The article recounts a 1975 incident in Chicago involving the systemic failures of law enforcement and medical professionals in handling rape cases. Despite clear evidence of a brutal attack and the assailant being apprehended, the victim was subjected to negligence, including being left without clothes in the rain, and receiving no immediate medical treatment. Testimonies reveal long-standing issues in the treatment of sexual assault victims, leading to significant emotional and psychological distress. The case highlights the pervasive inadequacies within the justice system, particularly for victims lacking typical indicators of assault like visible injuries or witnesses.
"The police caught the rapist running down the street with his pants down. Then they made the victim stand in the rain without her clothes while they argued over which hospital to take her to."
At a 1974 hearing of the Illinois House of Representatives' Rape Study Committee, a Chicago-area nurse testified both to her hospital's lack of protocols for rape exams and to her own experience as a survivor.
The specifics of the incident adhered to what law enforcement used to call 'bona-fide rape': the victim was violently attacked by a stranger, with a bystander present, and the assailant was caught in the act.
As late as 1974, a training manual provided to Chicago police suggested dubious guidelines for handling rape cases, which contributed to the ongoing systemic issues surrounding victim treatment.
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