WASHINGTON POST District seeks improved services for young victims of sex assault
January 31st, 2016
A task force set up by the D.C. Council to improve services for young rape victims in the city will recommend that 12- to 17-year-olds be provided with a new, confidential hotline and, in some cases, independent advocacy experts to accompany them during police interviews.
The council is expected this week to receive the task force’s report urging it to approve and fund the measures, which emerged out of concerns over mishandled cases and a fear that many juveniles don’t come forward to report sexual assaults, according to members of the task force.
One girl’s case that was highlighted by The Washington Post helped influence the task force as it drew up its recommendations — even though that case is far from resolved.
