On Thursday, May 12th, the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN), the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), community partners, and assault survivors and their families and friends will rally at the South Carolina State House to raise awareness about the barriers faced by sexual assault victims throughout the state.
The rally on the Main Street facing side of the State House was prompted by the recent national attention to the Bowen Turner sexual assault cases out of Orangeburg, where despite the fact Turner was credibly accused and charged with the rape of three teenage girls, he ended up only being placed under house arrest with a GPS monitor. After violating the terms of his house arrest over 50 times, he pleaded guilty to assault and battery and was ultimately sentenced to just 5 years of probation without having to register as a sex offender.
“South Carolina has some of the strongest rights in the country when it comes to victims' rights,” said Sarah Ford, the Legal Director of SCVAN. “But laws don't mean anything for crime victims unless they are asserted and enforced. It is critical that victims know they have significant rights, and victims know there are organizations like the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network to believe, support, and represent them. We encourage survivors, their family members, victim service providers, and other interested community members to join us.”
The rally will begin at 9 am and will include speakers from the entirety of the sexual assault experience in South Carolina. Additionally, survivors and advocates will be invited to lobby members of the South Carolina General Assembly to focus attention and motivate action in regards to how these crimes are handled by the criminal justice system, calling for a more trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.
“The Bowen Turner case demonstrates, yet again, how the criminal legal system can fail victims and survivors of sexual assault,” said Sara Barber, executive director of SCCADVASA. “It also highlights the importance that individuals who handle these cases receive adequate training. We stand with SCVAN, victim service providers, and allies across South Carolina in effecting real, tangible changes to ensure victims are able to heal and seek justice on their own terms. We also encourage continued investment of time and resources in alternative options for victims, including restorative justice.”
You can visit www.scvanlegal.org for additional information. Additionally, learn more about SCCADVASA, its member programs, and how to get involved by visiting www.sccadvasa.org.
