Tag: sexual-violence

Sexual Violence is Down in Louisiana

Tagged , , , , Leave a comment

Prevention is Working in Louisiana: Residents are experiencing lower rates of sexual violence, so the work must continue and grow!

Sexual violence, including forced sex, sexual harassment, and sexual coercion, has declined between 2023 and 2025 in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Violence Experiences Survey (LaVEX). LaVEX is conducted by the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University and is the only comprehensive, population-level survey on violence in Louisiana and one of the few such studies in the United States. LaFASA is a proud partner in this survey.

LaVEX is an important resource for many reasons, including the range of behaviors it captures (including the spectrum of sexual violence, physical violence, harmful policing) and its analysis of the connections between violence, health disparities, and socioeconomic conditions. Statistics that use formal reports (such as law enforcement, Title IX and Clery Reports, and EEOC complaints) or rely on help-seeking by survivors (such as the number of survivors who sought services at sexual assault centers) are often higher in communities where there is robust outreach, a strong and trauma-informed response network, and survivors feel that making a report will make a difference in their lives and communities. In Louisiana, only 3% of women and 8% of men who experienced sexual violence in the past year filed an official report or complaint.

Rates have declined for several forms of sexual violence, which means the preventative work being done is making an impact, therefore we must continue and expand these efforts. Federal funding is the only dedicated prevention funding for sexual assault centers to do prevention work; LaFASA works closely with the Louisiana Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the six centers that receive this funding to implement robust, locally-responsive, and comprehensive programming. The state of Louisiana does not allocate any state funds for sexual violence prevention.

Sexual violence is more than a criminal justice issue. Though the only person to blame for sexual abuse, assault, or harassment is the person who committed it, there are social factors that can reduce the risk of experiencing or perpetrating sexual violence. LaVEX 2025 found that communities that experience discrimination or lack of access were more likely to report sexual violence in the past year, especially people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, and bisexual Louisianans. Louisiana residents who had difficulty affording basic needs in the past year were twice as likely to experience sexual violence in the past year. Those who were evicted in the past year were four times more likely to experience past-year sexual violence, and those who experienced homelessness in the past year were three times as likely. Louisiana’s prevention program is committed to addressing sexual violence as a community issue that is connected with other factors in people’s lives. In addition to building knowledge and skills related to sexual violence, healthy relationships, consent, communication, and boundaries, these programs work on the root causes of violence. For example, centers are working with community leaders to distribute hygiene products, improve the condition of parks and other community centers, create safer and more secure workplaces, and build financial skills.

The LaVEX report can be accessed here: https://www.vexdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/lavex-report-2025.pdf  For more information about Louisiana’s sexual violence prevention program, please reach out to jessie@lafasa.org.

Advocating for Survivors in 2025: Louisiana Bills in Session that Can Affect Victims of Sexual Violence

Tagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

The 2025 Louisiana legislative session ended June 16. LaFASA monitored several key bills. We have updated with the latest information regarding status of each.

HB163: Funding for State Sexual Assault Centers
The most impactful bill on the docket in the legislative session this year is HB163 proposed by Senator Kellee Hennessy Dickerson. House Bill 163 seeks to establish a dedicated and recurring state funding stream for sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters, and child advocacy centers. This initiative responds to significant federal funding reductions that have jeopardized the operations of these critical support services. WWNO

Historically, Louisiana’s sexual assault centers have relied heavily on federal funding sources, such as the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Recent cuts to VOCA funding—40% last year with another 40% anticipated—have threatened the closure of 12 to 14 local rape crisis centers across the state. These centers provide essential services, including therapy, support groups, emergency hotlines, and legal assistance. Louisiana Illuminator

HB163 proposes generating state funds through court fees to support these organizations, aiming to reduce their dependence on unstable federal grants. Advocates emphasize that without this state-level financial support, many centers may be forced to close, leaving survivors without access to vital resources. The proposed legislation represents a significant step toward stabilizing and sustaining services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Louisiana.

UPDATE: Passed unanimously, sent to governor to sign on 6/09

Concerns:
While it should be duly noted that this is a very positive move for survivors, and a great bipartisan collaboration, this fund will be sourced by fees collected from court cases. Because this stream of revenue varies from year to year, allocations from the state budget to ensure sustainability could potentially be needed-but not guaranteed.

SB152: Recognizing Trauma in Sentencing
Senate Bill 152 aims to allow courts to consider a defendant’s history of sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking victimization during sentencing. This bill acknowledges the complex realities that survivors often face, including how trauma can influence behavior and decision-making. By integrating trauma-informed perspectives into the judicial process, SB152 seeks to promote justice that accounts for the lived experiences of survivors.

Benefits for survivors: This bill shifts focus onto perpetrators, so as to not punish victims.

UPDATE: Did not pass.

HB531: Addresses the shortage of qualified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) / forensic nurses in the state
More attention is being drawn to the SANE shortage in Louisiana. One answer to this issue was the introduction of house bill 531, introduced by Rep. Travis Johnson. It focused on improving access to forensic medical examinations (FMEs), also known as “rape kits,” for sexual assault survivors. It addressed the issue that survivors sometimes had to be transferred between facilities, often even driving themselves, just to access a forensic exam. It also addressed inconsistencies in SANE coverage, with some remote and rural areas having no SANEs available.

UPDATE: Passed with bipartisan/unanimous support and signed into law on 6/ 09

Benefits for survivors:
• Requires all licensed hospitals and healthcare providers to offer forensic exams to survivors of sexual assault. This should eliminate survivors’ need to travel to a specific medical facility to have a forensic exam-especially in rural areas.
• Empowers the Attorney General to coordinate Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) networks statewide—especially in rural areas—and seek legislative grants or funding to fill service gaps.
• Mandates audits by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to verify compliance, boosting transparency and incentivizing facilities to meet requirements.
• There should be a nurse or doctor available in less populated areas of the state who is trained to perform this specialized exam, as opposed to some facilities that have used untrained staff in the past. This is better for a survivor who chooses to seek legal justice.

Challenges to consider:
• Implementing SANEs and forensic programs statewide—especially in rural areas—may require significant ongoing funding and staffing and that stream of revenue hasn’t been fully defined.
• Hospitals and clinics must now comply with audits, maintain new protocols, coordinate with AG’s office, and upgrade infrastructure—potentially redirecting funds from needed sources in smaller or under‑resourced facilities. Without strict enforcement mechanisms or dedicated funding, rural areas may continue struggling to meet standards, even with audit requirements.
• Long-term success hinges on future appropriations; without consistent legislative support, the added services may be under-resourced.

HB215: Rape and Incest Exceptions for Abortion
House Bill 215 proposes adding exceptions for rape and incest to Louisiana’s near-total abortion ban. Currently, the state allows abortions only if the mother’s life is at risk or in cases of “medically futile” pregnancies. Efforts to introduce exceptions for rape and incest have been repeatedly rejected. This lack of exceptions forces survivors, including minors, to carry pregnancies resulting from sexual violence which can add further trauma to the already atrocious situation.

UPDATE: Did not pass. Involuntarily deferred in committee on 6/03.

SB74: Trying Juveniles as Adults
Senate Bill 74 seeks to expand the list of offenses for which juveniles aged 14 to 16 can be tried as adults, beyond the current 15 violent crimes specified in the state constitution. This measure raises concerns about the rehabilitation prospects for young offenders, many of whom may have histories of abuse or neglect. However, the people of Louisiana voted on this issue and resoundingly rejected it in March 2025. Treating juveniles as adults in the criminal justice system can lead to harsher sentences and reduced access to rehabilitative services, potentially perpetuating cycles of trauma and incarceration.

UPDATE: Did not pass. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance on 4/30

HB76: Criminalizing STI Exposure
House Bill 76 proposes creating felony and misdemeanor offenses for the intentional exposure of others to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While protecting public health is crucial, this bill could inadvertently criminalize individuals living with STIs, including survivors of sexual assault who may have contracted infections through no fault of their own. Such legislation risks could stigmatize survivors and deter them from seeking medical care or disclosing their status, thereby undermining public health efforts and survivor support.

UPDATE: Did not pass. 06/02  Received in the Senate; read by title Rules suspended.

The proposed legislation in Louisiana’s 2025 session presents a mixed landscape for survivors of sexual violence. We encourage supporters of survivors to be engaged citizens and fight for the rights of survivors. If you would like to voice your opinion, you can find your representative at the link HERE.

Creating Safe Areas is a Big Issue towards Ending Sexual Assault

Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

As college students, the topic of establishing safe environments is not just relevant, but essential in ending sexual violence. The college setting is a microcosm of the larger community and effectively serves as a sample of character and behavior. While unacceptable actions of individuals cannot be side-stepped, it’s important to understand within the scope of necessary changes to end sexual violence, effective prevention efforts must also incorporate a community-level strategy that addresses on and off-campus social spaces.

According to the CDC, evidence-based community-level strategies to create safe spaces include three approaches.

One: Improving safety and monitoring in schools
 These approaches monitor and modify physical and social characteristics of the school environment by addressing areas where students feel less safe, to identify safe spaces and staff support for students. This includes alternative and outside-the-box approaches such as tutoring to empower fellow students and being a “big buddy” to those who are vulnerable. Volunteering with empathetic attitudes, advocating for a reliable and on-time student transit system, and being actively involved in changing social norms fit into the realm of improving safety on and around campuses, also.

Two: Establishing and consistently applying workplace policies 
Working at businesses on campuses or those surrounding campuses is a huge part of student life. When employees and managers know what is mutually expected of them, and respect standards of behavior, workplace bullying and sexual harassment can be prevented. Even if you aren’t employed by these businesses, supporting businesses that embrace these policies contribute to the overall well-being of the community.

Three: Addressing community-level risks through environmental approaches
These strategies focus on various elements of neighborhoods and community settings, including the modification, implementation, or enforcement of laws, regulations, or organizational policies. This can involve urging restaurants and bars to adopt stringent alcohol policies, encouraging bars to train all staff, or altering the physical environment, such as making sure parking lots are well-lit. Community-level environmental approaches hold significant potential for influencing sexual violence outcomes on a population scale, often with minimal implementation costs. 

Students possess greater power to combat sexual violence than they often realize. Broader changes can contribute to an overall reduction in crime and a decrease in power-based violence. Communities that practice respect tend to experience a reduction in crime rates, including incidents of sexual assault. Though the red zone time frame will be ending in November, it is not a time to stop being vigilant when it comes to sexual assault. We invite students to assess what they can do to promote community level well-being and support any efforts taken.