Dear Representatives Emmer and Kuster,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 649, the “Abby Honold Act.”
Victims of sexual assault crimes experience significant trauma and these profound and understandable fears may keep victims from coming forward. Survivors of sexual assault crimes deserve compassionate treatment from law enforcement, both to prevent retraumatizing the victim and to ensure a successful investigation and prosecution of their attacker. Traumainformed care can make a significant difference for victims trying to heal as well as for law enforcement in responding to these crimes.
Your legislation, named for a former student of the University of Minnesota and rape survivor, would ensure that law enforcement agencies have access to critical training on trauma-informed techniques for the investigation of these crimes. This bill would allow the Justice Department to award grants to law enforcement agencies to implement training on evidence-based, traumainformed practices for an investigation into crimes like sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Law enforcement has a major role in bringing these criminals to justice and your legislation will give them the tools they need to help get justice for the survivors of sexual assault crimes.
On behalf of the more than 356,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President