Sexual Assault Victims’ Right to Information Signed into Law
Mike Seals - June 1, 2021 10:00 pm
House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that requires sexual assault survivors receive information on trauma care sooner has been signed into law by the Governor.
The Sexual Assault Victims’ Right to Information Act (House Bill 2546), authored by Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-OKC, and Sen. Kay Floyd, D-OKC, expands protections to victims of sexual assault regardless of participation in a criminal investigation of their assault. The act allows for an advocate to be made available during a sexual assault examination.
“Getting these resources to victims faster means they can begin healing faster,” Munson said. “The least we can do is point a survivor toward someone who can help them.”
Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted, according to RAINN – the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. Additionally, RAINN estimates that only 25 of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison.
“Due to a litany of reasons, there is an unfortunate disconnect between the number of assaults and prosecutions,” Munson said. “This legislation ignores the legal proceedings connected with a case and focuses directly on providing opportunities for care to survivors of assault.”
State Rep. Cyndi Munson’s office can be reached at (405) 557- 7392 or [email protected].