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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDIY rape kit startup's 23-year-old founder says she is a sexual assault survivor
Brooklyn EagleRepresentatives from the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the New York Office of Victims Services and Rhode Island-based sexual assault prevention agency Day One have also blasted the startup.
It seems implausible that a company would look to profit from a sexual assault, while also risking the loss of justice for victims, but that is exactly what MeToo Kit Company is doing, a spokesperson for Day One said in a statement.
But MeToo Kits 23-year-old co-founder and CEO Madison Campbell says her motive for starting MeToo Kit was to help other survivors, not to take advantage of them. Campbell herself was a victim of sexual assault in college, she told the Brooklyn Eagle on Wednesday.
I know how terrifying and traumatic being sexually assaulted is, she said. And I didnt even want to touch myself after it happened, or go to anyone, or tell anyone about this. All I wanted to do was give survivors time to process their trauma. Even if its 24 hours or 72 hours, if you just give somebody time to process that traumatic event, they might be able to then go and file a police report, but by then the DNA can be completely degraded, she said.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)this is a horrible, horrible idea on multiple levels.
hlthe2b
(102,509 posts)of trauma that might help to validate a rape allegation. If they could somehow surmount these issues, the idea itself is not a bad one.
tymorial
(3,433 posts)But I can't imagine that a self collected rape kit would hold up to scrutiny. Defense lawyers would question chain of custody, controls to prevent contamination etc. Not to mention the delay in reporting could result in an inconclusive physical exam and lost trace.
I am sorry for what this women went through and I will believe she is trying to do something to help (until shown otherwise) but this product will likely hinder prosecution. That would be tragic for victims.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)But it's a terrible idea. No court in the country would take these seriously.