Expanding Indiana’s Lifeline Law

When Indiana’s Lifeline Law took effect last July, it was a major victory for last year’s IU Student Association administration, which had helped bring the issue to our state legislature.

The law protects those who, though inebriated and underage, act in good faith with law enforcement while seeking medical attention for a dangerously intoxicated friend.

For the IUSA ticket, Hoosiers 4 Solutions, this legislation is not enough.

Sexual assault has become an increasingly visible problem at IU, from an Indiana Daily Student feature article about the issue that prompted a spirited debate among students to the sheer number of reported rapes that have occurred so far this calendar year.

The IDS has reported on eight rapes since January.

Hoosiers 4 Solutions wants to expand Indiana’s Lifeline Law to help mitigate this problem.

The current law only provides immunity for those helping someone in an “alcohol-related health emergency.”

Solutions’ addendum would provide immunity for those reporting a sexual assault as well.

With the current legislation, it is possible that someone could report a rape and be prosecuted for any of the crimes Lifeline provides immunity for: public intoxication, minor possession, minor consumption and minor transportation.

A drunken student could easily be punished on top of being assaulted for simply trying to bring their rapist to justice.

The threat of such charges needs to be removed to allow for increased reporting of these crimes.

Because alcohol is involved in at least 50 percent of sexual assaults, it is imperative we remove this barrier to reporting.

Rape is a violent crime, not an “alcohol-related health emergency,” and is therefore not included in Lifeline in its present form.

Although there is only a low probability that alcohol charges would be filed in the face of assault allegations, the possibility is there.

It’s a possibility I am uncomfortable with and a possibility with serious symbolic implications.  

According to a Justice Department survey, only 46 percent of rapes are reported.

This means that for some reason or another, 54 percent of victims felt unable to tell the police they were assaulted.

Expanding the Indiana Lifeline Law could potentially raise the rate of reporting.

Victims of sexual assault often fear reporting the crime because of the victim-blaming that has permeated common thought.

Especially if alcohol was involved, these people are made to feel as though they somehow provoked this attack.

Passing a law that ignores minor alcohol violations in the face of a sexual assault report is an important step toward removing the stigma against victims.

Law enforcement would no longer formally dignify these claims. Perhaps legal forgiveness would be the impetus some victims need to forgive themselves.

If IU’s population coincides with national statistics, about 4,350 students have been victims of attempted or completed rape. This number is unacceptable.

We need to address the problem of sexual assault on our campus, and this expansion of the Lifeline Law is a step in the right direction.

­— casefarr@indiana.edu