universities focus on sexual violence prevention and response on campus, particularly, survivor-centered responses to reports of sexual violence. Registration will be open to campus investigators, police, administration and staff, counselors, students, and advocates in each region.

The training will address the following topics:

Neurobiology of Trauma
Interviewing Tips and Techniques
Federal and State Laws Governing Sexual Assault Response
Legal Options for Survivors
Supporting Trans Survivors
Bystander Intervention
Cultural Humility & Allyship
Supporting Students of Various Immigration Statuses
To register for this training, please click here to access the registration page. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mcasa.org or at 301-328-7023.

The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force Victim Services Subcommittee is pleased to offer this advanced clinical training for those direct service providers who have already attended the Task Force’s Human Trafficking 101 and are likely to come in direct clinical contact with survivors of human trafficking or those at risk for trafficking in Maryland. The training is offered in four different locations. Please see the links below to register.

This advanced 6-hour clinical training will combine a mix of videos, clinical case examples, group discussions and clinical education. Participants of the training can expect to:

• Understand and identify mental health risks associated with trafficking and barriers to treatment for survivors

• Understand neurobiology of trauma and how it relates to treatment expectations

• Understand how traumatic bonding impacts the therapeutic alliance and ability to form and maintain new and healthy relationships

• Understand how abuse and the impact of poly-victimization for survivors of trafficking impacts their ability to engage in mental health therapy

• Learn Trauma-Informed inventions to address safety, build rapport, manage emotional dysregulation, build skills and process grief

• Be able to acknowledge the role of self-care, system collaboration and transparency of decision making in mental health treatment with survivors of trafficking

This opportunity will provide licensed counselors and social workers with professional development and a chance to expand their agency’s clinical services. Participation in this training series will help counselors gain task force referrals, identify at-risk clients and provide a much-needed service for those involved in human trafficking.

Clinicians that participate in both the 101 and 201 trainings will have the opportunity to join an ongoing peer support collaborative. This cohort of trained counselors will be included on a referral list of trained providers that will be distributed to the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force partner agencies.

Prerequisites for participating in these sessions are as follows:

• **Must have attended a Task Force Human Trafficking 101 Training**

• Must be a Licensed Graduate Level Practitioner (LGSW, LCSW-C, LGPC, LCPC)

• Must have been practicing for a minimum of 3 years

To register for the event, please click on one of the dates and locations below:

1) Friday, September 8, 2017 at the Frederick County Law Enforcement Center

2) Friday, September 29, 2017 at the Talbot County Department of Social Services

3) Friday, October 13, 2017 at the St. Mary’s County Courthouse

4) Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Howard County Public Safety Training Center

If you are seeking CEUs from this training, you may either pay online or bring $20 in cash or check the day of the training. If you are a LCPC or LGPC, please contact your board of certification before attending the training to ensure the certificate will be accepted for your licensure. Attendees will receive 6 CEUs. Please contact Hiba Ahmed at hahmed@mnadv.org with any questions about CEUs.

This training initiative is a collaborative partnership with the participation and support of the following organizations:

• Anchored Hope Therapy, LLC

• Baltimore City Child Advocacy Center

• Behavioral Health Administration Maryland Department of Health

• Child Sex Trafficking Victims Initiative, University of Maryland

• Department of Hygiene and Mental Health

• Department of Juvenile Services

• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

• Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force

• Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

• TurnAround, Inc

For more information, please contact info@mcasa.org or call 301-328-7023.

Hurry, early bird registration ends Friday, September 15, 2017!

1. “Boys are reluctant to come forward, says Jordan. ‘It brings in all sorts of fears about will I be discriminated against or will I be judged.’
2. Children don’t know how to say they were abused. The Maryland General Assembly tackled this two years ago. Now kids in pre-k through high school get taught sex abuse awareness.
3. Parents pose problems, too. They’re not to blame, but they have to listen and believe their child, said Jordan.”

Jordan’s comments emphasize the importance of knowing in advance how to respond to disclosures of child sexual abuse. First and foremost, if a child discloses sexual abuse to you, believe the child. Take every disclosure seriously and report the abuse. Almost without exception, everyone in the state of Maryland is obligated to report child sexual abuse.  To learn more about preventing and reporting child sexual abuse in Maryland, check out MCASA’s online webinar here.

Preventing child sexual abuse from happening in the first place can start with parents talking with their children about these issues. For tips on talking with your child about healthy boundaries and appropriate behavior, click here.

 Comprehensive 32-Hour Victim Advocate Training

September 18-21, 2017

La Plata, Maryland

Register now to attend the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s (MCASA) Comprehensive 32-Hour Victim Advocate Training.  The training will take place from 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m., Monday, September 18 through Thursday, September 21, 2017, at the College of Southern Maryland, located at 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 20646.

This four-day training is designed for advocates who work directly with sexual assault survivors in any capacity. The training covers both introductory and advanced topics to provide a foundation for best practices for advocates in the field of sexual assault services. There is no cost; however, member rape crisis centers and staff receive priority registration.

Topics covered at this training will include:

• An Overview of Sexual Assault
• Roles of Law Enforcement, Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs), Prosecutors, and Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs)
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Professional Ethics & Boundaries
• Crisis Intervention (In-Person and Hotline)
• Safety Planning, Risk Assessment, & Cyberstalking
• Confidentiality & Advocate Testimony
• The Economic Costs of Sexual Violence
• Criminal & Civil Legal Options
• Sexual Violence & Trauma
• Self-Care & Vicarious Trauma
• Reproductive Coercion
• College Sexual Assault & the Implications for Advocates
• The Prison Rape Elimination Act for Advocates
• Working with Diverse Communities
• Working with Undocument Survivors
• Working with Men & Boys
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Human Trafficking
• Working with LGBTQ Survivors
• Prevention

Click here to register now.

For more information, contact:

info@mcasa.org 

301-328-7023

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) will host a special trauma-informed training with former Supervisory Special Agent Lori D. Heitman, a managing partner and co-founder of Strand & Heitman Innovative Forensic Technologies LLC.  Mrs. Heitman, who was a Supervisory Special Agent with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Command, is a nationally-recognized expert in sexual assault investigations and trauma-informed response. This training helps professionals understand the Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI), which acknowledges the victim’s trauma, allows the survivor to recount the assault in the manner in which the trauma was experienced, and enhances a victim’s ability to recall.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Colony Ballroom – Adele H. Stamp Student Union

University of Maryland, College Park

This training is free and available for victim advocates, counselors, law enforcement, forensic nurse examiners, prosecutors, legal advocates, case managers, corrections officials, and other allied professionals who work with sexual assault survivors. Click here to register for this exciting event.

Please contact MCASA at info@mcasa.org or call our office at 301-328-7023 with any questions regarding this special training.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017
9:00am – 5:00pm

Allegany College of Maryland

12401 Willowbrook Rd Cumberland, MD 21502

MCASA’s regional trainings for colleges and universities focus on sexual violence prevention and response on campus, particularly, survivor-centered responses to reports of sexual violence. Registration will be open to campus investigators, police, administration and staff, counselors, students, and advocates in each region.

The training will address the following topics:

• Neurobiology of Trauma
• Interviewing Tips and Techniques
• Federal and State Laws Governing Sexual Assault Response
• Legal Options for Survivors
• Supporting Trans Survivors
• Bystander Intervention
• Cultural Humility & Allyship
• Supporting Students of Various Immigration Statuses

To register for this training, please click here to access the registration page. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mcasa.org or at 301-328-7023.

 Urge the Senate

to Protect Health Care Access

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) joins with our national partner, The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, in calling to action those who support survivors of sexual violence to urge the Senate to protect health care access.  Several ways to take part in this important advocacy are detailed below; please modify materials as needed to best reflect your role in supporting sexual assault survivors. 

The Senate has just unveiled health care legislation that is unacceptable, and we ask coalitions and local programs to join with advocates from around the country to urge senators to reject that bill and protect access to health care for all. A vote is expected next week.
We are recommending 3 immediate actions:

1. Sign onto the national letter attached via this link. (Deadline: Monday 6/26)
2. Call and/or email your senators with information provided below.
3. Forward this request to local programs and other allies and activists.

Please send the information below as an email to key Senate staff with whom you have a relationship and/or call your senators’ offices directly.

Here is a link to our position paper on health care. Feel free to include it with any written communication with Senate staff.
Message:

On behalf of survivors of sexual assault in the state/city of _______, I urge you to oppose proposed healthcare legislation that fails to protect survivors. Please work to prevent repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and reject the proposal that rolls back Medicaid expansion; allows insurers to charge those with preexisting conditions more for coverage; and scales back required comprehensive preventive health care.

The short- and long-term consequences of sexual assault can undermine a person’s health.Survivors need access to a range of services in both the immediate aftermath of sexual violence and over the span of their lives. These services include physical and mental health care to heal from sexual violence and mitigate the many consequences of trauma. From the forensic rape exam, conducted by a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, to ongoing visits with a primary care physician or counselor—health care is of critical importance to victims of sexual violence. It enables them to cope with the myriad effects of trauma and to thrive in their lives and in our families, workplaces, schools, and larger communities.

The recently unveiled Senate legislation and the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA) would be a terrible step backward returning us to the days when victims of violence went without the health care they needed because insurers could charge those with preexisting conditions more, making coverage too expensive or inaccessible; when comprehensive preventive health care was not available; when low income survivors could not access health care at all; and when plans failed to cover the behavioral health services survivors need.

We urge you to oppose the Senate proposal that takes us backward and makes it more difficult for any survivor of sexual assault to access the health care they need. We also urge you to maintain federal funding for Planned Parenthood which many survivors rely on for services.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017
9:00am – 5:00pm

Wor-Wic Community College
Salisbury, MD 21804

MCASA’s regional trainings for colleges and universities focus on sexual violence prevention and response on campus, particularly, survivor-centered responses to reports of sexual violence. Registration will be open to campus investigators, police, administration and staff, counselors, students, and advocates in each region.

The training will address the following topics:

• Neurobiology of Trauma
• Interviewing Tips and Techniques
• Federal and State Laws Governing Sexual Assault Response
• Legal Options for Survivors
• Supporting Trans Survivors
• Bystander Intervention
• Cultural Humility & Allyship
• Supporting Students of Various Immigration Statuses

To register for this training, please click here to access the registration page. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mcasa.org or at 301-328-7023.

 Comprehensive 32-Hour Victim Advocate Training

June 26-29, 2017

Baltimore, Maryland

Register now to attend the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s (MCASA) Comprehensive 32-Hour Victim Advocate Training.  The training will take place from 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m., Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29, 2017, at the Salvation Army Maryland & West Virginia Divisional Headquarters, located at 814 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.

This four-day training is designed for advocates who work directly with sexual assault survivors in any capacity. The training covers both introductory and advanced topics to provide a foundation for best practices for advocates in the field of sexual assault services. There is no cost; however, member rape crisis centers and staff receive priority registration.

Topics covered at this training will include:

• An Overview of Sexual Assault
• Roles of Law Enforcement, Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs), Prosecutors, and Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs)
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Professional Ethics & Boundaries
• Crisis Intervention (In-Person and Hotline)
• Safety Planning, Risk Assessment, & Cyberstalking
• Confidentiality & Advocate Testimony
• The Economic Costs of Sexual Violence (*NEW Training)
• Criminal & Civil Legal Options
• Sexual Violence & Trauma
• Self-Care & Vicarious Trauma
• Reproductive Coercion
• College Sexual Assault & the Implications for Advocates
• The Prison Rape Elimination Act for Advocates
• Working with Diverse Communities
• Working with Undocument Survivors
• Using the Maryland Community Services Locator (*NEW Training)
• Working with Homeless Women & Children (*NEW Training)
• Working with Men & Boys
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Human Trafficking
• Working with LGBTQ Survivors
• Prevention

Click here to register now.

For more information, contact:

info@mcasa.org 

301-328-7023

and Help Support SALI’s Legal Services for Sexual Assault Survivors

Since 1982, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC)  has raised funds to make grants to non-profit organizations that provide low-income Marylanders with civil legal assistance.  MCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) is grateful to be a recipient of an MLSC grant, which helps support SALI’s efforts to provide civil legal assistance to low-income Marylanders who are survivors of sexual violence.

IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) and surcharges on court filing fees are the primary sources of funds for MLSC.  Following is MLSC’s “Honor Roll of Banks,” those financial institutions (listed with their Maryland locations) which pay premium interest rates on IOLTA.  Attorneys interested in supporting legal services are encouraged to support these Honor Roll sites:

·       Bank of Charles Town (Washington County)

·       Carroll Community Bank (Carroll County)

·       Congressional Bank (Montgomery County)

·       First Shore Federal (Wicomico & Worcester counties)

·       HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (Montgomery County)

·       Industrial Bank (Montgomery & Prince George’s counties)

·       Midstate Community Bank (Baltimore County)

·       Premier Bank, Inc. (Montgomery County)

·       Standard Bank (Allegany County)

For more information about SALI, please visit the website here.  To contact SALI for legal services, call 301-565-2277.

One of MCASA’s most important responsibilities is to advocate for strong public policies to support sexual assault survivors and the programs that serve them.  MCASA advocates with lawmakers, the Governor’s office, and their staffs to ensure that the voices of survivors are heard.  During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a number of major improvements to Maryland laws and we urge Governor Hogan to sign these bills and show his support for sexual assault survivors.

Passing legislation is a bit like producing theatre:  there are many people involved in creating the final result.  The legislators are the actors and we have some real stars to thank.  Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais, Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, continues to be one of the leaders of efforts to respond to sexual violence.  This session she re-introduced and passed the “No Means No” bill to make it clear that sexual assault survivors never have to physically resist.  As Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee, she also had a hand in virtually every bill on sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence that passed the General Assembly.  Delegate Dumais’s tireless championship of the bill to end parental rights of rapists, even in the face of unnecessary and ridiculous hurdles, is appreciated.  This year she was joined in this efforts by Senator Brian Feldman, who did an amazing job testifying on the bill in the Senate.

We are delighted that Senator Delores Kelley has returned to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee as its Vice-Chair.  Vice-Chair Kelley joined her House counter-part, Vice-Chair Dumais, in passing the physical resistance bill this session.  She has long been a leading light for survivors.  In 2003, Senator Kelley led efforts to expand the statute of limitations in civil child sexual abuse cases to age 25.  This session, joined by the passionate and persuasive Delegate CT Wilson, the statute of limitations was expanded even further to age 38.  Delegate Wilson’s advocacy on this issue included his willingness to share his own experience as a survivor of child sexual abuse.  MCASA is grateful to have had the chance to support him and this legislation.

Funding for rape crisis programs has long been one of MCASA’s top priorities.  This session, Chairman Ed Kasemeyer and Delegate Aruna Miller, led efforts to mandate dedicated funding for these vital programs.  In today’s political climate, it is especially critical to have the stability this bill will create.  This legislation also creates a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee to address the many issues surrounding rape kits, access, and funding.  This is a needed structural improvement to Maryland’s response to sexual violence.  We are grateful to these two stars for shepherding this bill through a number of challenges and are hopeful the Governor will support the Sexual Assault Victims Resources Act of 2017.

Senator Susan Lee continues to be a fierce advocate for survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual assault.  As one of only two women on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, she helps bring a sorely needed perspective to the committee with jurisdiction over family and criminal law bills.  Delegate Brett Wilson, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, continues to be a true advocate for good laws for children and sexual assault survivors.

Many other legislators have contributed to success this session.  The sponsors of our priority legislation are listed below and we are so very grateful for their support and leadership.  Please take the time to reach out and thank these lawmakers for their efforts to end sexual violence.  Let them know that you are watching their efforts and appreciate their actions.

One aspect of Annapolis is distinctly different than theater:  in Annapolis, we face opponents.  In the year 2017, few are willing to openly talk about their distrust of women and children and their unwillingness to support sexual assault survivors, but archaic beliefs are still around.  If they were not, we wouldn’t have much to do.  Frederick Douglass reminded us, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”  With your help, MCASA will continue to demand justice for survivors.

Thank you for commitment to ending sexual violence.

Lisae

Lisae C Jordan

Executive Director and Counsel

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

2017 – MCASA Legislative Priorities

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) is a non-profit membership organization that includes all of the State’s seventeen rape crisis centers, law enforcement, mental health and health care providers, attorneys, educators, survivors of sexual violence and other concerned individuals.  MCASA includes the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), a statewide legal services provider for survivors of sexual assault.  MCASA represents the unified voice and combined energy of all of its members working to eliminate sexual violence in the State of Maryland.

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) supports legislation that promotes justice for survivors of sexual violence, accountability for offenders, and protection for the general public.  The Final Report on the 2017 Legislative Priorities follows.

Bills that PASSED

No Means No – Rape and Physical Resistance – SB217/HB429 – PASSED

This bill, referred to as “No Means No”, clarifies and modernizes Maryland’s sexual assault statutes by making it clear that rape victims are not required to physically resist sexual assault.  It creates a fundamental and important improvement in Maryland’s response to sexual assault survivors and is one of the most important changes to the criminal law in recent years.  Lead Sponsors:   Delegate Kathleen Dumais and Senator Delores Kelley

Sexual Assault Victims Resources Act of 2017 – SB734/HB1209 – PASSED

One of MCASA’s top priorities is to expand funding for rape crisis centers and meet increasing needs for resources for victims of child sexual abuse and sexual assault across the lifespan and across the justice system.  Increased attention and awareness about college sexual assault, human sex trafficking, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, child sexual abuse, and sexual assault in general have led to increased demand for services.  The recent Attorney General’s Report on Sexual Assault Evidence Kits also highlighted the need for resources for access to justice.  These bills create dedicated funding for rape crisis centers, a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee chaired by the Attorney General, and resources for the Attorney General’s office.  Sponsors:  Senator Ed Kasemeyer and Delegate Aruna Miller.

Expanding Statute of Limitations in Civil Child Sexual Abuse Cases – SB505/HB642 – PASSED.  

These bills expand the time period for a survivor of child sexual abuse to file for civil damages against a perpetrator to the survivor’s 38^th birthday; suits against other responsible parties are permitted until age 25 based on negligence and to age 38 based on gross negligence if the other party had a duty of care to the victim and had some degree of control over or responsibility for the perpetrator.  This bill continued the work that Senator Kelley started in 2003 when she sponsored a bill to expand the statute of limitation to age 25 and was championed by Delegate CT Wilson, who bravely shared his own experiences as a survivor of child sexual abuse.  Special thanks also to Mary Ellen Russell at the Catholic Conference, and Vicki Gruber, Chief of Staff to the Senate President for their support in negotiating this bill.  Lead Sponsors:  Senator Delores Kelley and Delegate CT Wilson

HIV and HepC Testing for Rape Survivors – SB781/HB1375 – PASSED

This bill creates a process for emergency testing of suspects in rape cases so that victims can take advantage of n-PEP medication to prevent HIV.  Testing provisions are also expanded to cover testing for HepC.  Other first responders including law enforcement, EMTs, and forensic nurses can also request testing.  Thank you to the advocates from Wicomico County who brought this issue to MCASA including Ella Dishroon, State’s Attorney and Abby Marsh, Director of Legal Services for the Life Crisis Center.  Forensic Nurses Pam Holtzinger and Eunice Esposito helped with testimony and technical assistance.  Lead Sponsors:  Senator Susan Lee and Delegate Susie Proctor.

Earned Safe & Sick Leave – HB1/SB230 – PASSED (VETOED)

This bill creates a limited right for employees who are survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking to take earned, paid time off to address issues related to the violence.  It would create a similar limited right for paid sick time.  The Governor has vetoed this bill.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Luke Clippinger and Senator Mac Middleton

Rape Kit Retention and Survivor Notification – HB255/SB349 – PASSED

This bill will require retention of sexual assault evidence kits for at least twenty years and to provide survivors with notice regarding kit retention and destruction.  Hospitals and child advocacy centers will also be required to send rape kits to law enforcement within 30 days.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Shelly Hettleman and Senator Bobby Zirkin

Human Trafficking – Statewide Training for Law Enforcement – HB1279/SB220 – PASSED. Requires that law enforcement receive training on responding to human trafficking.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Marice Morales and Senator Susan Lee

Human Trafficking of Children – Child Protective Services – HB632/SB308 and HB1219/SB912 – PASSED.  Clarifying that child sexual abuse includes all sex trafficking of minors without regard to whether the child is in the abuser’s custody or supervision.  Lead Sponsor:  Administration and Judicial Conference

Human Trafficking Adult Entertainment Establishments – National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Information – SB221/HB258 – PASSED

Requiring posting information about the Human Trafficking Hotline in strip clubs.

Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Marice Morales and Senator Susan Lee

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Funding – HB972/SB811 and HB1291/SB856 – PASSED. 

Continuing and increasing funding for legal services.  Several sexual assault and domestic violence programs receive MLSC funding to help survivors, including the Sexual Assault Legal Institute, HopeWorks, Heartly House, Life Crisis Center, CASA of Washington County, and SARC in Harford County.  Lead Sponsors:  Senator Bobby Zirkin and Delegate Kathleen Dumais; Senator Guy Guzzone and Delegate Ben Barnes.

Conditions of Pre- and Post-Trial Relief (Amber’s Law) – HB1163/SB976 – PASSED

As introduced, this bill would make violating a condition of pre- or post-trial relief a crime if the condition involves an order to stay away or refrain from contacting, harassing or abusing a victim and would improve administration of GPS technology as a condition of probation.  A watered down version of the bill passed and will provide victims with important information regarding their right to request conditions to protect safety.  MCASA looks forward to continuing work on these issues next session.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Aruna Miller and Senator Susan Lee

Classification of Rape – HB647/SB944 – PASSED

Maryland law classifies “rape” as vaginal-penile intercourse.  Anal rape, oral rape, and rape with an object are all classified as “sexual offenses”.  This is disrespectful and insensitive to many sexual assault survivors, resulting in survivors being told that they were “not raped”.  Additionally, the current definition is out of sync with the definition used by the FBI in Uniform Crime Reports.  This bill will classify all rape as rape.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Kirill Reznik and Senator Will Smith

Child Abuse – Definition – HB1263/SB996 – PASSED

This responds to and corrects court decisions regarding child abuse by making it clear that “mental injury” does not require that the perpetrator intended to harm the child, clarifying that accidents are not abuse, and expanding the definition of abuse to include persons who exercise authority over a child because of their position or occupation.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Kathleen Dumais and Senator Susan Lee

Bills that FAILED TO PASS

Rape Survivor Family Protection Act – HB428/SB574 – KILLED

Current law gives rapists who cause a child to be conceived the same rights as other biological parents. Additionally, if a rapist-parent cannot be located, current law requires that the victim’s name be published in the newspaper.  MCASA continues to support legislation to limit the parental rights of rapists when the child was conceived through rape and to increase protections for rape survivors who have a child conceived through rape.

We stand firm in our commitment to enacting legislation with a clearing and convincing standard of evidence.  This is the same standard used in other family law cases that result in the termination of parental rights.  This bill failed on the last day of session when a conference committee was not appointed until it was too late to pass a bill.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Kathleen Dumais and Senators Brian Feldman and Susan Lee

Past Bad Acts – HB369/SB316 – Supported with Amendment – NO VOTE

This bill expands admissibility of prior acts of sexual abuse or sexual assault in later sex crimes cases.  MCASA will once again join with prosecutors and legislators in asking that the Rules Committee of the Maryland Judiciary address this issue.  Lead Sponsor:  Administration

Certification of Victim Helpfulness – U Visas — SB616/HB1208 – FAILED

Requiring public officials to respond to requests for a certification of helpfulness within 90 days.  Certifications of helpfulness are used in U Visa applications, which are available to persons in the US without status who are victims of violent crime and assist with prosecution.  Survivors of rape, incest, human trafficking, and other sex crimes are among those eligible.  This bill failed after elements of the Trust Act were amended onto the bill.   Lead Sponsors:  Senator Victor Ramirez and Delegate Marice Morales

Audits of Unfounded Sexual Assault Reports – HB260 /SB780 – FAILED

Mandating audits of unfounded sexual assault cases when a jurisdiction’s rate of unfounded cases exceeds the national average by 5% or more.  Audit would be performed by sexual assault programs.  This bill passed the House, but failed in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Pam Queen and Senator Susan Lee

Sexual Assault – Statewide Training For Law Enforcement – HB213 – FAILED

Requiring statewide training for law enforcement on best practices in sexual assault investigations.  This bill passed the House but failed in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, in part because some training requirements are already in the law.  Lead Sponsor:  Delegate Pam Queen

Trafficking Victims & Petty Crimes – SB480/HB502 – FAILED

This bill would give courts the authority to vacate convictions for petty crimes that were committed as a result of being a victim of human trafficking.  Current law limits vacating convictions to prostitution charges.  Lead Sponsors:  Senator Susan Lee and Delegate Kathleen Dumais.

Rape Kits – Testing and Tracking – HB1076 (testing) and HB1141 (tracking) – FAILED

These two bills address the testing and tracking of sexual assault evidence collection kits (often called rape kits).  MCASA supports policies to increase kit testing and to implement the recommendations of the Attorney General report on Statewide Accounting on Sexual Assault Evidence Kits in Maryland (2017).  We appreciate that the Attorney General’s recommendations are included in HB1076.  We also appreciate efforts to track kits and support increasing information available to survivors about kit status.  These specific bills failed because of fiscal concerns, however, SB734/HB1209 passed and includes an oversight committee to address these issues.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegate Shelly Hettleman and Delegate Karen Young.

Criminal Injuries Compensation, Restitution, and Rape Kit Reimbursement – HB1428 – FAILED. 

This bill would have created a new unit under the Governor’s Office of Crime Control to coordinate restitution in criminal cases, assume responsibility over criminal injuries compensation, and move rape kit reimbursement to criminal injuries compensation.  Unfortunately, as drafted the bill included provisions allowing GOCCP to share data about sexual assault survivors without their informed consent or even notice.  MCASA has long supported improvements to reimbursement and to having CICB administer rape kit reimbursement in order to capture federal matching funds.  We are confident drafting issues can be worked out over interim.  Lead sponsor:  GOCCP

Child Pornography – Discovery in Criminal Cases – HB737 – FAILED

Preventing repeated harm to children depicted in child pornography by limiting a criminal defendant’s ability to have a copy of a pornographic image of child but permitting the defendant to have access to metadata and redacted copies of the images.  A request will be sent to the Maryland Judiciary Rules Committee to address this issue in criminal discovery rules.  Lead Sponsor: Delegate Brett Wilson

Child Abuse – Evidence of Child’s Statements – HB483 – FAILED

This would have permitted a judge or jury to hear evidence of child’s initial statement about abuse that is made to an adult other than the offender.  Current law permits introduction of this evidence when it is made close in time to the event (under the excited utterance rule) or when it is made to certain professionals (under the Tender Years statute); this is a modest expansion of these laws.  Amendments in the House raised concerns about misuse in custody cases and the bill failed in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.  Lead Sponsors:  Delegates Brett Wilson and Vanessa Atterbeary

Child Custody – Support SB368/HB508 and Oppose SB905 – NO VOTES

SB368/HB508 is well developed legislative to clarify Maryland’s custody law.  It includes protections for victims of sexual and domestic violence and for victims of child abuse.  SB905 imposes a presumption of joint custody and would endanger victims.  Lead Sponsors of SB368/HB508: Delegate Kathleen Dumais and Senator Lee; Lead Sponsor of SB905: Senator Anthony Muse

Permanent Protective Orders – HB1057 – NO VOTE

This is a technical bill to permit the court to issue a permanent protective order when an act of abuse is committed while an order is already in place and the respondent has been sentenced to serve at least 5 years for an act of abuse; it would also add kidnapping to the list of qualifying crimes.  Lead Sponsor:  Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary

Consent Education – HB365 (Montgomery County) and HB1560 (statewide) – FAILED

Including education about consent in middle and high school health curricula.  This  bill passed the House and the Senate Education and Environmental Matters Committee, but failed on the Senate floor on the last day of session.  MCASA looks forward to working on this again next session.  Lead Sponsor:  Delegate Ariana Kelly

Join MCASA to support this important legislation and learn more about how you can help end sexual violence in Maryland

Visit www.mcasa.org to become a member

Changes in America’s political climate have led some immigrant sexual assault survivors to become more reluctant in reaching out to service providers or law enforcement for help. This article provides advocates with information about policies that address immigration and sexual violence.

Immigrant survivors of sexual violence have the right to certain services which protect their life and safety per a statement issued in August 2016 by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The state of Maryland also makes many resources accessible regardless of status. For example, Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFEs) are free regardless of status or whether a survivor has reported to the police.

A few of the typical barriers preventing immigrant survivors from reaching and utilizing services are fear of deportation, fear of change in immigration status, misinformation, and unaddressed bias of responders. One effective way to combat these barriers is for allies and advocates to be proactive in making accurate information and local protocols easily accessible to these specific survivors.

Perpetrators, especially those with a legal immigration status or citizenship, may prey upon a survivor’s fear of deportation in order to keep them silent. Allies and advocates can help address this fear by helping survivors make an action plan for handling situations in which they are confronted about their status. The Catholic Legal Immigration Center created a guide to immigrant rights when interacting with law enforcement to assist with the safety planning process (Spanish version available here). In addition, the Immigration Legal Resource Center has created a list of rights and ways for immigrants to stay safe (Spanish version available here).

Common advice and guidance for immigrant survivors includes always having appropriate documentation if possible, avoid producing false documents, avoid fleeing from inquiring law enforcement, asking for a court-warrant if approached at their home, and memorizing family and legal service phone numbers, their criminal history, date of entry, and status at that time. It is also important for immigrant survivors to have a safety and care plan for any dependents in case they are separated. Furthermore, immigrant survivors should avoid resisting arrest, and allies can record and be a witness but should not interfere during an arrest.

Service providers should be aware that many immigrant survivors may have reservations about seeking help because of prior negative interactions with law enforcement or service providers. Training and information updates for service providers can help address these concerns ensuring their services are culturally sensitive and accessible across cultures and languages.  Maryland also has many options for culturally specific services (both related and unrelated to sexual violence response) throughout the state, including but not limited to: Tahirih Justice Center, Esperanza Center, ASHA for Women, and Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.

Another key service to address with immigrant survivors of sexual violence is the possible need for immigration legal expertise and assistance. Immigrant survivors have many legal options including U-Visas, T-Visas, VAWA petitions, and more. Legal planning and options should be discussed with an immigration attorney. MCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) provides confidential assistance to immigrant survivors navigating the legal system.

Despite changes in America’s political climate immigrant survivors in Maryland have access to victim services and justice. Allies and advocates can help survivors by staying informed and advocating for policies that protect survivors. MCASA recently signed a nation-wide letter calling DHS and ICE to protect immigrant survivors, and we will continue to advocate in Annapolis for survivors of all statuses. In our efforts to end sexual violence in Maryland, we must ensure that all survivors know that they have a right to services and justice.

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Frontline.

When it comes to preventing sexual violence, we all have an important role to play.  The simple act of being an engaged bystander and speaking out against thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that promote sexual violence can make a big difference.  Sexual violence comes in many different forms and it is our responsibility to speak up and speak out against sexual violence and make a difference in the campus community and beyond.

As a part of our ongoing prevention efforts, MCASA recently re-launched its Speak Up. Speak Out website.  Speak Up. Speak Out focuses on engaging bystanders in order to prevent all forms of sexual violence in the college environment.  The website caters to a younger demographic (e.g. college-aged students), but offers information that is helpful for anyone interested in learning more about sexual violence prevention and bystander intervention.

When it comes to preventing sexual violence, people often struggle to take action and be engaged bystanders.  Sometimes it is a matter of not knowing how to intervene in a situation or fearing judgment from friends and peers. Because so many people do not know how to intervene, it is important to provide education on bystander intervention and give people the skills they need to speak up and speak out. The website offers information on how to be an engaged bystander, including using the 3 D’s of bystander intervention: Direct, Distract, and Delegate.  The website also includes an interactive quiz that gives individuals an opportunity to test their knowledge on how to take appropriate action as engaged bystanders in different situations.

In addition to a discussion on bystander intervention, Speak Up. Speak Out provides facts about drugs and alcohol and their relationship to sexual violence.  Information on the importance of consent, knowing your legal rights, and Title IX can also be found through the website’s new, easy-to-navigate platform.  The website also provides useful information on how to effectively support survivors when they disclose that they have been assaulted.  One of the most essential things to remember is that when a friend or peer discloses to you that they have experienced sexual assault, the most important thing you can do is believe them.

We cannot stay silent in the fight against sexual violence. It is vitally important to speak out against attitudes and behaviors that fuel sexual violence in our society. MCASA’s Speak Up. Speak Out website provides people with education and awareness of the issue of sexual violence and provides them with the tools and knowledge necessary to challenge complacent or violent attitudes and behaviors in their community.  Together, #WeAreTheChange in ending sexual violence.

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Frontline.

Sexual assault is often perpetrated at events meant for fun, such as parties, and can be exacerbated when young people have access to drugs and alcohol. When a survivor wakes up after a drug or alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, it may be intensely traumatizing as they start to piece together the events. Now, with technology widely available to record sexual assault, and social media providing an easy way to spread pictures and videos, sexual assault has additional long-lasting impacts in addition to its immediate emotional, physical, and psychological impacts.  In this quarter’s issue of Safety Sync, we examine these issues through a discussion of the recent Netflix documentary film Audrie & Daisy.

Audrie & Daisy focuses on the extensive impact of technology and cyberbullying on sexual assault cases and survivors.  Audrie and Daisy are two teenage girls who are sexually assaulted by male peers at parties.  Audrie and Daisy live in two very different towns in different geographical regions in the United States, demonstrating that these situations can happen anywhere. In Audrie’s case, the perpetrators shared pictures of the assault amongst their peers. Although the perpetrators in Daisy’s case allegedly filmed the assault, the footage was deleted and was never discovered by police. However, social media had a powerful impact on Daisy too, as her peers attacked and disparaged her with intense online bullying. In both situations, the already traumatized survivors were retraumatized repeatedly by victim-blaming comments and threats. Making matters worse, cases like these sometimes receive a great deal of media attention and scrutiny from people outside of the survivor’s community.

While we appreciate that the documentary does bring to light the prevalence and far-reaching impacts of cyberbullying and sexual assault, the film does have some weaknesses when it comes to survivor visibility.  Audrie and Daisy are both attractive, white, able-bodied, apparently straight cis-gender females from middle class families. They are ‘quintessential’ American girls, and they completely fit the stereotype of the “perfect” sexual assault victim. The documentary missed the mark in terms of demonstrating that anyone can be a victim of sexual assault. There were no stories from Black, Latinx, Asian, Indian, transgender, lesbian, gay, or bisexual survivors. There were no stories from survivors with developmental or physical disabilities, or Autistic survivors. These populations are frequently rendered invisible in discussion of sexual assault.  Future documentaries and discussions on the subject of sexual violence should include survivor stories from individuals in these more traditionally underserved populations in order to demonstrate that sexual violence affects everyone, and better reflect the diverse lived experiences of survivors.

Audrie & Daisy encourages parents to have conversations with youth about the dangers and gravity of social media and sexual assault–to remind adolescents that they are often directly exposed to or involved in victim-blaming and cyberbullying, and thus have the ability and responsibility to stop it. Having these conversations can be emotionally difficult given the nature of topic, but also can be immensely empowering. On the film’s website, discussion questions and topics are provided for parents looking to have these conversations with their children. Promoting healthy discussions and awareness of the problem of sexual assault in our communities will ultimately help us to change the culture around violence.

To learn more about this film, visit the website: http://www.audrieanddaisy.com/

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Frontline.

1. What is your name, title, and how long have you working with your organization?

Luisa Caiazzo, Chief Executive Officer, 11 years.

2. Tell us about your program and the issues it tackles.

SARC started as a Helpline and has grown into a full service agency that provides comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and child abuse.  SARC provides a 24-hour Helpline, crisis intervention, 28-bed confidentially located safehouse, counseling, legal representation and advocacy, and community education.  SARC has provided services in Harford County since 1978. SARC services support over 1,500 clients a year.

3. Why are you a member of MCASA?

MCASA is able to keep me informed of current legislative issues that impact the victim services field as well as advocate directly for needed changes within the law.  The expert staff at MCASA provide this critical support which is often time consuming. This allows SARC staff to focus efforts on supporting victims reaching out for services. In addition, MCASA provides top notch training that would not otherwise be affordable or accessible to victim service providers throughout Maryland.

4. What sexual assault prevention work does your program do?

Prevention initiatives include education programs at middle and high schools, as well as with business professionals. Participation in SARC’s annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event increases each year, with prominent businessmen walking in heels along Main Street, Bel Air.  This event challenges stereotypes and opens up an important dialogue in the community.

5. Have you had any recent events or actions you would like to tell us about? Any upcoming events?

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® will be held on Saturday April 29, 2017. Festivities begin at 9:30am in the parking lot alongside the Black Eyed Suzies Restaurant, 119 South Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014. The walk “steps off” at 11am sharp.

6. If your program received $100,000 in new funds today. What would you do with it?

SARC is in the process of raising funds to build a 40 bed Safehouse that takes into consideration the best practices learned through trauma informed care research. The current safehouse facility is located in an over 100 year old converted building. Although victims are grateful to have a safe place to go, it is not able to provide the space or features required to empower clients and their families to heal and successfully re-build their lives. $100,000 would be used to help make this dream a reality.

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Frontline.