Rape kits are important

Re “Rape and reality,” Opinion, June 30

Sarah Tofte spent a morning at the rape treatment center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. Unfortunately, her Op-Ed article discourages potential victims from taking part in sexual assault evidentiary exams and possibly discourages reporting to law enforcement as well.

The evidence collected in rape kits does help authorities find and punish assailants. It also helps to exonerate the innocent. Tofte’s description of exams offers a very general view -- but every situation is different, and every process is not always necessary (for example, most victims do not need to undress over floor paper).

I was particularly offended by Tofte’s statement that victims “entered into a pact with the police” for the collection of evidence and submission of rape kits. I certainly hope that is not how the process is being presented at the rape treatment center she visited.

Coming forward and participating in an exam can be the first step in a victim’s healing.

Tofte also reported that L.A. has “more than 7,000” untested kits on the shelves, but did not tell us how many cases a year that represents or how far back they go.

Judy Malmgren

Santa Barbara

The writer is a board-certified sexual-assault nurse examiner.

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It’s shocking that a woman has to undergo an ordeal lasting more than four hours only to produce a “rape kit” that is likely to sit in cold storage -- not even examined to see if there’s a DNA match.

And yet, it’s not so shocking when you consider that we live in a phallocentric democracy. Men have their priorities; prosecuting rape is not one of them. In fact, rape is one of society’s tools to keep women in place.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa doesn’t care. He rejected a funding request for more crime lab staff.

Of course women are making progress -- that’s the “correct” view, after all. Just don’t factor in rape.

Jerry Schaefer

Long Beach