The Story of Jane Doe: A Book about Rape

How do you comment on a story from someone's life? To read or hear about it you'd think it was the next big drama out of Hollywood starring Nicole Kidman: One woman against the criminal justice system. Regretfully, it's real life. This is the story of one woman whose life has affected all women without most of them even knowing it. In 1986 Jane Doe was raped by a man who climbed up and broke in through her locked balcony. This man had committed the same crime against five other women in the neighbourhood. The crimes were never reported to the women in the area so they could take extra precautions to protect themselves. In fact to hear Jane tell it, she and the other women in her neighbourhood were used as bait. "The police did not issue a warning because of their belief that women would become hysterical and jeopardize the investigation." It's hard to enjoy reading about something like this. As a woman, it's hard not to become emotional and angry with a system put in place to protect.When she called the police for help she was interrogated, then taken to a hospital to be poked and prodded (did you know the majority of rape kit results are never used in trials?). Then interrogated again numerous times by different people about the rape. Each time having to relive the event.There's so much behind the story but basically she and a small group of friends took it upon themselves to warn the community by putting up posters about the rapist. Jane Doe quickly became known as a -trouble maker- amongst the police involved with her case because she was not following their protocol. Shortly after the poster war her assailant was arrested and she was put on trial to convict him. She was put on trial. She was interrogated yet again by the police, prosecutors, and the media.After a strenuous battle, she won the right to be present at her trial instead out of view in the hall. She won the right to watch her attacker being tried. Because of this she learned about the many secrets behind police investigations which violated her rights. After her degrading trial and treatment by the police, she somehow discovered the nerve to sue the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force.Again she had to relive every aspect of her rape and prove she wasn't some hysterical, depressed feminist with a grudge against men.The book is depressing, sure, but I was riveted by her treatment not only as a woman but as a human being. Men, women, lawyers, law enforcement put into question her motives. Surprisingly she was able to find a few people to build a support group. Many did not stay. She was in effect, alone. Her civil suit took eleven years. The stamina this woman must have had to go through this every day for eleven years. She had to wait to be proven right or wrong and have everyone look at her like she was a leper. She didn't have a choice. It was her life and she didn't want anyone else to go through the harassment she experienced.This book is for any woman who has had to think twice a