Last month, a former Baltimore County police officer convicted of two counts of second-degree rape was placed in home detention. MCASA and other advocates against sexual assault spoke out against the persistent “blame the victim” mentality that continues to allow such light sentences.
Yesterday, The Baltimore Sun published an editorial highlighting the lack of attention given to sexual assault and rape across the state. Last year, there were 1,891 rapes statewide, according to Maryland State Police- a whopping 65% increase since 2014. The entire state of Maryland has a rape problem, and there doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as much concern in comparison to other violent crimes committed in the state. The lives of sexual assault survivors matter, too.
To combat rape and sexual assault in the state, MCASA is advocating for:
And that’s just a start. For more information on MCASA's work, visit our website.
If you, or a loved one, are a survivor of sexual violence in Maryland, help is available
To find your local rape crisis center, visit our website or call 211 to be connected with local resources.
For legal support, call MCASA's Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI): 301-565-2277, or toll-free 877-496-SALI.