Sexual assault hotline founder: New legislation will make cruisers safer

As vacation alternatives go, cruise ships are incredibly safe. Or, at least, that's the conventional wisdom. But not everyone is convinced. In recent years, several groups including the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), have argued that crime on ships is a bigger problem than the industry lets on, and they've lobbied hard for more safety-related regulations. Now it appears they've won the battle. Earlier this month Congress passed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, which requires passengers claiming sexual assault be given immediate access to RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline as well as a sexual assault forensic exam and medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Ships also will be required to install peep holes on cabin doors and make other changes. The legislation now awaits President Barack Obama's signature. How might the legislation change the industry? USA TODAY's Gene Sloan talks with RAINN president and founder Scott Berkowitz.

Q: Why did RAINN take up the cause of cruise ship safety?

A: We heard from a number of people who had been assaulted while on a cruise. They told us stories about the risks they faced, about the lack of very basic medical, legal and recovery services available to them. And, in some cases, they told us about the unsatisfactory response they got when they reported the crime on-board. We also looked at statistics from the FBI, which showed that sexual assault is the crime most often reported by Americans on cruises.

RAINN's mission is to prevent sexual violence, help victims, and ensure that criminals are brought to justice. It was clear that cruise passengers and crew needed our help, so we partnered with International Cruise Victims and other organizations, and worked with Rep. Doris Matsui, Sen. John Kerry and other members of Congress to pass a bill that will increase safety and help victims. We found that this issue resonated widely — it had broad support from Democrats and Republicans. Not to mention the 12 million Americans who go on cruises each year.

Q: How worried should cruisers be about their safety on ships? Are cruisers too complacent about their safety?

A: You should spend your vacation relaxing, not obsessing about the risk of being a victim of crime. But that doesn't mean you should let your guard down completely just because you're on vacation. A cruise ship is a small city, filled with thousands of strangers and all the risks that are present on land. So use caution. If you feel unsafe in any situation, trust your instincts.

Q: How will the new legislation make cruise ships safer?

A: It does four main things. First, it requires some common-sense security features, like making sure that doors have peep-holes and security latches. Second, it requires that ships provide adequate medical care for crime victims. That means that medical staff needs to be trained in how to treat victims, they need to stock the drugs that rape victims need to avoid infections right after an attack, and they need to know how to collect and store forensic evidence. One of the problems rape victims have faced is that some ships didn't bother to collect evidence from the victim. And without properly collected evidence, there's not much chance of convicting a rapist or other violent criminal.

Third, cruise lines will need to report all crimes to the FBI. So, for the first time, we'll have reliable data and, we hope, more cases can be prosecuted.

The fourth thing it does is to provide help to victims. Ships will have to give victims "free and immediate access" to the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) and Online Hotline (, which are the primary resources in this country for victims of sexual assault.

One other important thing to note: this bill doesn't just cover passengers; it helps crew members who are victimized as well. Until now, they often had nowhere to turn for help.

Q: What do you see as the most important piece of the new legislation?

A: I think the common-sense safety features will help prevent crimes. I think requiring that crimes be reported to the FBI, along with the new evidence collection standards — in particular having a licensed medical practitioner on board who is trained in handling forensic evidence — will lead to more criminals being held responsible for their acts. And I think giving victims access to the same level of care and treatment as they would receive in the U.S. will help them recover more quickly and will encourage more to report their attack to law enforcement.

Q: Is there anything you think is missing from the legislation?

A: Overall, we're very pleased with the bill, and look forward to these enhanced safety measures being implemented. The sponsors, Rep. Matsui and Sen. Kerry, did a good job gathering input and incorporating feedback from a large number of people, and put together a bill that will have a real impact without saddling the industry with a huge expense.

But, of course, a single piece of legislation isn't going to abolish rape, on cruise ships or on land. One big issue to look at down the road is legal jurisdiction, which can be hard to figure out when the victim, the criminal and the ship all belong to different countries and the crime takes place in yet another country or in international waters. And once you figure out which country's laws apply, and figure out whether local police or a federal agency has jurisdiction, there are huge practical barriers to prosecution. For example, the victim may need to make several trips to another country for hearings and the trial, at great personal expense. Those issues aren't going to be easy to solve, but we'll have to if we're going to bring criminals to justice.

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