Following Watchdog Study, McCaskill Urges Improvements to Sexual Violence Data Collection

After report finds no standard method for collection of sexual violence data across federal government—including 23 different description terms—Senator pushes agency coordination, improved definitions and transparency

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a former courtroom prosecutor of sex crimes, is calling for better standards for sexual violence data collection across the federal government after a watchdog study undertaken at her request found vast differences in data collection efforts—including the use of 23 different terms to describe sexual violence.

The study found that four federal agencies—the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services and Justice—manage 10 different efforts to collect data on sexual violence, which vary widely in target population, terminology, and measurements. McCaskill is calling on the agencies to make collection information available so the public can understand what it means, and requesting that the Office of Management and Budget—which has oversight over data collection—works with agencies to develop better ways to collect sexual violence statistics.

“As we continue to make progress in combating sexual assault and empowering survivors to come out of the shadows, we’ve got to have a way to measure that progress that’s standard and transparent,” McCaskill said. “Without the ability to make apples to apples comparisons across populations —whether that’s college students, our military, or other groups—it’s difficult to measure trends over time and determine how we’re doing in terms of reducing incidents and boosting reporting. These agencies have to share their collection information publicly and talk to each other to develop real standards, and I look forward to working with them to ensure that happens.”

Over the past several years, McCaskill has won a series of sweeping reforms to the military justice system that hold both perpetrators and military commanders more accountable and better protect and empower survivors. Recent data released by the Pentagon demonstrates a continued willingness by survivors of sexual assault in the military to come forward and report those crimes, following the recent years’ historic reforms to the military justice system.

McCaskill is also leading a bipartisan coalition in advancing the Campus Accountability and Safety Act—her legislation to combat sexual assault on college and university campuses by protecting and empowering students, strengthening accountability and transparency for institutions, and holding perpetrators accountable. The legislation is informed by feedback McCaskill heard when she traveled across Missouri, visiting 10 different campuses and speaking with representatives from nearly 50 colleges and universities. Last month, McCaskill joined a group of 30 colleagues to urge the Departments of Justice and Education to ensure schools receiving federal funds are compliant with new Clery Act legislation requiring crime and sexual violence reporting.

In 2014, McCaskill announced the results of her unprecedented nationwide survey of how sexual assaults are handled on college campuses, which demonstrated a disturbing failure by many institutions to comply with current law and with best practices in how they handle sexual violence against students. The survey found that more than 40 percent of schools have not conducted a single investigation in five years, 21 percent of schools provide no training to faculty and staff, and 31 percent provide no training for students. The 440 institutions represented in the survey are currently educating more than five million students across the country.

View the full study HERE. 

Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/violence to see more about McCaskill’s work to curb domestic and sexual violence. 

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