[Vision2020] And the Hits Just keep On Coming . . .

Thu Sep 11 11:53:54 PDT 2008

It is an excellent example of just how biased you are in sending 
these snip its to us.

Here is the full article (please note that Palin is never mentioned 
in the article - only the police chief, the one responsible for the 
rape test kit):

Published on Monday, May 22, 2000 9:00 PM AKDT
JO C. GOODE / The Frontiersman / May 23, 2000

ANCHORAGE - Gov. Tony Knowles recently signed legislation protecting 
victims of sexual assault from being billed for tests to collect 
evidence of the crime, but one local police chief said the new law 
will further burden taxpayers.

The governor signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Eric Croft, 
D-Anchorage, outside the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam 
room at Alaska Regional Hospital. In attendance at the signing were 
members of victims advocate groups, law enforcement agencies and legislators.

<http://adsys.townnews.com/c57627726/creative/frontiersman.com/+bigad/140816-1217638082.gif?r=http://www.dancersworkshopak.org>
*

The new law makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill 
victims or victims insurance companies for the costs of examinations 
that take place to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine 
if a sexual assault did occur.

We would never bill the victim of a burglary for fingerprinting and 
photographing the crime scene, or for the cost of gathering other 
evidence, Knowles said. Nor should we bill rape victims just because 
the crime scene happens to be their bodies.

While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies 
have covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 
apiece, the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of 
sexual assault for the tests.

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new 
legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to 
come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.

In the past weve charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance 
company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on 
the taxpayer, Fannon said.

According to Fannon, the new law will cost the Wasilla Police 
Department approximately $5,000 to $14,000 a year to collect evidence 
for sexual assault cases.

Ultimately it is the criminal who should bear the burden of the added 
costs, Fannon said.

The forensic exam is just one part of the equation. Id like to see 
the courts make these people pay restitution for these things, Fannon said.

Fannon said he intends to include the cost of exams required to 
collect evidence in a restitution request as a part of a criminals sentencing.

Palmer police chief Laren Zager said that to his knowledge, no sexual 
assault victim has ever been billed by the city of Palmer for an exam 
to collect evidence of a crime. Zager, who has been police chief 
since January, said he would never expect a victim to be burdened 
with the cost of a police investigation.

Im prepared to pay every dime in an investigation. As long as I am 
chief, I would never bill a victim, Zager said.

The new bill would also make law enforcement agencies that are 
investigating a sexual assault responsible for the costs of testing 
victims for sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception.

At 09:50 AM 9/11/2008, you wrote:
>Psst, psst, Harkins -
>
> >From the May 22, 200 edition of the online newspaper "The Frontiersman"
>(Wasilla, Alaska) at:
>
>http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2000/05/23/news.txt
>
>"While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies have
>covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 apiece, the
>Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for
>the tests."
>
>------------------------
>
>Good enough?
>
>Tom Hansen
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>
>
> > This is an example of the kind of rubbish that should not be on this
> > site.  If Hansen thinks there is merit to this issue, a pointer to
> > some official record would be helpful.  But to cite an article based
> > on a  "blog"
> >
> > Gee wiz folks - come on!
> >
> > At 12:20 PM 9/10/2008, you wrote:
> > > >From US News and World Report (that's a reliable news source for
>those who
> > >wish to know) at:
> > >
> > >http://tinyurl.com/6j4ma4
> > >
> > >----------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >Sarah Palin and the Rape Kit Question
> > >
> > >The blogosphere is reporting that when she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska,
> > >in the late 1990s, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's
> > >municipal police department charged rape victims for the "rape kit" used
> > >to collect the forensic evidence necessary to convict their attackers.
> > >According to reports, this changed in 2000 when then Alaska Gov. Tony
> > >Knowles signed a bill protecting rape victims from being charged. As I
> > >wrote recently, however, the situation described in Wasilla is not
>unique.
> > >In all too many instances, women are still being stuck with the bill for
> > >rape kits. This despite the fact that in order to qualify for federal
> > >grants under the Violence Against Women Act, states are supposed to pick
> > >up the entire tab.
> > >
> > >If on her watch Sarah Palin allowed women to be charged for rape kits,
>she
> > >has some serious explaining to do. But while she's undoubtedly the most
> > >visible offender, if the story is true, she's unfortunately not the only
> > >one to have permitted this reprehensible practice.
> > >
> > >----------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >Can you imagine charging rape victims anywhere from $300 to $1,200 for
>the
> > >material and processes in gathering evidence against the person that
>raped
> > >them?
> > >
> > >This is an atrocity no matter who the mayor is.  But when that mayor is
> > >running for Vice President of the United States . . .
> > >
> > >
> > >Seeya round town, Moscow.
> > >
> > >Tom Hansen
> > >Moscow, Idaho
> > >
> > >"Jesus was a community organizer and Poncius Pilate was a governor."
> > >
> > >- Marilyn Trail, sister of Representative Tom trail (September 8, 2008)
> > >
> > >
> > >---------------------------------------------
> > >This message was sent by First Step Internet.
> > >            http://www.fsr.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >=======================================================
> > >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > >                http://www.fsr.net
> > >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > >=======================================================
> >
>
>
>"Jesus was a community organizer and Poncius Pilate was a governor."
>
>- Marilyn Trail, sister of Representative Tom trail (September 8, 2008)
>
>----
>
>"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college
>students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."
>
>- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)
>
>
>---------------------------------------------
>This message was sent by First Step Internet.
>            http://www.fsr.com/
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