APRIL 10, 2015  

Bringing Prevention and Awareness Initiatives into a ‘Blue’ Light

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This legislative session, I have continued to carry the torch for our women and children in Alaska as a way to illuminate the silent epidemics that tragically thrive in our state: child abuse and rape being the most pressing of issues.

Erin’s Law (HB23)

After reintroducing Erin’s Law this session, three other legislators introduced similar pieces of legislation focused on empowering our children with personal body safety protection education. Fellow Alaskan David Holthouse then joined us in Juneau and delivered messages that detailed the tragic abuse he experienced as an adolescent and how school could have played a role in helping him protect himself.

David Holthouse answering questions from the press on how Erin’s Law could have protected him had he had personal body safety education as a child.

“I remember learning what to do in an earthquake and things started falling from the ceiling — you get under your desk. I remember learning what to do if I caught on fire — stop drop and roll.”

But what David did not know as a youth, and consequently what a majority of Alaska’s youth do not know, is how to handle someone touching you in unsafe ways.

“I could have even said, ‘that thing we talked about in school the other day, that happened to me.’”

Erin’s Law would provide a knowledgeable armor to empower our children in not holding on to the bad secrets perpetrators groom them to keep.

First Lady Walker, Sen. McGuire, and I smiling together for our children.

Alaskan legislators know how terrible an epidemic child sexual abuse is in Alaska, and I am working with my colleagues to get Erin’s Law passed this session. Please send emails of support on behalf of Erin’s Law to Gov.allLegislators@alaska.gov.

Audit on Untested Sexual Assault Kits (HB117)

Alaska’s rape rate is three times the national average, with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) findings reporting that rapes are more common in Alaska than in any other state. Survivors of sexual assault deserve justice, and it is Alaska’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate actions take place following an assault to uphold that justice.

One such action is processing rape kits to identify potential suspects and remove these perpetrators from our streets. Our state, however, does not know how many untested rape kits are currently in its possession. In addition, the 150 local law enforcement agencies around the state have no uniform method for overseeing the management and processing of sexual assault kits in Alaska.

It is for that reason that I have been working on HB117, a bill that would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to coordinate an audit with local law enforcement agencies and departments, where the respective agencies would tell DPS how many untested sexual assault kits containing evidence are in their possession by September 1st. DPS will then relay this information in a report to the legislature by November 1st containing: the number of untested sexual assault examination kits stored by each law enforcement agency or department; the date each untested sexual assault examination kit was collected; and a plan for addressing the backlog and prevention of a backlog of untested sexual assault examination kits.

Here we are presenting on the Untested Sexual Assault Kit Audit bill in front of the House State Affairs Committee.

This audit is just a first step in assessing where Alaska stands with a backlog problem, and how we can better manage the way sexual assault evidence is managed. The bottom line is victims deserve justice and we want to bring expediency to this process.

Electing April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month and April 10th, 2015 as ‘Go BlueFriday’ (HCR7)

Alaska Legislators joining me for a group shot displaying our “Go Blue Friday” spirit!

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month as so declared by Governor Walker in his executive proclamation, and I was happy to join with the Governor by passing a resolution stating the same.

First Lady Walker reads from Governor Walker’s Executive Proclamation declaring April as “Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness” month

Declaring April to be our month for raising awareness on child abuse is a symbolic gesture that we will not forget the silent epidemic that changes many of our young people’s lives. Every child deserves a loving family, a safe home, and the opportunity to grow into an upstanding and responsible member of society. We must work together to support the efforts of all those who take children into their homes and hearts because the community as a whole suffers in every case of child abuse and neglect.

Today’s “Go Blue Friday” Rally attendees. Thank you for cheering for our children!!

Today, we joined organizations and departments across the state in wearing blue- the color of child abuse prevention- for “Go Blue Friday.” First Lady Walker shared with us a few words on how it is our responsibility to nurture our children and remind them of just how special they are. Thank you colleagues for joining in a legislative photo for Go Blue after today’s floor session, and thank you to Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies’ (AWARE) Deputy Director Mandy O’Neal Cole and staff, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and others in attendance for joining us in wearing blue and standing up for our children. Go Blue!

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr