https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUVtdMqXB3w&t=244s

11 years ago, a stranger broke into my home. After sexually assaulting me at gunpoint, he took me to an ATM where he robbed me of every penny I had. It was the scariest, and most traumatizing, thing I have ever experienced.

As someone who has experienced the court process firsthand, I can tell you a victim’s suffering does not end with the attack. Rather, it continues as we navigate a complicated system which works for the criminal, but not the victim.

I’ve been a supporter of Amendment 6, Marsy’s Law for Florida, since it was first introduced because I believe victims and their families should have the same exact rights and protections as those accused or convicted of a crime.

I believe these rights and protections should exist in the state’s most powerful legal document so there is no question as to what rights victims are entitled to and whether or not they are enforced.

What is in the constitution right now is not enough –

• It is ambiguous and leaves too much up for interpretation.
• Statutes can easily be changed from one legislative session to another.
• The accused have specific protections outlined in the U.S. Constitution, crime victims only receive a single vague sentence in our state constitution with no real means of enforcement.

Amendment 6 presents an opportunity to strengthen these laws, by:

• Ensuring crime victims, or their families in the event of a tragic loss of life, are afforded similar constitutional protections to the accused.
• The rights of the accused would not change or weaken, however, the two parties will finally be considered equal in the eyes of the law.

This means everything to crime victims. We deserve to be seen as those with real emotions who went through a painful ordeal we did not ask for, rather than simply evidence in the case.

My story would have been different had Marsy’s Law been in place.

By acting as his own counsel, my attacker was afforded access to all of my personal information as well as those of my witnesses. He not only stole my identity but made harassing phone calls to me and my witnesses from jail, in the attempts of scaring us out of testifying against him. There was nothing anyone could do – the state attorney and sheriff’s departments’ hands were tied. As wonderful as they were in handling my case, they were only as strong as the law allowed them to be and that meant his right to identify his accuser trumped my right to privacy and to be free from intimidation.

Marsy’s Law would also provide crime victims with a voice, which is something I wish I had in the court process. After all, I certainly didn’t have a say in being attacked, so shouldn’t I at least have one in deciding what happens?

My attacker was originally given four consecutive life sentences given the violent nature of his crime. Recently, though, his sentence was reduced to just 50 years, and he will now be eligible for parole one day.

I was not notified when he was appealing to the Supreme Court. I was not asked if scheduling the re-sentencing hearing on my birthday was a convenient day for me. And my input was not taken into consideration at the hearing, even though the court’s decision directly impacted my safety and the safety of others.

Crime victims all across the state have similar stories. All we are asking for are the same rights given to criminals, nothing more and nothing less.

Crime victims deserve to be protected under our state’s most powerful legal document, just as a person accused of a crime does. Amendment 6 would provide Florida crime victims with many fair, common-sense protections, but there are a few things this law would NOT do.

This law does not guarantee outcomes. It does not interfere with prosecutorial discretion. It does not add a burden to the system. And, it does not infringe upon the numerous protections afforded to those accused or convicted of a crime.

What my attacker did to me was horrific, but I certainly do not believe my rights should outweigh his.

All I want is to be viewed as an equal party, to know that I have a voice, and that my voice matters.

I implore you to remember my story and stand up for past, present, and future crime victims when you go to vote this election season.

Imagine sitting in the crowded waiting room of the local hospital’s Emergency Department .  Around the room you see children with fever or crying of pain, others with lacerations needing to be sutured, 

You, however, are there because you have been sexually assaulted.  You may not have any outwardly visible trauma as you wait for an exam which will take a long time to complete, so others are taken for treatment before you.   

This was the case in the Emergency Department where I worked in the late 80‘s – early 90‘s when I first became interested in Forensics and the specialty of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.  The Emergency Department physicians and nurses accompanying them were reluctant to begin an exam which they knew would be very time-consuming, often taking them away from other patients for more than an hour, and because they did not do sexual assault exams that often,they were unfamiliar with the process.  Having to testify in court was another issue. 

 We  know that the physical trauma and the mental trauma can be devastating to a victim of sexual assault so these patients need compassionate care in a timely manner not only for their well being but also for effective evidence collection. Enter the Specialty of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.  The SANE is there for one patient; the victim of the assault.  The SANE is an RN with advanced training in sexual assault, evidence collection, packaging, and maintaing the chain of evidence.  Additionally there is a Board Certification that is administered by the International Association of Forensic Nursing that validates, through extensive testing, the knowledge and proficiency of the nurse examiner and designates the nurse as a SANE-A ; an experienced nurse in the examination of adults and adolescents. 

The SANE together with the Victim Advocate in a secure location with the equipment and supplies needed, are able to  provide the patient the confidential,  compassionate, timely exam in a quiet, comforting environment. Although this is only the beginning of a long road of healing for the victim, the SANE strives to ease the fear and anxiety in the initial medical and physical exam phase of this process to help give control back to the patient. 

I am proud to be a Forensic nurse; a SANE-A. 

Judy Bednar, RN, MSN, SANE-A

The Victim Service Center operates the 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline which not only serves victims, but also  professionals in the community. Occasionally, we receive calls that require a Victim Advocate to provide services to both the victim and also first responders.

Following a sexual assault, a victim may not know where to go for help which may lead them to the nearest hospital emergency room where they are met by a nurse and hospital staff. Once the nurse becomes aware a sexual assault has occurred, the critical management of the victim’s care becomes the utmost importance. During this time, we will receive a call through our Crisis Hotline from hospital staff who may be uncertain of how to properly preserve forensic evidence, care for the patient’s emotional needs, and advise them on legal options. At this point, the VSC Team is alerted, and our Crisis Response Team steps in.

On one particular night, I received a call on the crisis hotline after an elderly woman disclosed to hospital staff that she had been the victim of a sexual assault. The nurse at the hospital was struggling with how to care for the patient. The nurse, who was nervous and eager to follow proper protocol, contacted the hotline with the victim nearby and asked if I would walk them both through the process of what to do next.

With careful consideration, I assisted the nurse by answering all questions and concerns, explaining the current forensic protocols, and assured them the victim would receive all the care she needed that evening. I then spoke with the victim directly and offered support. We talked about common feelings and reactions, options with regard to reporting to law enforcement, and what to expect for the rest of the evening. I assured the victim that I would be the person meeting her at our confidential site. The victim was relieved not to have to tell another person her story.

The victim then came to VSC’s confidential forensic exam site where I met her, along with our Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. On this night, I was called to assist not only the victim, but also a professional. The victim received forensic collection, a shower and a new change of clothes, provided safe transportation home and follow-up services.

The hotline helps many victims directly, but we are proud to be able to offer services and support to first responders as well.  We are grateful that professionals in Central Florida recognize the importance of such a valuable resource, like the sexual assault hotline, where they can be connected and receive support from Victim Advocates highly trained to respond to sexual assault victims.

By: Danielle Sullivan, Sexual Assault Survivor

To coin a phrase from self-professed researcher/storyteller and TedTalks sensation Brené Brown, Ph. D., I suffered a major “vulnerability hangover” yesterday.  I chose to share the story of my assault with someone; the whole story including the messy parts that I usually edit out.  I chose to be vulnerable with this person, to allow myself to be seen by them and to be courageous enough to show them a real part of me.  Halfway though my story, they had to leave to attend a meeting and promised to call me back later that evening.

The call never came.

I immediately blamed myself.  I felt shameful.  Why did I share so much?  Did I run them off by telling the gritty parts of my story?  Did they think badly of me and decided they didn’t want to talk to me any longer?  Why did I feel that I could trust this person – this stranger?  It continued to haunt me all evening.  Memories of my past misplaced trust in people came flooding back to me.

As an acquaintance rape survivor, trust is something that is very hard for me to attain.  I’ve changed the way I see people and the way I interact with them.  As a result my circle of friends has become painfully small.  I refrain from being vulnerable with people because of what happened when I allowed myself to be vulnerable with “him” – the person who I trusted, who then betrayed my trust.

According to Brené Brown’s research, human connection is essential to living a fulfilled life.  It is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.  But, in order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, truly deeply seen – to become vulnerable.

This is the problem I face, and I’m sure many sexual assault survivors face.  For us to be truly happy, we need to be vulnerable and allow ourselves to “be seen” by people.  This is very difficult for us, as we have had people take advantage of our vulnerability.  Rebuilding my trust in people has become something I’ve had to become aware of and purposely work on.

To end with a great quote, Brené says “Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.  Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

PREA Coordinator, Osceola County Corrections

The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is the single-most important legislation directed toward the safety of inmates in the nation’s jails and prisons.  The law supports the elimination, reduction and prevention of sexual assault in United States corrections facilities by developing national standards and accountability measures.   Prohibited behaviors include actual sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates by other inmates and by staff members of the facility.

The Osceola County Corrections Department has embraced PREA and has incorporated the 43 national standards into our operating procedures.  We provide education to all inmates during the booking process and again within 30 days of their incarceration to provide the inmates with ways to help prevent abuse and the knowledge to report abuse.  We also educate all of our certified staff members, civilian employees, volunteers and contracted employees.  In August 2014, the department completed a successful Department of Justice audit and was certified PREA-compliant.  We were the first agency in Central Florida to receive the final report of compliance.

A major component of PREA is to provide access to counseling services for inmate victims of assault or abuse, whether the abuse is current or in the past.  Another PREA standard requires full investigation of all allegations of assault and abuse.  These investigations are performed by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, which include a complete forensics examination at the Center, if needed.  The Victim Service Center is the perfect partner for these necessary services.  Our inmates have direct access to the Center to contact counselors and obtain assistance while incarcerated and after release from the facility.

The Victim Service Center has been a wonderful community partner.  They have provided educational tools for our inmates, encouraged us to include them on our victim pamphlets and have begun work with inmates in our programs area.  The Corrections Department has been added to the Osceola County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).  We are pleased to work with agencies that are so focused on victim education, health and safety.