They went to an emergency room for help after a sexual assault. Instead, they were arrested
One woman was pinned to the emergency room floor by officers after her rape kit was done. Another woman was handcuffed to her hospital bed before the exam could begin. Both were sexual assault survivors who went to an Illinois emergency room seeking help. Both were arrested instead.
Police officers who respond to emergency room calls can and do jail sexual assault survivors who have warrants out for their arrest, even for offenses like unpaid parking tickets, shoplifting or failure to appear in court.
"This doesn't seem fair, nor the right time," said Sarah Layden, director of programs and public policy at survivor support nonprofit Resilience.
New legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in July, which will go into effect in June, will change this practice. Instead of immediately executing a
