Which Way, L.A.?
Sexual Assault
Crime rates in general are down, but what about rape? Sexual assault remains a significantly unreported crime and the "date rape" drugs only exacerbate the problem. What is being done in Los Angeles to prevent sexual assault? How has sensitivity training affected law enforcement and the criminal justice system?
By Warren Olney • Annette Fuentes: Former New York Daily News reporter and current Prudential Fellow at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She recently published a Ms. Magazine article entitled, -Crime Rates are Down, but what about rape?" (anonymous): Los Angeles resident who was raped at gun point during a home invasion in 1994. Mike Buttita: Detective with LAPD Robbery/Homicide in the Rape Special Section. Karen Palmer: A filmmaker in Santa Monica and a rape survivor. Jane Blissert: Los Angeles Acting Head Deputy District Attorney, Sex Crimes Division, for the past year and has spent 9 of her 14 years at the D.A. prosecuting sex crimes. Sergeant Reid Morthel: Officer in charge of L.A. Crime Prevention Section for the past 3 years and supervisor for 12 years before that. Patty Giggan: Executive Director at Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW), one of 69 government-funded rape crisis centers in the state of California, founded in 1971. Sandra Hernandez: Staff writer at the L.A. Weekly.
