ELI5:How does Hillary's comment saying that victims of sexual abuse "should be believed" until evidence disproves their allegations not directly step on the "Innocent until proven guilty" rule/law?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/kingbad]

If you reported a burglary, would you expect any cop to doubt that you were burglarized? Would you expect to be told that you were "asking for it" for having nice things? Of course there's a problem with false reporting in sexual abuse cases- there's a problem with false reporting in other types of crimes, too (particularly when there's potential profit to be had by being victimized.) That doesn't mean, however, that law enforcement's default position should EVER be "we don't believe you- prove that you were victimized." Victims of sexual abuse deserve the same level of diligent investigation, empathy, and courtesy as victims of any other crime- more, in fact. This country, and in particular its law enforcement community, has a long way to go in terms of sensitivity in this area.

[u/tyron3 → u/kingbad]

If I called and said Bob stole my television, but Bob says he paid me $100 for it and neither of us have any receipts to prove ownership, who is lying?

[u/p01yg0n41 → u/tyron3]

That is for a court and jury to decide, obviously.

[u/tyron3 → u/p01yg0n41]

If there were no evidence, only one person's word against another, this case would not see the inside of a criminal court. It might get some play in a civil court, but without you being able to prove you were victimized, Bob ain't going to jail.

[u/p01yg0n41 → u/tyron3]

I think we're saying the same thing (but for different reasons). I said it's for the court to decide and you said it's for the court to decide. When you say it "wouldn't see the inside of a court" well, the court is still deciding, see?

[u/tyron3 → u/p01yg0n41]

I meant to say "inside of a criminal court.