Recently, 2002 OSI Community Fellow Jacqueline Robarge, who founded Power Inside, an organization that serves survivors of gender-based violence, was quoted in an article appearing on the Think Progress website, “Police sexual abuse isn’t just the case of a few ‘bad apples’ — it’s systemic”
Robarge, who has worked with people who have been harassed or sexually assaulted by police offices, discussed cases of police misconduct. These officers target women who belong to marginalized groups, like those who are homeless, trans and queer women, as well as non-binary people. According to Robarge, officers would also target those out on probation, often using their probationary status as a kind of blackmail. “If you’re doing a great job on probation, they can see that in the system. They look you up and then they have that power over you as well, and that is very very dangerous,” Robarge said.
