Klobuchar’s bipartisan legislation to establish trauma-informed training programs for law enforcement was signed into law in March
Klobuchar was joined by Abby Honold, a former University of Minnesota student, advocate and sexual assault survivor
ST. PAUL – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) held a press conference highlighting the passage of her bipartisan Abby Honold Act to support survivors of sexual assault. This legislation, which establishes trauma-informed training programs for law enforcement, was signed into law by President Biden in March.
Klobuchar was joined by Abby Honold, a former University of Minnesota student, advocate and sexual assault survivor for whom the bill is named; Kelly McCarthy, Mendota Heights Police Chief and Chair of the Minnesota Peace Office Trainings and Standard (POST) Board; and Artika Roller, Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA).
“As a former prosecutor, I know that sexual assault cases are some of the most heart-wrenching cases out there…and also how devastating they are for survivors,” said Klobuchar. “The victims and survivors of these crimes show incredible courage by coming forward. And we must treat them with the utmost respect in the investigative process. I continue to be in awe of what Abby has done – the bill that has passed bears her name…All sometimes it takes is one person to come forward and never give up, and that’s Abby.”
“I'm so grateful for everybody who has put in all of their time and energy on this bill and for Senator Klobuchar for helping us take it forward,” said Honold. “To every single survivor out there…you never need to come forward and report but please know if you want to that there are resources, and hopefully now the response will be better than the response that so many other victims of sexual assault have gotten.”
“Government is at its best when it makes the right thing to do the easy thing to do. And we can all agree that the right thing to do is to give survivors the best informed care,” said McCarthy. “And thanks to the work of Abby Honold, and Senator Klobuchar and her partners in Congress, we're one step closer to getting that training and making it easier for departments to have that care.”
“We owe this victory to the courage of survivors like Abby. And I also would like to thank Senator Klobuchar, for her leadership and leading a bipartisan effort to improve the response of sexual violence for victims of survivors across the United States,” said Roller. “I am honored to stand with these champions for victims and have the opportunity to share the passage of the Abby Honold Act.”
The Abby Honold Act, which Klobuchar led alongside Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), establishes a federal grant program to support training for law enforcement to incorporate trauma-informed techniques in their response to sexual assault crimes.
By preventing re-traumatization of the victim and improving communication between victims and law enforcement officers, the bill increases the likelihood of successfully investigating and prosecuting alleged sexual assault crimes.
###
