A senator from Yonne fighting against the recurrence of rape and sexual assault. Dominique Vérien, president of the Senate women's rights delegation, launches an information mission to find solutions so that perpetrators of sexual offenses do not repeat upon their release from prison. “Our mission was born from the Philippine murder case”explains the elected official accompanied in her mission by several senators.
The body of the 19 year old student was discovered in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris on September 21. The man, suspected of her murder, had already been convicted of rape in 2021 et incarcerated at the Joux-la-Ville detention center in Yonne. “You had to come here to get information”continues the elected official who went to the prison to begin her information mission this Monday, October 28.
Joux-la-Ville prison, an example to follow?
The Joux-la-Ville detention center is also “specialized” in the treatment of perpetrators of sexual offenses. “It’s interesting to know the work that is done here in terms of recidivism, it allows us to discover the levers used to deactivate violence and the dangerousness of prisoners towards women”explains Dominique Vérien who met several prison professionals.
The penitentiary establishment notably offers psychological support for perpetrators of rape and sexual assault. “Work is being implemented with psychologists, there is also psychiatric monitoring of detaineesspecifies the senator from Yonne. We realize that some detainees were themselves victims of sexual violence before becoming perpetrators.”.
“Good practices” to be generalized in prisons
The senators will rely on their observations in the Joux-la-Ville detention center to establish their report. In the coming weeks, they will also go to other prisons pour “observe good practices to generalize”she specifies. “We will also look to see if there are any holes in the racket to try to fill themdevelops Dominique Vérien. We are looking for what can be done to avoid the case of Philippine.” .
Until 4% of those convicted of rape in France reoffendaccording to the Department of Justice. “We really need to think about how to follow these peopleinsists the chosen one. In France, there are five million victims of sexual violence, we are probably not doing everything we can to protect them. If the person leaving prison with a risk of repeat rape was a terrorist, I think we would not let him out without worrying about what happens next.”.
The senators' fact-finding mission must continue until next January, before the publication of their report. They hope that their recommendations will make it possible to develop public policies.
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