Surviving sexual assault can leave you feeling overwhelmed with confusion and fear. For many survivors, these emotions are compounded by feelings of shame and embarrassment, making it difficult to report the crime to law enforcement. However, imagine your surprise that when you take the courageous step to report the crime, instead of being protected, you’re handcuffed and charged with false reporting.
This is the bewildering reality of far too many young women, who are already at the highest risk of being a victim of sexual assault. The 2023 award-winning Netflix documentary, Victim/Suspect put a spotlight on this disturbing trend, highlighting a troubling pattern of law enforcement turning the tables on victims. Kristen Gibbons Feden, a shareholder with Anapol Weiss and dedicated advocate for sexual assault survivors, along with Rebecca Epstein, Rae de Leon, and Rachel Barkley have submitted a panel to the 2026 SXSW Conference to bring this conversation, yet again, to the forefront and answer: Why is this happening and specifically, how can society put an end to the the injustice of criminalizing survivors of sexual assault?
SXSW Panel Sheds Light on Emma’s Story and Others Like Hers
In November 2016, Emma Mannion reported her sexual assault to law enforcement. Instead of being believed, the Tuscaloosa Police accused her of making a false report, lying to her that they had evidence of a videotape that contradicted her story. In a clip of Victim/Suspect shared by the Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity, an investigator can be heard telling Emma, “From the investigation, you’re not being honest with me. I do not believe you. I do not believe you at all.”
In the near decade since, Emma is still fighting for justice. Tragically, her story is one of many.
From Jonesboro, AZ to Boone County, KY, video clips continue to show law enforcement flipping the script on sexual assault survivors, telling them that they’re being arrested for filing a false rape report. “Young women are being arrested on charges simply based on an investigator’s disbelief, little to no evidence, and a lot of rape myths,” says Rae de Leon, the investigative reporter in Victim/Suspect and fellow panelist.
Kristen Gibbons Feden has seen these rape myths up close. “As a former prosecutor, I know just how deeply the system can fail survivors, especially when bias overrides evidence.” In the trailer for Victim/Suspect, snippets showed police reports placing blame on victims, indicating everything from intoxication and consensual flirting to seeking attention. “Instead of protection, they get prosecution,” says Rachel Barkley, a staff attorney with the Battered Women’s Project. These women are already “coping with trauma, navigating fear and trying to stay safe, then the system says, ‘We don’t believe you.”
Highlighting Patterns of Neglect and Calling for an End to Injustice
Why do women and survivors of color, become suspects when they truthfully report sexual abuse? How can we, as a society, change the narrative so survivors are believed and heard when making a report? And furthermore, how can we end this injustice? As Rebecca Epstein, the Executive Director for the Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity at Georgetown Law pointed out, these injustices have a “chilling effect,” deterring other victims from coming forward about their assault, destroying trust in the police and worse, failing to actually hold these perpetrators accountable.
If selected, these are the questions Kristen Gibbons Feden and the rest of the SXSW panel will answer. At Anapol Weiss, we are at the forefront of the fight against sexual assault injustice, representing nearly 1,000 victims of institutional sexual abuse from youth centers in Illinois. In our recent blog, Feeling Heard and Believed: Why Many Women Choose Female Lawyers in Sexual Abuse Lawsuits, we provide compassionate insight into how our firm handles sexual assault cases with confidentiality and sensitivity, including the comfort that sharing your story with a female attorney can bring.
The panel, titled, Arresting the Innocent: Punishing Sexual Assault Survivors brings a vital conversation to the table, one that can’t be overlooked as we continue to fight for justice and accountability for sexual assault survivors.
“When we allow survivors to be baselessly charged with false reporting,” Kristen Gibbons Feden says, “the message it sends to every survivor is clear: Stay silent.”
But that silence ends now. Voting on this panel is currently open and available now through August 24, 2025. Vote here to make your voice heard and to help bring a national spotlight on this devastating issue.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.
