Sexual assault survivors, others rally at South Carolina State House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Two teams advocated for sexual assault victims Thursday on the State Home throughout a rally prompted by a latest South Carolina sexual assault case that made nationwide headlines.

The South Carolina Sufferer Help Community and the South Carolina Coalition Towards Home Violence and Sexual Assault and others gathered on the State Home at 9:30 a.m.

The motion was impressed by the sexual assault case in opposition to Bowen Turner, who was initially accused of sexually assaulting three teenage ladies.

Whereas out on bond for one of many expenses, he allegedly violated the phrases of his home arrest greater than 50 instances, and later pleaded responsible to assault and battery in one of many circumstances.

A cost in one of many different circumstances was dropped because of the responsible plea and prosecutors dropped the remaining cost after the sufferer’s dying.

A decide sentenced Turner to 5 years of probation and with no requirement of getting to register as a intercourse offender, SCVAN spokesperson Nicole McCune stated.

“The Bowen Turner case demonstrates, but once more, how the prison authorized system can fail victims and survivors of sexual assault,” stated Sara Barber, a rally organizer.

“It additionally highlights the significance that people who deal with these circumstances obtain sufficient coaching. We stand with SCVAN, sufferer service suppliers, and allies throughout South Carolina in effecting actual, tangible modifications to make sure victims are in a position to heal and search justice on their very own phrases. We additionally encourage continued funding of time and sources in various choices for victims, together with restorative justice.”

The teams hope to strain the state’s Basic Meeting to focus consideration on the necessity to deal with crimes from what SCVAN calls a “extra trauma-informed and victim-centered method.”

“South Carolina has a number of the strongest rights within the nation in the case of victims’ rights,” Sarah Ford stated. “However legal guidelines don’t imply something for crime victims except they’re asserted and enforced. It’s essential that victims know they’ve vital rights, and victims know there are organizations just like the South Carolina Sufferer Help Community to consider, help, and symbolize them. We encourage survivors, their members of the family, sufferer service suppliers, and different group members to affix us.”

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