The Only Place to Report Police Sexual Violence Is the System That Causes It

When a person experiences sexual violence at the hands of a police officer, their first instinct is often to report the abuse to authorities. But the only entities authorized to investigate these reports are the same law enforcement agencies that employ the accused officers. This is the devastating reality facing survivors of police sexual violence nationwide.

For decades, advocates and survivors have warned that the system designed to hold police accountable for sexual misconduct is fundamentally broken. Survivors are forced to turn to the same institution that harmed them — an institution with deep conflicts of interest, a culture of silence, and a track record of protecting its own.

What Counts as Police Sexual Violence?

Police sexual violence is a broad term that covers any non-consensual sexual act or harassment perpetrated by a law enforcement officer in the line of duty. Common examples include:

• Sexual assault or rape during traffic stops, arrests, or while a person is in police custody
• Demanding sex in exchange for not issuing a ticket, making an arrest, or dropping charges
• Sexual harassment, including inappropriate comments, touching, or exposure
• Coercing survivors into silence with threats of arrest, violence, or framing

These acts are often underreported because survivors fear they will not be believed, or that reporting will lead to further harm.

The Fatal Flaw in Reporting Police Sexual Violence

Every state in the U.S. requires reports of police misconduct to be filed with either the officer’s own department, a local police oversight board (often made up of current or former law enforcement), or a state agency run by law enforcement officials. There is no independent, survivor-centered federal body dedicated solely to investigating police sexual violence.

Conflicts of Interest Are Systemic

When a survivor reports sexual violence to the officer’s department, the investigation is almost always handled internally. This means officers are investigating their colleagues, friends, and superiors for serious criminal acts.

Internal affairs divisions are part of the same department they investigate. They share the same chain of command, the same resources, and the same cultural pressure to protect the department’s reputation. It is exceptionally rare for an internal investigation to result in harsh discipline or criminal referral for sexual misconduct.

Fear of Retaliation Keeps Survivors Silent

Survivors of police sexual violence face unique risks when reporting abuse. Unlike other sexual violence perpetrators, police officers have access to personal information, can make unwarranted arrests, and can influence future interactions with law enforcement.

Many survivors report being threatened by the accused officer or their colleagues after filing a report. Others are told their reports will be ignored, or that they will be charged with crimes like resisting arrest or filing a false report if they speak out.

Low Accountability Fuels Underreporting

Data from the National Police Misconduct Reporting Project shows that less than 1% of police sexual misconduct cases result in criminal conviction. Even when officers are fired, many are rehired by other departments or allowed to resign quietly, keeping their misconduct off public records.

When survivors see that reporting leads to no consequences for abusers, they are far less likely to come forward. This creates a cycle of impunity that allows police sexual violence to continue unchecked.

What Needs to Change?

Advocates say the only way to fix the reporting system is to remove it from law enforcement control entirely. Key reforms include:

1. Creating independent civilian oversight bodies with no ties to law enforcement, staffed by survivors, advocates, and legal experts
2. Establishing a federal hotline and investigative body dedicated solely to police sexual violence, with mandatory reporting and public transparency
3. Banning non-disclosure agreements in police misconduct settlements, so survivors can share their stories without fear of legal retaliation
4. Requiring all police departments to track and publicly report all sexual misconduct allegations, investigations, and outcomes

Conclusion

Survivors of police sexual violence deserve a reporting system that prioritizes their safety, believes their stories, and holds abusers accountable. The current system does none of these things — it is designed to protect institutions, not people.

Until we shift reporting out of the hands of law enforcement, survivors will continue to be forced to turn to the same system that harmed them. Change is possible, but it requires acknowledging that the system is not broken — it is working exactly as it was built to.