Jenna Piasecki, Buffalo News

When Byron Brown stated that India Walton favors restorative justice practices, which would mean “no jail time for rapists,” it upset many rape survivors, myself included. The analysis of 2010-2014 Department of Justice data by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network showed that only .6% of rapes result in incarceration. Most sexual assault survivors know this already, and don’t expect that a police report of a rape will result in jail time for the perpetrator.

byron brown

Brown has had 15 years to improve the Buffalo Police Department’s approach to how rape survivors in Buffalo are treated. He could have taken steps by now to partner a social worker with a police officer to take the survivor’s statement in a supportive and caring approach. He could have changed the common practice of sending two male police officers to take domestic violence and sexual assault statements from traumatized survivors, often with little empathy. He could have made changes to ensure that everything possible is done to encourage survivors to report sexual assaults, and that those reports result in the perpetrators being brought to justice. He could have ensured that BPD prioritizes DV and rape calls made to 911.

Survivors of rape in Buffalo know all too well that here and across the country, incarceration rates of rapists are extremely low, and that the process does not prioritize the needs of the survivor. Brown could have worked to change this in Buffalo, but instead he rather fearmonger with false claims.

Jenna Piasecki

Buffalo

Recent Posts

New York City, NY USA June 11, 2025. Anti ICE protesters gathered at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan for the third day of demonstrations again Trump's immigration policy and deportations.

‘Unconstitutional. Unethical. Authoritarian.’ ICE Bars Millions Of Immigrants From Bond Hearings

Take Action Now One watchdog said the new policy “seems like a blatant attempt to stop them from exercising their right to due process.”……

a town is flooded by water, aerial view

Americans Are Not Nearly Alarmed Enough About Climate Change

Take Action Now Americans still don’t comprehend how imminent, dangerous, and far-reaching the threat is—and journalists are partly to blame.By…

IRS Internal revenue service building

The IRS Is Building A Vast System To Share Millions Of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE

Take Action Now ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security…

a cloud goes up after an explosion in syria

Israel’s Sudden Assault On Syria Is Unchecked Aggression

Take Action Now Jerusalem is bombing Damascus and threatening al-Sharaa’s rule, while Washington was hoping to help the nascent government on…

Copy link