Comments on: Texas Charges Victims for Rape Kits http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:18 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gabs http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-275172 Gabs Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:09:19 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-275172 this is incredible. Not like amazing but the fact that they would allow someone to even pay up for such an event. it's almost as if they are charging for crime!!! this is incredible. Not like amazing but the fact that they would allow someone to even pay up for such an event. it’s almost as if they are charging for crime!!!

]]> By: Guv. Goodhair Threatens Civil War Over Universal Healthcare! | Reconstitution 2.0 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-257268 Guv. Goodhair Threatens Civil War Over Universal Healthcare! | Reconstitution 2.0 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:19:33 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-257268 [...] Texas, after all, is one of those “compassionate conservative” bastions that charges rape victims for the evidence kits used on [...] [...] Texas, after all, is one of those “compassionate conservative” bastions that charges rape victims for the evidence kits used on [...]

]]> By: Nichole Tips http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241817 Nichole Tips Fri, 15 May 2009 20:41:33 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241817 The Executive Director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault wrote an open letter to Texas sexual assault survivors regarding this issue on our blog. http://taasa.org/blog/?p=1024 The letter talks about the numerous problems with the news story as well as the fact that this is not, as far as we at TAASA have witnessed, a recurring problem in Texas. The Executive Director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault wrote an open letter to Texas sexual assault survivors regarding this issue on our blog.

http://taasa.org/blog/?p=1024

The letter talks about the numerous problems with the news story as well as the fact that this is not, as far as we at TAASA have witnessed, a recurring problem in Texas.

]]> By: Rape Survivors Billed for Rape Kits « Women’s Law Project Blog http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241780 Rape Survivors Billed for Rape Kits « Women’s Law Project Blog Fri, 15 May 2009 14:19:10 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241780 [...] would appear that such policies are not as uncommon as we might like. Brought to our attention by Feministe, CNN reports that some rape survivors in Texas are billed for their rape kits and other medical [...] [...] would appear that such policies are not as uncommon as we might like. Brought to our attention by Feministe, CNN reports that some rape survivors in Texas are billed for their rape kits and other medical [...]

]]> By: Nichole Tips http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241714 Nichole Tips Thu, 14 May 2009 22:43:23 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241714 p.s. I should probably explain that TAASA is the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. p.s. I should probably explain that TAASA is the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.

]]> By: Nichole Tips http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241713 Nichole Tips Thu, 14 May 2009 22:20:20 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241713 There have been quite a few stories circulating on the web about rape victims in Texas being charged for rape kits. These stories are NOT true. Here is a notice from the Office of the Attorney General to crime victim advocates about the news story that started it all: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/victims/advocate_notice.shtml. TAASA will have an open letter to survivors regarding this issue posted on our blog soon. There have been quite a few stories circulating on the web about rape victims in Texas being charged for rape kits. These stories are NOT true. Here is a notice from the Office of the Attorney General to crime victim advocates about the news story that started it all: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/victims/advocate_notice.shtml. TAASA will have an open letter to survivors regarding this issue posted on our blog soon.

]]> By: Emma http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241577 Emma Thu, 14 May 2009 03:29:13 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241577 Victims are charged for their own rape kits in Japan too. It's only (!) about 20 dollars, but yeh, pretty outrageous really Victims are charged for their own rape kits in Japan too. It’s only (!) about 20 dollars, but yeh, pretty outrageous really

]]> By: feministjen http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241562 feministjen Thu, 14 May 2009 00:40:33 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241562 I was charged for my evidence collection kit, as are many women. The other thing is that even in a state (or city, or hospital) where you are not charged due to law or policy, that does not mean every cost you incur by setting foot in the hospital is covered. You can still be charged for one or more tests, for the time a doctor stepped into the room, etc. There are grassroots things we can do as well as political. There are womyn at Ohio State University working to create a fund for survivors to help cover these costs. It's something to do that immediately impacts the lives of survivors, helping out outside of a law that would mandate free evidence collection kits and all other costs incurred. feminist love, jen I was charged for my evidence collection kit, as are many women. The other thing is that even in a state (or city, or hospital) where you are not charged due to law or policy, that does not mean every cost you incur by setting foot in the hospital is covered. You can still be charged for one or more tests, for the time a doctor stepped into the room, etc.

There are grassroots things we can do as well as political. There are womyn at Ohio State University working to create a fund for survivors to help cover these costs. It’s something to do that immediately impacts the lives of survivors, helping out outside of a law that would mandate free evidence collection kits and all other costs incurred.

feminist love,
jen

]]> By: Raging Contradiction http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241561 Raging Contradiction Thu, 14 May 2009 00:38:35 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241561 In this case they do NOT have any of the facts much less all of them. By requirement of law, Rape Kits are ordered and paid for by the law enforcement agency that requests the evidence be collected. The law enforcement agency then submits the bill for the rape kit to Texas Crime Victims Compensation. This requirement that the bill go through the law enforcement agency first is not the fault of the compensation program it is a legislated requirement. In the end CVC does pay for the rape kit. CVC can not control how, when, or who the hospitals bill. The problem is with the individual hospital billing system not automatically separating the charges for the Kit from charges for the care of the victim and then following through on the billing of the kit to the agency who requested it. The Texas Crime Victim"s Compensation program is one of the best in the nation. Each and every qualified victim receives a fund of up to $50,000.00 to cover medical, counseling, lost wages etc with a total of 32 separate benefits. The job that the done by the Victim Advocates, and staff of these city, county and state agencies is a thankless one. Rather then taking one case out of context perhaps reviewing the totality of what is done by these people each and everyday is a more appropriate response. In this case they do NOT have any of the facts much less all of them. By requirement of law, Rape Kits are ordered and paid for by the law enforcement agency that requests the evidence be collected. The law enforcement agency then submits the bill for the rape kit to Texas Crime Victims Compensation. This requirement that the bill go through the law enforcement agency first is not the fault of the compensation program it is a legislated requirement. In the end CVC does pay for the rape kit. CVC can not control how, when, or who the hospitals bill. The problem is with the individual hospital billing system not automatically separating the charges for the Kit from charges for the care of the victim and then following through on the billing of the kit to the agency who requested it. The Texas Crime Victim”s Compensation program is one of the best in the nation. Each and every qualified victim receives a fund of up to $50,000.00 to cover medical, counseling, lost wages etc with a total of 32 separate benefits. The job that the done by the Victim Advocates, and staff of these city, county and state agencies is a thankless one. Rather then taking one case out of context perhaps reviewing the totality of what is done by these people each and everyday is a more appropriate response.

]]> By: james http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/05/09/texas-charges-victims-for-rape-kits/#comment-241426 james Tue, 12 May 2009 20:02:37 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=13363#comment-241426 It saddens me that my home state cannot elect any leader worth a damn lately. Women are half the population and in this economy are loosing less of the jobs so have more of the disposable income if any. If you want change then go after the money, it is sad but it works. Flood the state with letters. Letters to the editor, the chamber of commerce, the large industrial corporations based in Texas, and the various levels of government. Tell them all the same thing, that you will not spend money in Texas or you will not purchace anything from Texas based companies, or both, PERIOD. State the change yoiu demand clearly and then do not buy a dell computer or go to south padre, cancel your flight on Southwest Airlines, then carry out the threat. Send proof to the politicians of your actions, it is the equivalent of a kick in the balls and it will work. It saddens me that my home state cannot elect any leader worth a damn lately. Women are half the population and in this economy are loosing less of the jobs so have more of the disposable income if any. If you want change then go after the money, it is sad but it works. Flood the state with letters. Letters to the editor, the chamber of commerce, the large industrial corporations based in Texas, and the various levels of government. Tell them all the same thing, that you will not spend money in Texas or you will not purchace anything from Texas based companies, or both, PERIOD. State the change yoiu demand clearly and then do not buy a dell computer or go to south padre, cancel your flight on Southwest Airlines, then carry out the threat. Send proof to the politicians of your actions, it is the equivalent of a kick in the balls and it will work.

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