MCASA in the News: Audit finds Baltimore County needs to improve sexual assault investigations; officials say progress being made

For the second time in less than three years, a special review found Baltimore County authorities need to do a better job investigating and prosecuting sexual assault investigations.

The Baltimore County Sexual Assault Investigations Task Force concluded that law enforcement:

• Rarely tested evidence from rape cases (testing only about 15 rape kits per year);
• Often failed to file charges in cases where survivors delayed reporting;
• Continued to consider whether survivors physically resisted when pursuing investigations and prosecutions, despite a new law clarifying survivors never have to physically resist.

“It’s absolutely shocking that Baltimore County police and prosecutors ignored the law, disregarded previous recommendations, and continued to fail victims of sexual assault...Among the most distressing findings is that cases involving delayed reporting are rarely charged. This ignores the reality that most survivors delay reporting, so this practice effectively denies justice to survivors and allows sex offenders to go free."   -Lisae C. Jordan, Executive Director of MCASA

Baltimore County Police have made inroads and begun addressing the problems identified by the Task Force Report. MCASA is working with the Department to help develop additional training on responding to sexual assault survivors to help ensure that this audit produces meaningful change. It is crucial that the State's Attorney's Office makes a similar commitment.

You can read the article here and view the report in its entirety here.