Anonymous testing for rape victims, a practice already available in parts of the country, will become mandatorily available in select locations in the near future under a new federal requirement.
Proponents of the change hope it will encourage more rape victims to file reports if their identities are protected. This in turn might allow for better chances of successful investigation because evidence needs to be collected as soon as possible.
Starting in 2009, state governments will have to provide anonymous forensic exams to rape victims in order to receive funding provided under the federal Violence Against Women Act.
In the past, rape victims in California were required to file a police report if they wanted to receive free medical and forensic exams, said Gail Abarbanel, director of the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.
A move toward the availability of anonymous testing may allow victims of rape or related offenses to be more likely to approach law enforcement services.
Sexual assault is difficult to investigate. One in six women is a victim of attempted rape throughout her life, Abarbanel said.
“College is a very high-risk group,” Abarbanel said.
Still, the reporting rate of such incidents among college-age rape victims students is very low. Some students can have reservations about disclosing sexual assault information.
“Some are afraid that friends or family will find out. Some are not sure whether they were a victim of a crime. We often have people reporting weeks or months after the incident,” said Nancy Greenstein, director of police community services for university police.
Many may also feel conflicted when reporting the identity of the perpetrator.
“They feel ashamed and afraid. … Most (victims) are raped by someone they know. Acquaintance rape is even more underreported,” Abarbanel said.
These concerns can often make it difficult for victims to deal with investigators.
“Sexual assault is a very traumatic experience. It is intimidating to be interviewed by police officers,” said Robert Coombs, director of public affairs for the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
The availability of anonymous testing will give victims more options and will allow them to make a decision on whether to file a report later while still preserving all the necessary evidence.
While this service has been available to UCLA students through the Rape Treatment Center for many years, anonymous testing is not available in many other hospitals across the country.
In fact, California is one of three states that currently mandates doctors to report rape, Coombs said.
Coombs expressed doubt that the bill will create real change.
He believes that state governments cannot be required to cooperate with law enforcement to receive free anonymous rape exams as specified under the Violence Against Women Act.
However, Abarbanel said she and many of her colleagues believe that this practice will become mandatory beginning in 2009.