Texas Billing Rape Victims for Rape Kit (Video)

[TheCount]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/09/texas-charging-rape-victi_n_201190.html

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Keep in mind a Rape Kit has nothing to do with the treatment of the victims in regards to injuries that may have occurred or whatever mediation is given to avoid pregnancy or disease.

The Rape Kit is used by the police department as a way of preserving evidence they then use to prosecute the criminal. It's also worth noting that Texas regularly has a surplus in victim compensation funds (usually collected from the fines and fees criminals have to pay for their crimes) that numbers in the 10's of millions that could easily cover these fees.

I don't know how widespread the practice is, but frankly, it's disgusting.

[jrumann59]

Couldn't get the link to load, now is that for all rapes or for ones wear the "victim" withraws the accusation? If its for the latter then I am all for it, if its for all rapes I think it is disgusting.

[WoodysGirl]

Rape Victim Billed For Evidence Costs
By Stephen Dean

POSTED: Thursday, May 7, 2009
UPDATED: 12:12 am CDT May 9, 2009

HOUSTON -- Victims of sexual assault are getting bills, rejection letters and pushy calls from bill collectors while a state crime victims' fund sits full of cash, Local 2 Investigates reported Thursday.

"I'm the victim, and yet here I am. I'm asked to pay this bill and my credit's going to get hurt," said a single mom from Houston.

She received bills marked, "delinquent," after she visited a hospital where police told her to have evidence gathered. Officers assured her she would not pay a dime for that rape kit to be handled.

"That was unreal," she said. "I never thought I'd be out anything for what I went through."

She was 44 years old when she was attacked in her own bed. She said she awoke to find a burly 15-year-old friend of her son assaulting her. He was found delinquent, meaning he was convicted, in juvenile court, thanks in part to the evidence gathered with the rape kit.

"It is set up legislatively so that the criminal justice system pays for whatever evidence collection occurs," said Kelly Young, with the Houston Area Women's Center, a rape crisis facility.

Police departments are reimbursed for up to $700 by the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Fund, but many departments cover the bills if they exceed that.

After that happens, victims can apply for other costs associated with the rape kit hospital visits to be covered by the fund.

The Houston Police Department made one payment toward the single mother's hospital bill, but when she submitted the $1,847 worth of remaining bills to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund, she received a denial letter, telling her that law enforcement should have paid.

"She's getting the run-around," said Young at the rape crisis center, which was not involved in her case.

"There may be lots of survivors who have this happen and we don't know because they don't know that they shouldn't be getting the bills," she said.

"A lot of people aren't going to ask. They're just going to go ahead and pay it and move forward with their lives. They don't want to keep re-living that experience," said Young.

Texas State Comptroller's office figures show the fund has tens of millions of dollars left over at the end of each year.

In September 2006, the balance was $67,058,646 and one year later, the balance was $57,669,432.

In 2008, that figure was up again to $66,572,261 that was left unspent in the fund.

Attorney General's spokesman Jerry Strickland said the crime victim fund is enforcing strict guidelines imposed by the legislature as to which bills are paid and which victims are sent a denial notice.

Otherwise, he said that fund could become "insolvent."

He said state law is clear that crime victims must exhaust all other potential funding sources, such as local police or their own health insurance.

"The legislature set it up that way," said Strickland.

When asked for a number of how many denial letters had been sent out to Texas rape victims in the past, Strickland did not have an answer after checking with his crime victims' compensation office workers.

He said the attorney general's office constantly trains hospitals and health care providers on how to help victims in getting reimbursed for their expenses.

Health care workers and rape crisis counselors told Local 2 Investigates that victims have come forward with denial letters for varying reasons, such as police listing the case as inactive, paperwork being filed incorrectly, or expenses falling into the wrong category.

Young, the advocate at Houston Area Women's Center said, "They're not dotting the Is and crossing the Ts to make sure that the person who was victimized does not have to re-live it six months later because they get a bill."

When Local 2 Investigates contacted the hospital where the single mother had her rape kit performed, hospital leaders quickly canceled her bill when they found out the state would not be paying the charges She now owes nothing.

She said she's amazed it happened to begin with, adding, "I don't look very kindly to them. I mean, I would expect that they would have had a little more feeling for me and they didn't."

If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477).

Copyright 2009 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/19400415/detail.html

[jrumann59]

Thanks WG, from what I can read it is a bureaucratic SNAFU, that doesn't make it right but it sounds like it can be easily cleared up. Is it a PITA yeah sure, but something like this happens everywhere everyday, ask anyone in the armed forces, people that have been throught the criminal justice system, to the DMV. And for a side note, after reading this people still want nationalized health care!?

[ScipioCowboy]

This is nothing new. As I recall, a similar event occurred in a city in Alaska.

[Hoofbite]

This is pathetic.

Even more pathetic than the story from Florida about a lady getting a $316 bill for having cops and firefighters respond to an accident she was in.

[Jon88]

Thanks, Woodysgirl. Was Obama's system regular today?

[TheCount]

Thanks WG, from what I can read it is a bureaucratic SNAFU, that doesn't make it right but it sounds like it can be easily cleared up. Is it a PITA yeah sure, but something like this happens everywhere everyday, ask anyone in the armed forces, people that have been throught the criminal justice system, to the DMV. And for a side note, after reading this people still want nationalized health care!?

Doesn't sound like just a SNAFU from reading the article:

In 2008, that figure was up again to $66,572,261 that was left unspent in the fund.

Attorney General's spokesman Jerry Strickland said the crime victim fund is enforcing strict guidelines imposed by the legislature as to which bills are paid and which victims are sent a denial notice.

Otherwise, he said that fund could become "insolvent."

He said state law is clear that crime victims must exhaust all other potential funding sources, such as local police or their own health insurance.

"The legislature set it up that way," said Strickland.

That they actually would expect a rape victim to pick up the phone and start negotiating the payment of a rape kit with their insurance company and local police department is pretty sick.

[burmafrd]

If you think this is bad imagine when the FEDERAL government starts with their National Health Service. Obama's plan will make this look like the good times.

[MetalHead]

This is not a new story.
It is if you have/are:
1.Lobotomized
2.In a stupidity induced coma
3.A liberal
4.Messing with Texas...Count,we don't dial 911 around here.

[TheCount]

If you think this is bad imagine when the FEDERAL government starts with their National Health Service. Obama's plan will make this look like the good times.

Good to see the bad treatment of rape victims isn't above your desire to slander Obama, stay classy.

[notherbob]

This is a prime example of our beloved state government protecting its citizens for their own good.

I confidently predict that the bribe-taking, influence-peddling legislature will be overwhelmingly re-elected for the great job they have done. I further predict that they will keep all their illegal gains and will retire wealthy beyond the dreams of the average voter, who will remain powerless to affect government in any meaningful way.

Until there is an Initiative passed that will allow ordinary citizens to force an issue to the ballot by collecting enough legitimate signatures of registered voters, the voters will simply be condemned to watching our predatory state governent protect themselves and their friends at our expense.

I further predict there will not ever be a voters initiative in Texas because our legislators would never vote for anything that would limit their power to suppress and control the people.

Where the hell's my coffee? I need my coffee.


Our proud Texas voters are far too intelligent to ever allow ordinary people a direct voice in our own governance.

:rolleyes: ;) :cool: :o: :mad:

I never did play well with others and I guess I never will - that's why I prefer to live way out in the country where I seldom have to interact with other people. I'm obviously utterly unqualified to palaver with my betters. Poor, backward, ignorant slobs like me have no business going around watering down the average IQ of our fine state. :rolleyes:

What we have here is clearly a failure to communicate since I fail to understand how any of this is in our best interest but then I am obviously a backward ignorant fool who knows no better.

[WoodysGirl]

Thanks, Woodysgirl. Was Obama's system regular today?
Excuse me?

And what in the world does Obama have to do with this thread? People need to stop being silly.

[burmafrd]

GOvernment is government Count. THe only difference is where its run from. Still incompetent and ineffecient. And YOU want the government to run more of the country.