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In this week’s episode Beth and Kelly decided to delve a little deeper into the subject of sexual assault. Trigger warning for possible discussions of rape and assault. If you need to skip this episode we entirely understand and ask you to do something to take care of yourself at this time. If you want to speak with someone, please contact RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network at 1-800-656-4673.
Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
And every 8 minutes, that victim is a CHILD. Meanwhile, only 6 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. (RAINN) Do people make a lot of false sexual assault/rape allegations?
Figures indicate that the prevalence of false allegations in the US average around 5%. These numbers are subjective, however, due to how much determination of ‘falsehood’ is left up to the police officer or department handling the case. For example, some police departments will not press charges if the victim did not attempt to fight off her attacker, the suspect did not use a weapon or the subject had a previous sexual relationship with the accused. In some instances charges may not be filed if a victim has been drinking before the incident.
While some allegations may be made up, for revenge, for attention or for some unknown reason - we know that the greater percentage of sexual assault survivors (both women and men) are telling the truth. 
That fact doesn’t stop people from making up statistics to fit their needs, of course.
Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, who is running for US Senate appeared on a talk radio show called American Family Radio, where he commented on the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh:
“I’m tired of all these made-up scandals, frankly… They’re going to drag something up, at least even theoretically, allegedly, from all those years ago...All of a sudden, that disqualifies this man? All of a sudden, he’s a terrible human being? No, not a chance. You know, I don’t fall for it anymore. And I hope the American people aren’t falling for it. These allegations, 99 percent of the time, are just absolutely fabricated.”
Why don’t victims just report an assault after it happens?
There are many reason survivors may not report to the police:
Let take a look at another myth we can actually try to help solve. The myth that reporting means prosecution:
As you see in the graphic from RAINN, only about 1/3 all sexual assault is even reported, let alone prosecuted. Out of every 1000 rapes, only 6 will be incarcerated.
Sexual assault allegations not a political tool. It affects the people involved tremendously and leaves scars for life. Assault does not just happen to young women, it happens to children, men, transgendered folks, sex workers, the elderly. It’s a serious, underlying threat to all of us, and dragging it into the light might change future generations. RAINN reports that sexual violence has halved in the past 20 years, however, we still live in a country that prosecutes less than 40% of rape cases. And that’s not all. In Detroit in 2009, an abandoned warehouse used to house old evidence was found to have 11,341 untested rape kits, some going back to the 1980s. It’s estimated that there are currently hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits around the country. These kits are an important process in prosecuting perpetrators of sexual assault, especially serial rapists. If you want to help get these kits tested you can help by supporting End the Backlog and contacting your local representatives to let them know you support funding this cause. But, But Lindsey Graham told that women to report her rape to the cops, right?
Beth's Jam of the Week: Beautifully Broken Necklace by Bryan Anthonys
Kelly's Jam of the Week: Me and a Gun by Tori Amos
Sources Cited:
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network The Prevalence of False Allegations of Rape in the United States from 2006-2010 False rape allegations: an assault on justice Are 99% of Rape Allegations “Absolutely Fabricated”? Fact check: McDaniel’s claim that women fake ’99 percent’ of sexual assault claims How Alcohol Foils Rape Investigations FBI - National Data, 2014 Ted Talks - Kym Worthy: What happened when we tested thousands of abandoned rape kits in Detroit Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 End the Backlog Did Republicans Actually Say These Things About Rape? Exclusive — Sen. Bill Cassidy: FBI Probe Must Investigate Dems’ Collusion to Smear Kavanaugh Wikipedia: Sexual Assault
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