Contact: Gina Lauterio

Telephone: 301-801-0608

Email: info@saveservices.org

Treat Rape as a Crime; SAVE Calls on Lawmakers to Enact the Safe Campus Act

WASHINGTON / November 3, 2015 – Nine out of 10 Americans say campus sexual assaults should be handled by criminal justice experts, according to a recent survey. SAVE is now calling on state legislators to enact legislation that moves criminal rape cases out of the hands of campus sex tribunals, as proposed by the Safe Campus Act.

The bi-partisan Safe Campus Act, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in July, is also appropriate for implementation at the state level. The Safe Campus Act:

  1. Places law enforcement agencies in the lead role to handle allegations of criminal sexual violence
  2. Recognizes the appropriate role of campus disciplinary committees
  3. Gives the complainant a say in the decision whether to investigate the case
  4. Assures due process protections for the accused

The Safe Campus Act has been endorsed by nine organizations including the National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Scholars, and Families Advocating for Campus Equality (FACE).

The Detroit News has also endorsed the Safe Campus Act, explaining, “The members of Congress seeking to encode that concept into federal law are on the right track. State lawmakers in Michigan and elsewhere should seize the idea.”

“With all the awareness about campus sexual assault, it’s amazing how many persons want to treat rape like getting a parking ticket or cheating on an exam,” explains SAVE spokesperson Sheryle Hutter. “Rape is a crime and should be handled by the experts.”

Charlotte Hays of the Independent Women’s Forum has noted the Safe Campus Act is “a step in the right direction.” National columnist Cathy Young wrote, “The Safe Campus Act deserves support as a potential first step toward such reform.”

More information on the Safe Campus Act can be seen here: http://www.saveservices.org/sexual-assault/safe-campus-act/ .

 

Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is working to promote effective solutions to campus sexual assault: http://www.saveservices.org/