'Boys will be boys' no excuse; feds target Montana handling of rapes

[Jesus Malverde]

The U.S. Department of Justice says it has uncovered "substantial evidence" that sexism in a Montana county attorney's office has led to prosecutors dropping rape cases and belittling victims.

In a 20-page letter sent to Missoula County Atty. Fred Van Valkenburg, federal attorneys said rape victims had been "treated with disrespect, not informed of the status of their case, and re-victimized by the process."

For example, federal officials said, when one mother asked a county attorney why an adolescent boy who assaulted her 5-year-old daughter had only received two years of community service, the attorney responded, "boys will be boys."

Federal investigators added that Missoula prosecutors had failed to pursue "nearly every case" where a mentally or physically disabled woman claimed sexual assault, "even in cases where there was evidence such as a confession or incriminating statements by the perpetrator."

Read More: http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-montana-rape-case-sexism-justice-20140217,0,3054706.story

[cvoogt]

1. I recall

reading about that attorney and thinking if it raises its boys to think rape is a-ok, that attorney is a poor excuse for a human. Good on the US Department of Justice in this case.

[gollygee]

2. K&R