| R 396 |
| 2015 -- S 1002 Enacted 06/18/2015 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND STATEWIDE TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE THE REPORTING AND DECREASE THE INSTANCES OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN OUR STATE |
| Introduced By: Senators Nesselbush, Crowley, Sosnowski, Lynch, and Gallo |
| Date Introduced: June 18, 2015 |
| WHEREAS, According to the 2014 "Uniform Crime Report – Crime in Rhode Island," |
| the reports of sexual assault in our state saw only a minimal reduction over the course of 2013 |
| through 2014, and it continues to be one of the most destructive crimes in our society; and |
| WHEREAS, While awareness of the issue of sexual assault has grown and efforts to |
| assist victims are commendable, the rate of assaults in this state and across the nation remains |
| devastatingly high, with someone being sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United |
| States; and |
| WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, it is estimated that one in eight women has been sexually |
| assaulted during her lifetime, and one in five women experiences sexual assault while in college. |
| More than 59 percent of all sexual assaults go unreported, and on college campuses, more than 90 |
| percent of sexual assault victims do not report the assault; and |
| WHEREAS, The economic cost for each sexual assault in this country is estimated at |
| $110,000, with the total economic cost of rape estimated to be $127 billion a year in the United |
| States according to the "Economic Costs of Sexual Assault"; and |
| WHEREAS, Sexual assault is a significant and detrimental problem that indelibly |
| changes lives, leading to harmful physical, mental, and emotional health outcomes that can last a |
| lifetime for its victims; and |
| WHEREAS, To find better solutions and pathways to reduce and eventually eradicate |
| sexual assault, abuse, and violence in Rhode Island, a statewide task force has been established, |
| consisting of members from state and local law enforcement and prosecution agencies, advocacy |
| groups such as Day One, and professionals from social services, medical and higher education |
| fields; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Statewide Task Force To Address Adult Sexual |
| Assault report its findings and recommendations regarding how this state can increase the |
| reporting and decrease the incidence of sexual assaults as well as fully support victims of this |
| crime, and said Report to be presented at a Hearing of the Rhode Island Senate (or a committee |
| thereof) on or before January 26, 2016; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Governor Gina Raimondo, and Peg |
| Langhammer, Executive Director of Day One. |
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| LC002896 |
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