Publicity of rape victims

[Katia's Lover]

This is totally different than the other thread in the polls section.  That thread is not about Kobe's guilt/innocence.  This is totally different.

With all of the attention being focused on the Kobe Bryant case, a lot of information has leaked out to the press about the girl's name, address, phone number, etc. etc.  Now magazines are putting pictures of the girl all over their papers.

My question is simple: Should ALLEGED rape victims have extra protection from the media?

I don't think so.  Let me tell you why.  I feel it is undue process of law (14th) for a District Attourney to release information to the media about the victim of an ALLEGED sex crime, but not release the information to the press of the ALLEGED victim.  To do that, is to automatically assume that the victim is telling the truth and assume the accused guilt.  

Women rights advocates commonly hold rape as a violent crime.  I agree 100%.  My question is if we release information about the victim in all other violent crime cases, why should rape be any different?  It seems to me that womens rights advocates want to have their cake and eat it too.

This long post is for the most part my way of saying... I'M BAAAAAAACK, and it's time for a good debate.

[Grakthis]

I think this is an EXCELLENT topic, and one I haven't yet formed my full opinion on yet.

One part of me says that if you are PUBLICLY accusing someone of rape then you should be under the same public scrutiny as the person being accused.

But another part of me says that being raped is an embarassing thing... and no one wants to admit something embarassing.  So making it public discourages young women and men from coming forward and making accusations.

One thought is that BOTH should be kept private until the crime is decided one way or the other.

But my sense of justice just turns COLD at the idea that I can accuse someone of a crime without having to admit to anyone else who is making the accusation.
---Andrew

[tricia]

I haven't really formed an opinion about it either, but I heard something yesterday that made a lot of sense.

It was said by that guy in LA who keeps announcing her name on the radio.  Basically he said, what if she was lying and Kobe didn't rape her, then she actually isn't a victim, he is.  But he's not protected.

*shrug*

[Katia's Lover]

You both make excellent points.

[Will]

I know two people who have been victims of rape, and let me tell you that it is something they don't want to be reminded of at all. They would rather ignore it to the point where they don't want to turn in the rapist.

I'm sorry... I can't possibly support someone making those names or pictures public. I don't care if it violates some constitutional requirement. Letting the media disclose this would shatter the person. And the law is in place to protect, not harm innocents.

[Katia's Lover]

And the law is in place to protect, not harm innocents.

I agree.  But until a jury holds him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, Kobe is one of the innocents you preach for.

[Grakthis]

I agree.  But until a jury holds him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, Kobe is one of the innocents you preach for.

excellent point, and one that MANY people forget.
---Andrew