Palin's town charged victims for cost of rape kits and forenesic exams

[Stout1]

TweetANCHORAGE, Alaska — When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, the city billed sexual assault victims and their insurance companies for the cost of rape kits and forensic examinations.

Palin had been in office for four years when in 2000, the practice of charging rape victims got the attention of state lawmakers, who passed a bill to stop the practice. Former Democratic Rep. Eric Croft, who sponsored that bill, said he was disappointed that simply asking the Wasilla Police Department to stop didn't work. Croft said he doubts Palin was unaware of the practice.

Maria Comella, a McCain-Palin campaign spokeswoman, said Palin "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test."

To suggest otherwise, she said, is a "misrepresentation of her commitment to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice."



Alaska routinely has the nation's highest rate of sexual assault.

Lawmakers became involved in 2000 when reports began coming in that police departments were charging sexual assault victims for the kits and the forensic exams, which cost from $300 to $1,200 at the time. The kit, a package of sample containers, swabs and other medical supplies, is used to collect evidence from attack victims.

Then-Gov. Tony Knowles said Thursday that Wasilla was unique in the state in charging rape victims for the cost of doing the law enforcement necessary for solving the crime.

The bill passed the Legislature over the objections of Wasilla PoliceChief Charlie Fannon, who said it would require the city to come up with more money to cover the costs of buying the rape kits and doing the exams.

Palin appointed Fannon chief after she fired his predecessor.

McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this report.

[6p6]

Tweetbelieve it or not this happens across rural united states boys...sickening but somebody has to pay for it and if small towns don't have funding...guess what

[straydoglogic]

Tweettalk about adding insult to injury...ouch...

[FUZO]

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talk about adding insult to injury...ouch...

LIKE IT HASNT HAPPEN TO ANY OTHER GOVONOR IN THE STATES

[Stout1]

TweetTwo wrongs don't make a right.

Also, if they are short money I find it hard to believe this money couldn't be allocated from somewhere else to help pay for these tests. These are victims of rapes and they are being charged for tests to help find the guilty. I'm sure they could trim money from SEVERAL different funds to make room for this.

Unreasonable to ask for this? No.

btw: This was for when she was Mayor of Wasilla, not Govenor.

[O2BESOHUGE]

TweetITS JUST LIKE AN AMBULANCE RIDE....EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDNT ASK FOR IT...YOU STILL PAY FOR IT

[T-Man007]

TweetThey could easily pay for these test with the money they would make off of more oil drilling in Alaska.....you know....something to think about....

[straydoglogic]

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LIKE IT HASNT HAPPEN TO ANY OTHER GOVONOR IN THE STATES

im not sure what youre talking about but i was talking about adding insult to the most horrendous of injuries...rape...that to me is the most violent crime one could commit..the survivor has to live with that for the rest of their life..and they are transformed psychologicaly.....
and who cares about any other states..thats just a way to avoid the issue that it involes her...we're talking about HER not other govenors...SHE is running for VP..not another govenor!!!!

[straydoglogic]

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ITS JUST LIKE AN AMBULANCE RIDE....EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDNT ASK FOR IT...YOU STILL PAY FOR IT

its not like an ambulance ride..you dont get traumatized from an ambulance ride..you dont get all that is sacred STOLEN from you from an ambulance ride...you dont get bellittled and used and abused like youre meaningless and weak....youre not damaged psychologicaly and affraid from an ambulance ride...
rape is not a topic to be cavalier or nonchalant about..imo its a worse crime than murder..
so with that said..having a rape victim pay for a forensics test that the local police department should be paying for..is disgusting...

[Phreak]

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im not sure what youre talking about but i was talking about adding insult to the most horrendous of injuries...rape...that to me is the most violent crime one could commit..the survivor has to live with that for the rest of their life..and they are transformed psychologicaly.....
and who cares about any other states..thats just a way to avoid the issue that it involes her...we're talking about HER not other govenors...SHE is running for VP..not another govenor!!!!

you use far too much logic for a debate with the right, and you stick to the issue at hand too much. you need to start shifting the topic away from the message, and attacking the messenger. forget about the issues at hand and shift baby, shift!

[Phreak]

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ITS JUST LIKE AN AMBULANCE RIDE....EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDNT ASK FOR IT...YOU STILL PAY FOR IT

tell that to someone who has just been raped O2...

[Klash]

TweetThat is bull$hit. They should collect it from the criminals; raise fines on perpetrators that are attributed to violent criminals. Phuck that, Fannon can't think of any other way to raise money for rape kits than charging the victims - what a phucking dumb a$$, he is literally wasting the air that he breathes. He should be taken out, beaten and raped and then charged $1,200 for the experience. True Dikhead!!!