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Victim faces contempt for tweet

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    Speaking out could land victim behind bars

  • Duration 4:05
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Seventeen.

Year -- Savannah Detrick was the victim of a brutal assault but.

Speaking out about the case and naming her attackers publicly nearly landed her in jail.

Lawyers for the girls attackers had urged a judge to hold Detrick in contempt for doing that but have since dropped the -- citing the media coverage but.

Is silencing the victim of a crime.

And abuse of her right to free speech -- now for.

State civil rights attorney Remi Spencer and Greg -- -- the interim executive director for the reporters committee for freedom of the press good morning to both of the morning.

Good morning okay so so let me set the scene for me on this case this young woman was abused by two juvenile house.

And they pled guilty to some sort of a crime and then she released their names to the public -- on the.

-- you're absolutely right this is a very difficult situation a very sad case.

The victim was the victim of a very sexual offense and it sexual assault in Kentucky and it these juveniles who were prosecuted.

Behind the criminal courts and by the state of Louisiana.

Accuse me -- Kentucky.

They did in fact faced the judge and plead guilty to -- very serious crimes.

First degree sexual assault as well as a misdemeanor -- is in charge.

The victim in this case however was very upset because she was not notified.

Under the terms of the plea and while the juvenile haven't been sentenced yet they are facing time in jail behind bars for this crime.

Her anger and frustration over the case led her to ignore the judge's order and what is typical on every juvenile criminal court.

Which is confidentiality.

And she posted these names and talk publicly about the victim excuse me about the defend okay and so in that case then Greg.

The other side said -- she can't do that it's supposed to be confidential.

And so she was then going to be held in contempt of court and possibly go to jail do you think that that would have been -- Now I mean there was a court order and she should've tried to fight the court order rather than just directly.

You may be violated -- not even sure she violated it.

Every person who goes through any kind of event has the right to talk about it they have a right to talk about their own story.

Now they might not have the right to talk about what happened in court for what happened subsequently in the judicial process if there's a compelling interest at stake.

But they always have the right to talked about their own stories and I -- I don't think it would be right.

Well what about the case that -- he's pointing out that it's it's is it is it law or is it just protocol to not release juvenile name that's a very good question in almost every jurisdiction in this country.

Our juvenile justice system keeps the names of the juvenile offenders confidential.

Because the purpose as opposed to an adult criminal court.

In the juvenile case in the purpose -- to rehabilitate as well as to punish in this case the victim wasn't told she wasn't allowed to.

Talk about what happened to her of course any victim has the right to discuss it isn't that the point was that she couldn't name -- her attacker.

And that's the real problem in the -- but Greg if it's not that it's not a law than it seems to me to be squishy.

And and so why we chic in a potentially go to jail them for doing what she thought was right.

Well we don't know if she would have gone to jail we don't know you know this ever got before the judge.

But achieved when -- when this happened to her she had the right to mention.

Who was who was involved.

That she didn't get that from court records she got that from her own personal experience so she did have the legal right to speak about it.

Yeah and -- -- it -- -- in in a rape case or sexual assault case it's usually the victim.

That everyone tries to protect -- she was the victim and decided to come out and use her own name.

And so then I guess that the attackers were were fair game -- you -- you disagree with that well no lawyers for the defendants.

Asked the judge in the case to hold -- in contempt.

For ignoring the court's order not to name -- defend okay -- -- but they did withdraw it all right so it's been withdrawn interesting debate Remi Spencer Greg Leslie thanks for your time it's one thing you.

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